Gender discrimination and violence in Gracie movie

(1)

1

Budi Santoso, NIM 204026002768 “Gender Discrimination and Violence in Gracie Movie”. Thesis. Jakarta: English Letters Department. Letters and Humanities Faculty, State Islamic UniversitySyarif Hidayatullah, Jakarta.

This research is aimed to analyze what kind of gender discrimination and violence in Gracie movie. And what does she do to solve her problem from gender discrimination and violence. The objective of this research is intended to describe gender discrimination and violence that implied in this movie. This movie is analyzed carefully and accurately using relevant theory. The data on this research is got from the unit of analysis, the sources, and the analysis from the writer.

In general, the writer finds out that Gracie as major female character experienced many kinds of gender discrimination and violence in this movie, but she fights it and also makes some strategies to free from gender discrimination and violence. Her bravery is a reason why she can survive to face gender discrimination and violence in this movie.


(2)

APPROVEMENT

Gender Discrimination and Violence in

Gracie

Movie

A Thesis

Submitted to Letters and Humanities Faculty

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Strata 1 Degree

By: Budi Santoso 204026002768

Approved By: Advisor,

Mohammad Supardi, S.S.

ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTMENT

LETTERS AND HUMANITIES FACULTY

STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY

“SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH”

JAKARTA

2009


(3)

LEGALIZATION

A thesis entitled “Gender Discrimination and Violence in Gracie

Movie” has been defended before the Letters and Humanities Faculty’s Examination Committee on March, 24th 2009. The thesis has already been accepted as a partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Strata 1 degree in English Letters.

Jakarta, March, 24th2009

Examination Committee

Chair Person,

Dr. H. M. Farkhan, M.Pd. NIP. 150 299 480

Secretary,

Drs. A. Saefuddin, M.Pd. NIP. 150 261 902

Members:

Examiner I

Dr. H. M. Farkhan, M.Pd. NIP. 150 299 480

Examiner II

Elve Oktafiani, M.Hum NIP. 150 317 725


(4)

DECLARATION

I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it contains no material previously published or written by another person nor material which to a substantial extent has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma of the university or other institute of higher learning, except where due acknowledgment has been made in the next.

Jakarta, January, 18th2009


(5)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

In the name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful. All praised be to Allah The lord of the world who has been giving mercy and blessing until the writer can completing this thesis without any obstacle in her opportunity. Peace and Salutation be upon to the Nobel Prophet of Islam, Muhammad SAW, and his household, his companions, and his faithful followers.

The writer is absolutely conscious that he could not carry out this work without helping of others, both material and spiritual. For that reason, the writer would like to express his greatest love and honor to his beloved mother and father, also his brother for their endless prayers and motivation.

The great gratitude is dedicated to these amazing people. Particularly to: 1. Dr. H. Abdul Chair, M. A. The Dean of Letters and Humanities Faculty 2. Dr. H. Muhammad Farkhan M.Pd. The Head of English Letters

Departments

3. Special thanks goes to Mohammad Supardi, S.S, the writer’s advisor for continuing guidance and support in this research. .

4. All of the Lectures in Letters and Humanities Faculty for supporting directly or indirectly.

5. The writer’s parents, brothers, and all friends in Letters and Humanities faculty especially in English Letters Department. The writer also wants to say thank you to THE KOP’S ROCK GANK, Abdurrahman, Adhitia Apriansyah, Sulaiman, M. Ridho Kholid, Saiful bahri, Yusuf Hendra


(6)

Permana, M. Dodo Ridho, M. Triyanto, Dedi Suherman, Krismantion, especially to Aldi Wandra Hassan who always helped the writer in editing the paper, and all friends that researcher cannot mention one by one who helped and motivated the researcher in finishing this research.

May Allah, the Almighty bless them all, Amien.

