Sunday, 24 February 2008
Goodness Gracious me: Going for an english
This video, exaggerates the stereotype of whtie people typically "going for an indian", however by creating a role reversal, where indians go for an english. This creates humour as the indinan characters mock white peoples taste in food, the way they act and their inability to pronounce indian names amongst other things.
Goodness Gracious Me:typical asian parents
This clip emphasises on the stereotype of the importance that indian parentsplace on their children getting not only a good education, but being the best compared to everyone else. This creates humour as the son achieve 4 a's and 1 B amongst many other things however the father was still unsatisfied and disappointed, despite him being only 6 years old and achieveing all this.
Goodness Gracious me- Rehabilitation
This video,exaggerates on the stereotype of how indians place emphasis on maintaining tradition and cultural balues. It particulalry creates humour as it states that a loss of culture and tradition is like an illness.
Self Evaluation
Attainment- C- I think i am on about a C at the moment, but pushing towards a B. My homework and class work reflects this.
Effort-2- I think my effort in class is quite good. I contribute when i have valid points and generally work hard.
Punctuality-3- I'm usually on time but have been late a few times here and there.
Submission and quality of homework-2- My homework is usually of a good quality and i spend quite a lot of time on it.
Ability to work independently-2- I work well by myself and dont usually get distracted easily.
Quality of writing-2- Im getting my essay structure and quality of my writing much better now then before, and my essays are of a higher quality then at the start of the year.
Organisation of Media folder-3- My media folder is well organised, but a few sheets missing here and there.
Oral contributions in class-3- I contribute now and then, but could and should become more involved in class discussions.
Contribution to the debate team-3- Contribution to debate team has been ok so far. Brought in research to all debate clubs, and have been working over it during the holidays.
Extra-curricular work -4- Dont really do much extra curricular work for media...
Standard of Module 5 blog- 2- My module 5 blog is always updated when work is set, i dont think there's anything missing. And i post up research for my independent study , even when there is no work set.
Standard of Module 6 blog-3- Could be posting more up on my med 6 blog, but all work set is on there.
Effort-2- I think my effort in class is quite good. I contribute when i have valid points and generally work hard.
Punctuality-3- I'm usually on time but have been late a few times here and there.
Submission and quality of homework-2- My homework is usually of a good quality and i spend quite a lot of time on it.
Ability to work independently-2- I work well by myself and dont usually get distracted easily.
Quality of writing-2- Im getting my essay structure and quality of my writing much better now then before, and my essays are of a higher quality then at the start of the year.
Organisation of Media folder-3- My media folder is well organised, but a few sheets missing here and there.
Oral contributions in class-3- I contribute now and then, but could and should become more involved in class discussions.
Contribution to the debate team-3- Contribution to debate team has been ok so far. Brought in research to all debate clubs, and have been working over it during the holidays.
Extra-curricular work -4- Dont really do much extra curricular work for media...
Standard of Module 5 blog- 2- My module 5 blog is always updated when work is set, i dont think there's anything missing. And i post up research for my independent study , even when there is no work set.
Standard of Module 6 blog-3- Could be posting more up on my med 6 blog, but all work set is on there.
Sunday, 3 February 2008
Coursework
“The reason women don't play football is because eleven of them would never wear the same outfit in public.” How are women represented in football related texts?
There is clear evidence to prove that women have been playing football almost since its ancient existence in the Han dynasty (25-220 AD), when it was anciently known as “Tsu Chu” [1]. But despite women’s involvement in the sport dating so far back, the sport clearly receive much less media coverage and generally much less acceptance by the public then there is for men’s football. Sport within the media is classically known to contain a dominant ideology of patriarchy. Men generally are almost always thought of to be associated with all sports within the media. However in recent times traditional values and traditional stereotypes such as “the housewife” have been broken and women are generally adopting more active and central roles in the sports field of the media. This is emphasised on through recent TV sports shows such as “Inside Sport” [14], presented by Gabby Logan, which particularly portrays a much more positive and progressive impression of Women in sports.
