CAPS #4 Sarah Nelson

One of Jess' daydreams, mixing tradition with soccer
Image from zap2it.com

Bend It Like Beckham is a comedy, drama, and romance film that premiered in 2002. Jesminder “Jess” Bhamra, a teenager in England, has loved soccer her entire life. She is so talented and skilled at the game that when she is playing in the park Jules sees her and recruits her for the team she plays on, the Hounslow Harriers.  Through the experience, Jess and Jules become close friends. Jess comes from a very traditional Indian family with Sikh religious beliefs. Her parents believe that she should not partake in soccer because she is a girl and that does not coincide with what the traditional woman in their culture should do. Throughout the movie, Jess’ family prepares for her older sister’s wedding, which provides Jess wiggle room to play behind per parents’ backs. However, when the Harriers travel to Germany for a game her parents find out and forbid her continue playing soccer. On the eve of the wedding, Jess’ coach comes to the Bhamra home to try and convince Mr. Bhamra to let her play because a scouter will be present at the final game. At the wedding, Jess is upset and her father realizes this and lets her leave to play. They win the game after Jess “bends it like Beckham” on a free kick! After the game, Jules and Jess both receive scholarships to play soccer in America for Santa Clara. One of the last clips of the movie is a picture of the Santa Clara team being placed on the Bhamra mantle.  (Bend It Like Beckham, 2002). This film is applicable to intercultural communication because the main reason why Jess’ family does not want her to play is due to their cultural and religious beliefs about the role a woman should have.  These beliefs permeate the movie through dialogue and action and move the plot along to its climax.

The concept that best represents how the Bhamra family communicates and lives within intercultural contexts is the concept of separation. Separation is when an individual retains his or her own culture without assimilating or adhering to the dominant culture’s ideals, behaviors, or culture. (Martin and Nakayama, 2013).  It is important to remember that the minority group chooses this for themselves; it is unlike segregation where the majority forcefully separates themselves from the other group or assimilation where the minority.  Further, it is stated in the text, “many strict religious groups actively resist the influence of the dominant society,” (Martin and Nakayama, 2013, pg 325).

The concept of separation is very applicable to the Bhamra family. They cling to their traditional cultural and religious beliefs and hold very little interaction with the white, English majority culture. In the first scene Jess is having a daydream about being a professional soccer player and her mother interrupts her dream, saying what the root of the conflict is. The sports commentators ask if Jess’ mother is proud of her. She replies, “Not at all! She shouldn’t be running around with all these men showing her bare legs to 70,000 people. She is bringing shame on the family,” (Bend It Like Beckham, 2002). In their culture and based upon their religion, women are expected to be able to cook and find a husband within their culture. Her mother and father are depicted in traditional garb and eating traditional food. The wedding ceremony and parties consist exclusively of Indian guests. People of their own culture are even seen on television every time Mrs. Bhamra watches it.  Another comment that was made that solidifies the separation concept is when the parents of Jess’ older sister and her fiancé are talking, one comments, “sometimes [our children] misjudge and start acting like the kids here,” (Bend It Like Beckham, 2002). It is abundantly clear that the families want their children to grow up separately from the mainstream English culture and that they are choosing this lifestyle for their children.  They are separating themselves from the dominant culture and her parents cling to the traditions that were passed onto them. They desire so deeply for their daughters to do the same because they feel it is the best lifestyle for them. However, allowing their daughter to play soccer at Santa Clara is movement towards assimilation.

 

References

FHEsearchlightconnct. (3 November 2013). "Bend It Like Beckham-Trailer." [Youtube video.] Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sETt_XmwSE

Martin, J.N., & Nakayama, T.K. (2013). Intercultural Communications in Contexts (6th ed.). Boston, MA, McGraw Hill. 

Nayar, D and Chadha, G. (Producer), & Chadha, G. (Director). (2002). Bend It Like Beckham [Motion picture]. United Kingdom: British Sky Broadcasting.