Jakarta, January, 18th2009


(7)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT ... i

APPROVEMENT ... ii

LEGALIZATION ... iii

DECLARATION ... iv

ACKNOWLEDGMENT... v

TABLE OF CONTENTS ... vii

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ... 1

A. Background of the Study ... 1

B. Focus of the Study... 7

C. Research Question ... 7

D. Significance of the Research ... 7

E. Research Methodology ... 7

1. The Objective ... 7

2. The Method ... 8

3. The Instrument ... 8

4. The Unit of Analysis... 8

5. Place and Time ... 8

CHAPTER II THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ... 9

A. Discrimination... 9


(8)

C. Gender Discrimination ... 12

1. Marginalization ... 12

2. Subordination ... 13

3. Stereotype ... 14

4. Violence ... 15

a. Violation... 16

b. Physical Assault... 16

c. Genital Mutilation... 16

d. Prostitution ... 16

e. Pornography ... 16

f. Sterilization ... 16

g. Molestation... 17

h. Sexual Harassment ... 17

5. Burden... 18

CHAPTER III RESEARCH FINDINGS... 19

A. Data Description ... 19

B. Analysis ... 20

1. Gender Discrimination inGraciemovie ... 21

a. Subordination ... 21

b. Stereotype... 23

c. Marginalization... 25


(9)

a. Sexual harassment ... 28

b. Pornography ... 29

3. Gracie’s Efforts to Break the Problem... 30

a. Training with boys... 31

b. Convince her father... 32

c. Take law lane... 33

CHAPTER IV CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION ... 34

A. Conclusion ... 34

B. Suggestion... 35

BIBLIOGRAPHY... 36


(10)

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study

Literary work is something created by people who have sense of art, we can enjoy the literary works by reading, watching, and listening. People as a part of literary community or society can create and enjoy literary work, but many people outside cannot enjoy or produce the literary work because they think that literary work only can be enjoyed by certain society or community that is literary community. Whereas, in fact, literary work can be enjoyed by whole people in the world, including people who do not know anything about art, because many of literary works have a significance, message, and issue that have relation to the worlds-view around us in certain era inside it.

Generally, literary work is created by creator to entertain the enjoyer but, sometimes literary work is made by the creator to influence the enjoyers’ mind in order they can accept what the creator’s idea in his or her literary work. Many of literary critics said that literary work contents of propaganda unsure inside it, in order the enjoyer can accept certain attitude from the creator of literary work.

There are many kinds of literary works in the world, among other things are: novel, poem, and drama. But those things slowly are left by the fans because drama or poem is considered as old work. Nowadays, people tend to choose a modern entertainment. Many people around the world agree that film is a modern


(11)

entertainment, so it is not a wonder that film becomes the famous swan song. Film is the famous swan song because film not only becomes an entertainment for the enjoyer but also becomes a medium to convey a message and express the emotion.1 Films are cultural artifacts created by specific cultures, which reflect those cultures, and, in turn, affect them.2Commonly in a film, the film maker tells about social life, politic issue, education, law, murder, adultery, and many more that ever happened in the world. But, sometimes, the film maker also makes a film about his or her experience has ever happened in her or his life. And usually the things about women are good topic to be a film. The film maker uses women character as his or her inspiration for her or his works, because women’s life full of sacrifice, struggle, riddle, and discrimination. Therefore, gender discrimination and violence often happen to the women in this world.

The discrimination and violence toward woman happen because gender differences between man and woman. Many people think that gender and sex are same. In fact, gender is difference with sex. Sex is a biological attribute differences between man and woman, for instance: only man has penis and sperm, and only woman has vagina and breast. The characteristics tend to the nature. Meanwhile, gender comes from human thought, and human also can change it from time to time. According to Sabrina Petro Ramet, gender is…one of the most effective means of social control.3It means that who has one of certain gender can control another. In society, they recognize men have characteristics such as strong, brave, rational, curious, smart, and intellect. These characteristics are

1

Salman Aristo,Seminar Tentang Membaxca Film, Ciputat 8 April 2008

2

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film. retrieved on October 11, 2008

3


(12)

known with masculine. Meanwhile, women have characteristics such as weak, irrational, emotional, maternity, beautiful and gentle. These characteristics are known as feminine. Basically, those characteristics about men and women are formed by the social and cultural construction.