The idea of women playing football was not revived in the UK until after the First World War, with men away fighting, women had the opportunity to take up such hobbies. Under a century ago “Despite being more popular than some men's football events” [1] within the U.K. the most notable historical ban in women’s football, the "1921 Football association ban on women playing football" [1] was introduced. This ban stopped women from playing football on the same grounds as men. . Had this ban not occurred women's football could have possibly progressed just as well as men's football in the UK and abroad. If this ban had not occurred today's society may have found that women playing football is just as acceptable and as well played as men playing football. In addition this would have consequently resulted in just as great media coverage for women’s football and possibly seen the sport at just a competitive level within the media as men’s football.
Despite such preventions to women’s football it gradually in recent times has began to be much more socially acceptable and has began to get much greater media coverage as oppose to the past. For example the china Women world cup 2007, had so much viewer ship and was so popular worldwide, it to an extent caused outrage and was the key cause for debate amongst many people who did not expect the event to be so widely enjoyed and entertaining [2]. Therefore despite historical limitations and limitations existing till date, women’s football has now progressed to become "one of the worlds fastest growing sports” [3].
Many argue that women and men playing together in a match, is a step too far as women are unable to physically compete with men. However many believe that women should be able to compete against one another at the same level that men do. However some just believe that women’s football is not at the same skill level as men’s football and don’t see women deserving enough to make it an occupation. In particular Dr Jean Williams argues that we should “look at the equal opportunities law to review whether women should be allowed to compete at the highest level [4]. Dr Williams argues that it is against a woman’s equal opportunities to not be able to compete at the highest level and have just as much media funding and coverage as men’s football and the Uefa coach feels the law should be reviewed.
Within the media up to the late 1970’s Gaye Tuchman argued “ the symbolic annihilation of women by the mass media” (1978) [20]. Tuchman asserted the belief that women were portrayed as “incompetents and inferiors” in comparison with dominant men in the media, during her 1978 study. Tuchman stated that during this time period men dominated every aspect shown on television such as drama and film. Even in the traditional roles that women are generally expected to dominate in, such as solving emotional and practical problems were controlled and dominated by men. Comparatively under a decade later Gillian Dyer (1987) [20] argued that by the mid 1980’s Television began to increasingly take women more seriously and they were assuming more central roles, asides from the role of “Housewife” or “ victim”. However in particular Dyer found in her 1987 study, that women were still dominated by men in a number of fields, in particular sports. Gillian Dyer from her study discovered that despite improvement in the media in general sports still remained “the preserve of men”. During this time period within sports Dyer’s study emphasises on the under representation of women within the sports-media. Dyer’s study in particular points out due to selective broadcasting the “invisibility of women [5] was created within the sports media.
“Overall media coverage of men’s sports massively exceeds women’s, which is given less then 10 % of time available” [6]. Furthermore “Women’s Sports are almost always likely to be subjected to gender-marking” [6]. Women in sports in comparison with men are much more likely to be popular within the media and society if they fit into a typically subjected concept of sexualisation (Brookes, 2002) [7]. For example within Tennis Anna Kournikova is not a world ranked and renown tennis player, however due to her glamorised appearance and good looks, she has attained greater celebrity status then many of the worlds greatest sportswomen. This in particular would link too women’s football as it often is referred to and known as “a game for rough girls” [8]. Many women that play football are known for having masculine qualities like appearing well built, broad shouldered amongst other things. This would link to Brooke’s study of 2002, stating that women cannot be popular within the media if they do not adhere to this concept of sexualisation and have good looks. Arguably a reason for women’s football therefore not being as popular within the media as some other women’s sports and media fields, is due to the idea that many women who play football are not perceived to be good looking or provide visual pleasure as argued by Mulvey to an expected dominant male audience.
In particular this concept of women’s involvement in sports only being popular due to them being glamorous is emphasised on through the tabloid newspaper the “Daily sport”. This newspaper discusses key sports even in particular football, however women’s involvement in this paper has nothing to do with sport but is solely to provide visual pleasure to a dominating target male audience. Many believe the paper offers great sports news however the great amount of “topless girls” [9] is unnecessary and do not really have any relevance to sports. However the tabloid paper highlights much of the target audience’s viewpoints on women’s involvement within sports and in particular stresses much of footballs target audiences viewpoints on women’s involvement within football.
