Bend It Like Beckham and The Presence of Feminine Masculinity

The objectives for this presentation were to discuss feminine masculinity using flashpoints from Judith Halberstam, and connect it to a class source and pop-culture source. Our objective was to get our audience to understand our views and the different perspectives throughout the world on the topic of masculinity; whether it be with females or males.

"Bend It Like Beckham and the Expression of Female Masculinity"

The shared text that our group used was Bend It Like Beckham by Gurinder Chadha. We chose this text because it offered rich insights into both female and male masculinity. This text allowed us to find different sections and connect them back to Halberstam's ideas in a coherent way that supported our topic and objective. We know that this text supported us in the way that our final product was presented: in a fluid and relatable manner.

According to Halberstam (1998), the concept of female masculinity challenges traditional notions of gender and opens up new ways of understanding gender identity. By exploring these themes in Bend It Like Beckham, we were able to illustrate how feminine masculinity is present in various cultural contexts.

After we finished our presentation, we received feedback from our peers, which offered us insights into what others were thinking of our presentation. One point brought up was related to our pop-culture piece – the woman who was giving the seminar mentioned that when she was in Nigeria and tipped the valet after getting their car back, the valet said ‘thank you’ to her companion, who was a man. This anecdote sparked a discussion about the misconception that such gender biases no longer occur, or that they are limited to specific regions. In reality, these issues are prevalent worldwide, even today.

Discussion

Through this presentation, we observed many aspects. We see that stigmas and stereotypes are still imposed on both females and males. Additionally, by including the video in our presentation, we emphasized that everyone should be a feminist because it allows individuals to be un-blinded by their own gender biases. We see that females are traditionally taught to aspire to marriage, while men are not. Men are taught to provide for their families by any means necessary. Another factor highlighted in the video is that females are taught not to challenge male egos and to have ambitions, but not excessively so.

Halberstam (1998) argues that recognizing and embracing feminine masculinity can lead to a more inclusive understanding of gender, breaking down the rigid binaries that often define our societal roles. This presentation aimed to shed light on these stereotypes and encourage a broader acceptance of diverse gender expressions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, by examining texts like Bend It Like Beckham and incorporating perspectives from Judith Halberstam, our presentation sought to unravel the complex layers of feminine masculinity. We hope that our audience gained a deeper understanding of how these dynamics play out across different cultures and contexts, and how they continue to shape our perceptions of gender today.

References

Halberstam, J. (1998). Female Masculinity. Duke University Press.

Chadha, G. (Director). (2002). Bend It Like Beckham [Film]. Kintop Pictures.