Society formed and placed woman as a server of man. Woman as man’s server must accept and obey what the man wants. Men use their power to impose one will upon another.4 It means man has great power to control woman’s life. This perception also makes differences in the division of labor where men in public sphere and women in domestic sphere.5Usually gender inequalities often happen in several areas such as in family, in education, and in the work field. Why this unfair thing often happens to woman than man, because many people see that woman is a weak person, so they think they can do anything to woman. St. Thomas Aquinas is sure that “woman is imperfect men".6 Women usually get unpleasant and unfair thing in work field, education, and law. For example in a film entitled Gracie, Gracie’s father did not permit his daughter to play football, besides he knew his daughter could play a football like a boy. Gracie’s father supposed that she could not fight against boy because she was the only a girl, Gracie’s father ever said to her that you were a girl meanwhile Johnny was a boy so you could not play football like Johnny. This case can be classified as gender discrimination because Gracie’s father permitted his boy to play football meanwhile he did not permit his daughter to play football. The injustice thing like

4

Alice,B Kehoe,Manifesting Power, p.17

5

Men, Gender Division, and Welfare, edited by Jennie Popay, Jeff Harn, and Jeanette Edard, p.19

6

Raman Selden,Panduan Pembaca Teori Sastra Masa Kini, Gajah Mada University Press, p.135


(13)

this often happened, and again the victim was woman. Certain society and culture sometimes distinguish woman and man from what they do every day. Girls shall do like girls playing Barbie, helping their mother, cooking in the kitchen etc. And men shall act like men playing football, hiking, climbing, etc. This is the society perception about man and woman.

Society perception towards women makes them inferiority and subordinate, because of that they must take a real action to change it. So many aspirations come from the feminist, such as: Sarah Grimke, Margareth Fuller, Virginia Woolf, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and many more, they are the first generation of feminist movement in the world (first-wave).7 They insist that there are no differences between men and women in all aspects, for example: in politic, government, education, law, and society. Because many of them still feel, there are differences between men and women in those aspects, especially in America. At that time there is no rights for women to give her voice in the election. The point of feminist movement is to change the society, culture, and men perception about women, and to get same opportunity, right, and gender equality with men in all aspects. Basically, there are many forms of feminism. They are Liberal feminism, Radical Feminism, Marxist feminism, and Socialist Feminism. Those forms of feminism were called as second wave’s feminist movement.

7

First-wave feminism refers to a period of feminist activity during the nineteenth and early twentieth century in the United Kingdom and the United States. It focused on de jure (officially mandated) inequalities, primarily on gaining women's suffrage (the right to vote). The term first wave was coined retroactively in the 1970s. The women's movement then, focusing as much on fighting de facto (unofficial) inequalities as de jure ones, acknowledged its foremothers by calling itself second-wave feminism. From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia retrieved on august 2008.


(14)

Feminist movement has inspired the film makers to raisewoman’s lifeand struggle as a story in her or his work. And one of the film makers who take a topic about woman’s life is Davis Guggenheim. Davis Guggenheim is an Academy Award-winning American film director and producer. Davis serves on the board the Creative Commons. He is married to actress Elisabeth Shue. Guggenheim is the son of Academy-award winning filmmaker Charles Guggenheim and Marion Guggenheim. He graduated from Brown University in 1986. His most recent film isGracie, which takes place in 1978. It is about a teenage girl who overcomes the loss of her brother and fights the odds to achieve her dream of playing competitive soccer. The film is loosely based on the experiences of his wife, Elisabeth Shue.8 This film told about the character of woman, named Gracie. She was fifteen years old, cute, energetic, hard worker and the most important thing was she loved football very much, where this game identical with men.