Match of the day [10] emphasises on how women’s involvement in football has developed over the years, being both a historical and contemporary text. Prior to recent times as in the late 1990's and early 2000's match of the day did not provide any coverage of women’s football at all and overall neither did BBC sport. In the past there was much more emphasis on football being tightly associated with just a male audience, however today women are generally being more and more included as an audience. In addition the target audience back in the 1960's for match of the day is inevitably a middle class audience, as BBC 2 was not easily obtainable by everyone, as it is today. Match of the day now however, can be viewed by everyone who has a TV, hence it is much more likely to be directed at a more working class audience as well as a middle class one. This clearly would have had some influence over why women in England took a lack of interest in viewing football, or an interest in being involved in the sport at all, as match of the day in England was a key cause of the development and popularity of football. Today Match of the day airs many key women’s football events such as the China World Cup 2007 and Women’s domestic cup finals among other things. Therefore historically match of the day very much promoted a Patriarchal ideology, portraying men dominant within a hegemonic society. However contemporarily match of the day to a great extent promotes an equal rights ideology. In addition in women’s matches the institution of match of the day BBC, makes special effort to keep as much off the commentators and presenters Female, which would to an extent even promote a feminist ideology.
In addition the representation of women within other films, magazines, newspapers amongst others, clearly has influence upon many peoples social viewpoint. Social reflection is clearly presented through many media texts, as they portray different audiences viewpoints on women in general as well as women playing football.
Soccer A.M [11] is a programme that discusses football events, appears on sky sports and in particular would be targeted at a middle class audience due to it not being accessible to everyone as it is on sky. However the heavy stance on creating comedy and the often-unsophisticated language would arguably make it more appealing to a more working class audience. Soccer A.M in particular looks at women in a manner of “objectification and as a source of pleasure” [12], as stated in the Male Gaze theory by Laura Mulvey. Men are the dominant group at all times and are the “lookers” and women are primarily in the programme to be “looked at”. Despite there being both a male and female presenter for soccer A.M many would argue this is not a means of promoting an ideology of equality, as the female presenter (Helen Chamberlain), is both good looking and glamorous hence she may also be there as means of objectification and to provide a target male audience with visual pleasure, as many of the women shown within the programme are portrayed. The show repeatedly in every episode portrays a number of women in a manner where they know absolutely nothing about football and are dressed in a manner where they are solely there to provide the target male audience with a sense of “scopophilia”. Almost all of the women also adhere to the “dumb bimbo” stereotype believed to have originated back in the early 1920’s [13]. They are primarily presented as “promiscuous, stupid, uneducated and helpless” [13] in comparison with the dominant male, making Soccer A.M., portray a dominant patriarchal ideology.
However comparatively Inside Sport [14] presented by “Angelic Host” [15] Gabby Logan as quoted by The Observer, promotes a dominant ideology of equal rights and even arguably a dominant feminist ideology, emphasised on through the way Gabby Logan is always situated in the middle with all other members of the show sitting beside her (usually men), making her the centre of attention. Gabby Logan in particular is a well-known figure for her sports knowledge and her ability to present just as good or even better then most male presenters. “She's glamorous, but it's not her looks that have made Gabby Logan a key member of ITV's World Cup team” [15]. Gabby Logan was a key presenter for ITV’s world cup 2006 team, and many believe she “beats the men hands down at sports trivia - and even Des Lynam thinks she could be his successor”[15]. Within Inside Sport Gabby Logan presents women in the media to be sophisticated, well educated and intelligent. In addition with Soccer A.M. solely sticking to showing and discussing men’s football, Inside Sport within every episode inclusively shows and discusses women’s involvement in sports, or uprising, influential and inspiration female sports figures.
Today in a changing society and in particular the existence of the “new man” coming about in the 1970’s and 1980’s, has inevitably caused great influence on the acceptance of women’s football, from men and society in general. The fact that more on more men are getting in touch with there “feminine side” [16], reflects that football now does not take so much of a great patriarchal stance and does not stand for pure masculinity and overall being macho to an extent. The fact that today as oppose to the past more and more men are developing feminine qualities, such as sensitivity, would therefore change many people viewpoints making them adopt a more equal rights stance and follow an ideology promoting equality.
A key football figure associated with the new man is David Beckham. David Beckham is a household known figure and the name “Beckham” is a brand within itself. His viewpoints and beliefs are therefore clearly likely to have influence on many people in particular his global fan base and audience consisting of millions. David Beckham himself is seen as role model by many and is greatly in touch with his feminine side. As well as being known for one of the greatest footballers of all time, Beckham is equally well known for being sensitive and for being “portrayed as a loving father, a New Man and a gentle man” by the media [17]. This “new man” within society and furthermore within football represents a key social change, emphasising and promoting a developing equal rights ideology. This ideology within itself has been instrumental in the development of women’s football overall, as well as within the media.
In addition "bend it like Beckham"(dir: Gurinder Chadha, 2002) [18] is an extremely key and recognised film for promoting women’s football. However promoting women’s ability to professionally compete within football was not the films sole intention. Bend it like Beckham is a film that promotes equal rights as well as female independence, therefore making it particularly liked by feminists. It is clear and evident that this film alone played a key role in the progression of women's football in the UK.A key reason being David Beckhams happiness due to the film bearing his name. This in particular would also increase the films popularity and ability to reach a broader audience. Beckham stated to the mass media worldwide how he enjoyed the football scenes and was happy to see women's football being glamorised. Such comments from David Beckham alone inevitably play a huge role in promoting women's football, as he is one of the worlds most iconic sports figures, is in support of the movement and believes it should be pushed forward. Another fact in making the film such a success is the key role the Football Association in UK played in promoting the film. The Football Associations support enabled it to be so popular not only in Britain but also worldwide. This involvement and support by the F.A enabled the director Gurinder Chada to reach a global audience as the F.A. immensely aided within the advertising and promotional aspects of bend it Like Beckham.
Furthermore another key sports figure that represents breaking down stereotypes of women’s involvement in Sports, is Sue Barker. As well as being known for one of the greatest female tennis players of all time, Sue Barker is just as renown for her great skills as a broadcaster and involvement with the media. Sue barker has been the presenter of a “question of sport” since 1997 [19], and prior to this has made many appearances on this traditionally patriarchal show. Within the show Sue Barker despite being out numbered by the male guests and “captains”, remains the centre of attention and holds greatest dominance within the show. This is as within inside sport, emphasised on particularly through the way in which she is seated. Sue barkers is situated in the middle with all other male characters to her left and right, and the often extreme close ups and low angled shots are used to emphasise on Sue barkers great position of authority. As like Gabby Logan Sue barker is well known for her sports trivia skills and her ability to present just as well as men. Since joining BBC sport “Sue has presented many great sporting events including the summer and Winter Olympics, Wimbledon, Grandstand and Sports Review of the Year.” [19]
Therefore in conclusion despite in the past women being “invisible” in the sports media today the sport is becoming much more popular reaching a global audience. Women’s involvement within football and the representation of this within the media has greatly increased. Over the years women’s football and sports in general are being increasingly shown on screen and are now targeting a much broader audience. However today limitations still exist hindering the sport from progressing, as much as many of its supporters would like it too, but the sport and its representation within the media has greatly increased in a society that is increasingly adopting and promoting an equal rights ideology.
Word Count:2822
There is clear evidence to prove that women have been playing football almost since its ancient existence in the Han dynasty (25-220 AD), when it was anciently known as “Tsu Chu” [1]. But despite women’s involvement in the sport dating so far back, the sport clearly receive much less media coverage and generally much less acceptance by the public then there is for men’s football. Sport within the media is classically known to contain a dominant ideology of patriarchy. Men generally are almost always thought of to be associated with all sports within the media. However in recent times traditional values and traditional stereotypes such as “the housewife” have been broken and women are generally adopting more active and central roles in the sports field of the media. This is emphasised on through recent TV sports shows such as “Inside Sport” [14], presented by Gabby Logan, which particularly portrays a much more positive and progressive impression of Women in sports.