Gracie movie told about a woman character in a family life. Her family disagreed if their daughter played football like a boy. They thought football was boy’s game where woman could not play in this game. Moreover, when her brother died, Gracie felt alone in this world because only her brother could understand her. Her life began when she was fifteen years old. She and her big brother (Johnny) were very close and understand each other. But all of that things changed very fast when Johnny died. Gracie felt alone in this world because her parents and her small brother never respect her. Finally Gracie decided to play football like her brother (Johnny). But at that time there was no woman’s football

8


(15)

club, so if she wanted to play football she shouldplay with man’s football team. Before she could play football with man’s football club she must pass the test to play football with man’s football team. In this test Gracie got unpleasant thing from the man. They watched Gracie in the wrong place, the gender discrimination also happened to Gracie in family, Gracie asked her father to coach her playing football like Johnnie but her father rejected it and said to her.I coached Johnnie, Johnnie was a boy andit’s this simple. You’re not tough enough.Gracie’s father thought that women had no power to do something full of risk such as playing football. They always thought woman was weak and gentle. The situation encountered by Gracie was called gender inequalities that appeared because the existence of gender differences. Actually gender is not to be problem in so far as that is not bringing about gender inequalities. Gender inequalities are manifested in several forms such as violence, stereotype, marginalization, subordination, and burden which felt by women.

From those problems above, the writer is interested to analyze about gender discrimination and violence that happened to Gracie. Using relevant theories the writer wants to do a deeper analysis about gender discrimination and violence that happens to Gracie and how she solves her problem that happens to her. Through those considerations the writer gives a title on this paper“Gender Discrimination and Violence in Gracie Movie”.


(16)

B. Focus of the Study

Based on to the background of the study above, the writer focuses his research in gender discrimination and violence issue through Gracie’s character in a film entitledGracieusing relevant theories.

C. Research Question

Based on the background of the study and the focus of the study above, the writer formulates the question as follows:

1. What kinds of gender discrimination and violence are inGraciemovie? 2. What kinds of efforts are done by Gracie to fight against discrimination

and violence inGraciemovie?

D. Significance of the Study

The writer expects the result of this study gives some information about gender discrimination and violence in a movie, and for the readers who want to do a deeper analysis about gender concept in a movie or in another literary works.

E. Research Methodology 1. The Objective

The purposes of this research are to find out some kinds of gender discrimination and violence in Gracie movie, and then, to find out what kinds of efforts done by Gracie to fight against discrimination and violence inGraciemovie.


(17)

2. The Method

The writer uses qualitative method with a descriptive analysis in analyzing gender discrimination and violence that appears in Gracie movie.

3. The Instrument

The instrument of this research is the writer himself, by watching the whole ofGracie movie, grouping the dialogues and pictures of some characters about Gracie and analyzing the data that have relation with the relevant theories.

4. The Unit of Analysis

The unit of analysis is a film entitled Gracie; this film is directed by Davis Guggenheim and released in America on June, 1st2007.

5. Place and Time

This research began on August 2008 in the faculty of Adab and Humanities, State Islamic UniversitySyarif HidayatullahJakarta.


(18)

CHAPTER II

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

A. Discrimination

The problem remains in our society throughout the world is asymmetrical relationship between men and women. Indeed, the dominant position of men is persuasive that people often assume that this is the unbalance relationship between men and women which often called discrimination.

Discrimination is a practice of one particular group in society in unfair way.9 Another version said, Discrimination is unpleasant action to woman based on patriarchy’s faith that woman has attribute that they do not want. There are two actions which are categorized as discrimination, first is an action or policy that make woman get advantage from that action, this action is called positive discrimination. Second is an action or policy where woman does not get anything from it, this action is called negative discrimination. According to Heidi Hartman, he said that discrimination is a result from a long process interaction between patriarchal and capitalism.10 Gender discrimination is an effect of sex stratification, which means, the constructed social hierarchy that produces inequality, subordinating woman as a class to man as a class.

9

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, p.384

10


(19)

Discrimination toward or against a person or group is the prejudicial treatment of them based on certain characteristics. It can be positive behavior directedtowards a certain group, or negative behavior directedagainst a certain group. There are some kinds of discrimination such as race discrimination, age discrimination, language discrimination, and religious discrimination. From those criteria of discriminations, there is one kind of discriminations that often happened in society and family that is gender discrimination.

Basically, gender discrimination happens because of the gender differences between man and woman. Gender discrimination can happen toward man and woman, but commonly the victim of the gender discrimination is woman because in patriarchal system they consider woman is second creature after man. This perception makes many men think that they can do anything toward women.

B. Gender Differences

Many people assume that sex and gender is equal, in fact sex and gender are different. In English-Indonesian dictionary written by Hassan Shadily and John M. Echols, gender means sex.11 In other dictionary said, sex is the characteristics which distinguish male and female. Encyclopedia of Feminism distinguishes between sex and gender.“Gender is a term for the socially imposed division between male and female. Gender refers to the emotional and psychological attributes which a given culture expects to coincide with physical

11

Hassan Shadily and John M. Echols, An English-Indonesian Dictionary, Gramedia Pustaka Utama. p.265


(20)

maleness and femaleness”.12 In other words, every people were born as men and women, but biological structure and socio-cultural construction is the important thing to shape someone to be masculine or feminine.13 Another definition about gender according to Mansour Fakih, he said that gender is the identical characteristics for men and women constructed by socio-cultural perception. Gender characteristics that identical with men are strong, brave, breadwinner, and rational. Meanwhile gender characteristics that identical with women are maternity, gentle, weak, and emotional.14

Actually when people were born to the earth, they have had assignment to be masculine or feminine. Men in every country have great power than women, it means masculine in many countries and cultures have a great power to control feminine. So that, many feminists disagree, if feminine becomes the object of masculine. Actually, if there is no gender inequality, it means, there is no feminist movement. Unfortunately, because gender inequalities many feminist united to fight against men’s power or men’shegemony.15Gender inequalities make women experience unpleasant things such as prostitution,inferiority,16 sexual harassment, and violence.

Violence can happen to anyone, anytime, and anywhere, but, commonly the victim is women. Violence not only happens to women but also happens to

12

Asriati Jamil and Amany Lubis,Pengantar Kajian Gender, Jakarta: Pusat Studi Wanita UIN SYAHID, 2003, p.53-54

13

Ridwan, M.Ag,Kekerasan Berbasis Gender, Pusat Study Gender, p.17

14

DR. Mansour Fakih.Analisis Gender dan Transformasi Sosial, p.8

15

An order in which a certain way of life and thought is dominant, in which one concept of reality is diffused throughout society in all its institutional and private manifestations, informing with its spirit all taste, morality, customs, religious and political principles, and all social relations, particularly in their intellectual and moral connotation.

16

Inferiority is a situation of low or lower in importance or quality. In this case, it shows


(21)

men. Although violence also happens to men, the number of violence that happens to men is less than violence that happens to women.

C. Gender Discrimination

Actually, Gender differences are not problems but, in fact, they cause gender discrimination between men and women. Basically, gender differences are something natural but, for a long period gender differences bring injustice for men especially for women. In general, gender discriminations are a system of social structure that society puts women as man’s server. Gender discriminations are manifested into several things such as: marginalization, subordination, stereotype, violence, and burden. The explanation below tries to describe manifestation about gender discrimination as clear as possible.

1) Marginalization

Marginalization is elimination process that caused poverty toward women in economy, law, and education. There are several processes of marginalization to women caused by gender differences. The elimination process can come from conviction, religion, government policy, and culture or science assumption. Marginalization has happened to women since women lived at home. Moreover in several religions women is placed below men. This thing caused women in the corner of social life and marginalize. “Contohnya banyak suku-suku di Indonesia yang tidak memberi hak pada kaum perempuan untuk mendapatkan warisan sama


(22)

sekali. Sebagian tafsir keagamaan memberi hak waris setengah dari hak waris laki-laki terhadap perempuan”.17