The idea of women playing football was not revived in the UK until after the First World War, with men away fighting, women had the opportunity to take up such hobbies. Under a century ago “Despite being more popular than some men's football events” [1] within the U.K. the most notable historical ban in women’s football, the "1921 Football association ban on women playing football" [1] was introduced. This ban stopped women from playing football on the same grounds as men. . Had this ban not occurred women's football could have possibly progressed just as well as men's football in the UK and abroad. If this ban had not occurred today's society may have found that women playing football is just as acceptable and as well played as men playing football. In addition this would have consequently resulted in just as great media coverage for women’s football and possibly seen the sport at just a competitive level within the media as men’s football.
Despite such preventions to women’s football it gradually in recent times has began to be much more socially acceptable and has began to get much greater media coverage as oppose to the past. For example the china Women world cup 2007, had so much viewer ship and was so popular worldwide, it to an extent caused outrage and was the key cause for debate amongst many people who did not expect the event to be so widely enjoyed and entertaining [2]. Therefore despite historical limitations and limitations existing till date, women’s football has now progressed to become "one of the worlds fastest growing sports” [3].
Many argue that women and men playing together in a match, is a step too far as women are unable to physically compete with men. However many believe that women should be able to compete against one another at the same level that men do. However some just believe that women’s football is not at the same skill level as men’s football and don’t see women deserving enough to make it an occupation. In particular Dr Jean Williams argues that we should “look at the equal opportunities law to review whether women should be allowed to compete at the highest level [4]. Dr Williams argues that it is against a woman’s equal opportunities to not be able to compete at the highest level and have just as much media funding and coverage as men’s football and the Uefa coach feels the law should be reviewed.
Within the media up to the late 1970’s Gaye Tuchman argued “ the symbolic annihilation of women by the mass media” (1978) [20]. Tuchman asserted the belief that women were portrayed as “incompetents and inferiors” in comparison with dominant men in the media, during her 1978 study. Tuchman stated that during this time period men dominated every aspect shown on television such as drama and film. Even in the traditional roles that women are generally expected to dominate in, such as solving emotional and practical problems were controlled and dominated by men. Comparatively under a decade later Gillian Dyer (1987) [20] argued that by the mid 1980’s Television began to increasingly take women more seriously and they were assuming more central roles, asides from the role of “Housewife” or “ victim”. However in particular Dyer found in her 1987 study, that women were still dominated by men in a number of fields, in particular sports. Gillian Dyer from her study discovered that despite improvement in the media in general sports still remained “the preserve of men”. During this time period within sports Dyer’s study emphasises on the under representation of women within the sports-media. Dyer’s study in particular points out due to selective broadcasting the “invisibility of women [5] was created within the sports media.
“Overall media coverage of men’s sports massively exceeds women’s, which is given less then 10 % of time available” [6]. Furthermore “Women’s Sports are almost always likely to be subjected to gender-marking” [6]. Women in sports in comparison with men are much more likely to be popular within the media and society if they fit into a typically subjected concept of sexualisation (Brookes, 2002) [7]. For example within Tennis Anna Kournikova is not a world ranked and renown tennis player, however due to her glamorised appearance and good looks, she has attained greater celebrity status then many of the worlds greatest sportswomen. This in particular would link too women’s football as it often is referred to and known as “a game for rough girls” [8]. Many women that play football are known for having masculine qualities like appearing well built, broad shouldered amongst other things. This would link to Brooke’s study of 2002, stating that women cannot be popular within the media if they do not adhere to this concept of sexualisation and have good looks. Arguably a reason for women’s football therefore not being as popular within the media as some other women’s sports and media fields, is due to the idea that many women who play football are not perceived to be good looking or provide visual pleasure as argued by Mulvey to an expected dominant male audience.