2) Subordination

Subordination is an attitude, action, or society’s opinion to women where they put women lower than men. It means every women’s words and actions are not considered as important thing although they have done the right thing. Moreover, Society assumes that women are weak, emotional, and gentle. It causes women cannot be a leader in work field, society or household. Subordination is caused by gender differences that occur in some different form, place to place, and time to time. In society there are several things that cause subordination to women, and then the subordination manifests in work field. Society’sperceptions about women are irrational, weak, emotional, and gentle that causes women does not have opportunity to be a leader. Subordination to women position in work place becomes systematically and structurally. It looks in recruitment system and salary, and the other facilities that occur to women. In a family, usually girl has no an access as a boy to get education. Specifically, predominant gender roles and division of labor in household affect women’s economic rights partly because they limit women’s access to education and employment.18 For example, poor family has two children boy and girl. Their priority is a boy to get access education than

17

DR. Mansour Fakih (1996),op. cit.13-14

18


(23)

girl. This situation often happens toward woman because gender differences between man and woman.19

3) Stereotype

Generally, stereotype is a mark or label to certain group or individual with negative or positive perspective. Gender stereotypes20 are those ideas imposed by society of what is expected toward men and women in the social structure. In western cultures, men are expected to be assertive, risk-taking, tough, unfeeling, insensitive, combative, the owner or ruler of the home, meanwhile women are expected to be nurturers, caregivers, demure, polite, the family homemaker. One of the stereotypes comes from gender differences.21 There are some unfair things toward certain sex, usually women, that comes from gender differences.“Contohnya, penandaan yang berawal dari asumsi bahwa perempuan bersolek adalah dalam rangka memancing perhatian lawan jenisnya, maka setiap ada kasus kekerasan atau pelecehan seksual selalu dikaitkan dengan stereotype tersebut. Bahkan jika ada pemerkosaan yang dialami oleh perempuan, masyarakat berkecenderungan menyalahkan korbannya”.22

19

DR. Mansour Fakih (1996),op cit.15-16

20

The stereotype characteristic of feminine women includes passive, fragile, dependent, non-competitive, receptive, afraid to the risk, emphatic, non aggressive, maternal, unambitious, emotionally labile, intuitive, having low pain, tolerance, sensitive to inner feeling and to responses from other people. (Crowley and Susan Himmelweit; 1992)

21

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotype#Sex_and_gender_stereotyping. Retrieved on October 11, 2008

22


(24)

Basically, the stereotype to women is labeled by socio-cultural. Society judges that woman must be a good house wife; woman must be a cook for her family, etc. The category between men and women with all the attributes and their roles are not natural construction but the product of history. Subordination toward woman is not biological identity that identical with her, but, because the negative stereotype to her that is legalized by state, culture, policy, and religion.

4) Violence

Violence is an assault to physique or emotional someone. Violence happens to people basically comes from many sources, but there is one kind of violence happens to certain people comes from gender perspective. The violence happens because bias gender is called gender-related violence. Basically this violence is caused by bias power in society. In other words, who has great power can control another. Several kinds of violence based on gender differences occur in the level of household, state, and religion.

Almost all members of society have different role and labor division between men and women; sometimes the differences limit and hamper the potency of women and men that cause violence to certain sex. This violence occurs because men more dominant than women in society, state, and work field.


(25)

a. Violation. Violation occurs if someone forces to get sexual contact without willingness from women. This willingness cannot be expressed because several factors, for instance fear, shy, perforce in economy, social, even cultural or there is no choice.23 b. Physical Assault.This action often occurs in household (domestic

violence), including violence that happens to children (child abuse).24

c. Genital Mutilation. This action refers to sexual organs for instance, circumcision to women. There are some reasons about this action, but the strongest reason is to control women, but today this action seldom happens.25

d. Prostitution. Prostitution is one kind of violence which organized by economical mechanism. This mechanism brings detriment to women.26

e. Pornography. Pornography is a shape of emotional violence. Pornography is classified as violence because woman’s body is used as the object to get advantage for someone’s sake.

f. Sterilization. This action often happens in poor and developing countries. This violence is done to fulfill the government’s target and to control the number of birth. Actually this program occurs because bias gender and women must accept this action although

23

Ridwan, M.Ag,Kekerasan Berbasis Gender, Pusat Study Gender,op cit.25

24

Ibid. p. 28

25

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender- Related Violence. retrieved on June 28, 2009