In particular this concept of women’s involvement in sports only being popular due to them being glamorous is emphasised on through the tabloid newspaper the “Daily sport”. This newspaper discusses key sports even in particular football, however women’s involvement in this paper has nothing to do with sport but is solely to provide visual pleasure to a dominating target male audience. Many believe the paper offers great sports news however the great amount of “topless girls” [9] is unnecessary and do not really have any relevance to sports. However the tabloid paper highlights much of the target audience’s viewpoints on women’s involvement within sports and in particular stresses much of footballs target audiences viewpoints on women’s involvement within football.
Match of the day [10] emphasises on how women’s involvement in football has developed over the years, being both a historical and contemporary text. Prior to recent times as in the late 1990's and early 2000's match of the day did not provide any coverage of women’s football at all and overall neither did BBC sport. In the past there was much more emphasis on football being tightly associated with just a male audience, however today women are generally being more and more included as an audience. In addition the target audience back in the 1960's for match of the day is inevitably a middle class audience, as BBC 2 was not easily obtainable by everyone, as it is today. Match of the day now however, can be viewed by everyone who has a TV, hence it is much more likely to be directed at a more working class audience as well as a middle class one. This clearly would have had some influence over why women in England took a lack of interest in viewing football, or an interest in being involved in the sport at all, as match of the day in England was a key cause of the development and popularity of football. Today Match of the day airs many key women’s football events such as the China World Cup 2007 and Women’s domestic cup finals among other things. Therefore historically match of the day very much promoted a Patriarchal ideology, portraying men dominant within a hegemonic society. However contemporarily match of the day to a great extent promotes an equal rights ideology. In addition in women’s matches the institution of match of the day BBC, makes special effort to keep as much off the commentators and presenters Female, which would to an extent even promote a feminist ideology.
In addition the representation of women within other films, magazines, newspapers amongst others, clearly has influence upon many peoples social viewpoint. Social reflection is clearly presented through many media texts, as they portray different audiences viewpoints on women in general as well as women playing football.
Soccer A.M [11] is a programme that discusses football events, appears on sky sports and in particular would be targeted at a middle class audience due to it not being accessible to everyone as it is on sky. However the heavy stance on creating comedy and the often-unsophisticated language would arguably make it more appealing to a more working class audience. Soccer A.M in particular looks at women in a manner of “objectification and as a source of pleasure” [12], as stated in the Male Gaze theory by Laura Mulvey. Men are the dominant group at all times and are the “lookers” and women are primarily in the programme to be “looked at”. Despite there being both a male and female presenter for soccer A.M many would argue this is not a means of promoting an ideology of equality, as the female presenter (Helen Chamberlain), is both good looking and glamorous hence she may also be there as means of objectification and to provide a target male audience with visual pleasure, as many of the women shown within the programme are portrayed. The show repeatedly in every episode portrays a number of women in a manner where they know absolutely nothing about football and are dressed in a manner where they are solely there to provide the target male audience with a sense of “scopophilia”. Almost all of the women also adhere to the “dumb bimbo” stereotype believed to have originated back in the early 1920’s [13]. They are primarily presented as “promiscuous, stupid, uneducated and helpless” [13] in comparison with the dominant male, making Soccer A.M., portray a dominant patriarchal ideology.
However comparatively Inside Sport [14] presented by “Angelic Host” [15] Gabby Logan as quoted by The Observer, promotes a dominant ideology of equal rights and even arguably a dominant feminist ideology, emphasised on through the way Gabby Logan is always situated in the middle with all other members of the show sitting beside her (usually men), making her the centre of attention. Gabby Logan in particular is a well-known figure for her sports knowledge and her ability to present just as good or even better then most male presenters. “She's glamorous, but it's not her looks that have made Gabby Logan a key member of ITV's World Cup team” [15]. Gabby Logan was a key presenter for ITV’s world cup 2006 team, and many believe she “beats the men hands down at sports trivia - and even Des Lynam thinks she could be his successor”[15]. Within Inside Sport Gabby Logan presents women in the media to be sophisticated, well educated and intelligent. In addition with Soccer A.M. solely sticking to showing and discussing men’s football, Inside Sport within every episode inclusively shows and discusses women’s involvement in sports, or uprising, influential and inspiration female sports figures.
Today in a changing society and in particular the existence of the “new man” coming about in the 1970’s and 1980’s, has inevitably caused great influence on the acceptance of women’s football, from men and society in general. The fact that more on more men are getting in touch with there “feminine side” [16], reflects that football now does not take so much of a great patriarchal stance and does not stand for pure masculinity and overall being macho to an extent. The fact that today as oppose to the past more and more men are developing feminine qualities, such as sensitivity, would therefore change many people viewpoints making them adopt a more equal rights stance and follow an ideology promoting equality.
A key football figure associated with the new man is David Beckham. David Beckham is a household known figure and the name “Beckham” is a brand within itself. His viewpoints and beliefs are therefore clearly likely to have influence on many people in particular his global fan base and audience consisting of millions. David Beckham himself is seen as role model by many and is greatly in touch with his feminine side. As well as being known for one of the greatest footballers of all time, Beckham is equally well known for being sensitive and for being “portrayed as a loving father, a New Man and a gentle man” by the media [17]. This “new man” within society and furthermore within football represents a key social change, emphasising and promoting a developing equal rights ideology. This ideology within itself has been instrumental in the development of women’s football overall, as well as within the media.
In addition "bend it like Beckham"(dir: Gurinder Chadha, 2002) [18] is an extremely key and recognised film for promoting women’s football. However promoting women’s ability to professionally compete within football was not the films sole intention. Bend it like Beckham is a film that promotes equal rights as well as female independence, therefore making it particularly liked by feminists. It is clear and evident that this film alone played a key role in the progression of women's football in the UK.A key reason being David Beckhams happiness due to the film bearing his name. This in particular would also increase the films popularity and ability to reach a broader audience. Beckham stated to the mass media worldwide how he enjoyed the football scenes and was happy to see women's football being glamorised. Such comments from David Beckham alone inevitably play a huge role in promoting women's football, as he is one of the worlds most iconic sports figures, is in support of the movement and believes it should be pushed forward. Another fact in making the film such a success is the key role the Football Association in UK played in promoting the film. The Football Associations support enabled it to be so popular not only in Britain but also worldwide. This involvement and support by the F.A enabled the director Gurinder Chada to reach a global audience as the F.A. immensely aided within the advertising and promotional aspects of bend it Like Beckham.
Furthermore another key sports figure that represents breaking down stereotypes of women’s involvement in Sports, is Sue Barker. As well as being known for one of the greatest female tennis players of all time, Sue Barker is just as renown for her great skills as a broadcaster and involvement with the media. Sue barker has been the presenter of a “question of sport” since 1997 [19], and prior to this has made many appearances on this traditionally patriarchal show. Within the show Sue Barker despite being out numbered by the male guests and “captains”, remains the centre of attention and holds greatest dominance within the show. This is as within inside sport, emphasised on particularly through the way in which she is seated. Sue barkers is situated in the middle with all other male characters to her left and right, and the often extreme close ups and low angled shots are used to emphasise on Sue barkers great position of authority. As like Gabby Logan Sue barker is well known for her sports trivia skills and her ability to present just as well as men. Since joining BBC sport “Sue has presented many great sporting events including the summer and Winter Olympics, Wimbledon, Grandstand and Sports Review of the Year.” [19]
Therefore in conclusion despite in the past women being “invisible” in the sports media today the sport is becoming much more popular reaching a global audience. Women’s involvement within football and the representation of this within the media has greatly increased. Over the years women’s football and sports in general are being increasingly shown on screen and are now targeting a much broader audience. However today limitations still exist hindering the sport from progressing, as much as many of its supporters would like it too, but the sport and its representation within the media has greatly increased in a society that is increasingly adopting and promoting an equal rights ideology.
Word Count:2822
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