26


(26)

this action is harmful for her body. This action is classified as gender related violence because many victims are women.

g. Molestation. This case happens if man touches or holds certain areas of women’s body with various ways and chances meanwhile women unwillingness her body is touched or holds. This violence often occurs in public room and public transportation such as bus, train, or work field.27

h. Sexual Harassment. A bad action toward woman and often happens in many places, is called sexual harassment, nowadays this action often happens toward woman in many countries. There are several actions can be classified as sexual harassment.28

 Conveying a rough joke toward woman offensively.  Hurting or making woman feels shy with the rough words.  Interrogating woman about her activity, sexual life, and her

private life.

 Asking sexual contact toward woman in promising to get a job or to get a promotion.

 Touching or holding woman’s body without her permission.

5) Burden

There is an opinion that women have characteristics like diligent and protective, so they are not suitable to be a leader in household. It causes all

27


(27)

jobs in household become women’s assignment. Consequently, many women shall do all jobs in house. Moreover for wives, they must serve her children and her husband at the same time. In some poor families, they must accept and responsible this burden alone, moreover if those women are worker. It means they get double burden, first their assignment at home and second in work field.

Many societies consider, domestic sphere is women’s assignment and they consider that this work is notproductive than men’s work in public sphere. Initially, women’s assignment in domestic sphere is formed by socio-cultural in order they accept that perception, actually women’s work in domestic sphere heavier than men’s work in public sphere. Moreover for women worker, they have double assignments, at home and at work field.29

29


(28)

CHAPTER III

RESEARCH FINDINGS

A. Data Description

After the writer watches the Gracie movie, the writer finds some statements as the corpus of the research. The analysis is about the data description of gender discrimination and violence in Gracie movie. The detail explanations appear in this following table.

The Table of Gender Discrimination and Violence Classification

No Corpus of the Research Scene Classification

1.

2.

3.

4.

Colasanti:if you’re gonna be the firstgirl on my team then you got to be better than good.and you got to act like you deserve to be there.

Kyle: everyone would be afraid to play hard because they’ll be worried about her breaking something or whining cause she’s bleeding. She can’t run as fast. She can’t kick as hard. I don’t want to lose cause of her.

Gracie’s father: it’s this simple. You are not tough enough.

Colasanti: the weigh room doesn’t open till eight. It’s for boys only.

9 8 3 4 Subordination Stereotype Stereotype Marginalization 19


(29)

5

6.

7.

8..

Gracie’s father:I coached Johnny. Johnny was a natural. Johnny was a boy!

Gracie’s brother: girl lose their brains when their boobs grow

Gracie:Stop! Stop it!

Kyle:you owe me 20 bucks, Curt

6 2 4 4 Marginalization Sexual Harassment Sexual Harassment Pornography

B. The Analysis

The protagonist is the central figure of a story, and is often referred as a story’s main character. The protagonist is also characterized by his ability to change or evolve.30 The writer considers Gracie as a main character in Gracie movie because the director shows Gracie’s actions and behaviors as a central figure of a story larger than any other characters. It makes the viewers can understand the main character clearly.

In this chapter, the writer tries to analyze this movie using two ways, firstly the writer shows the picture from theGraciemovie and secondly the writer quotes the dialogue or conversation from the Gracie movie which is categorized as gender discrimination and violence. In this analyze the writer uses gender theory as supported concept in easier understanding the Gracie movie. Furthermore, the usage of that theory tries to explain the relationship between pictures and dialogues which is categorized as gender discrimination and violence

30

Woro Endah Sitoresmi, The Analysis of Dieter Dengler’s of Defense Mechanism in Rescue Down Movie, p.18


(30)

in Gracie movie. From this method the writers expects the result of the analysis more accurate.

1. Gender Discrimination InGracieMovie

Gender discrimination is unfair action to certain creature that caused certain creature subordinate or got injustice. Actually gender differences -Masculine and Feminine -is not a problem during gender differences not bring gender discrimination. Commonly the victim that is caused gender differences is feminine; because feminine is considered as second creature after men and server of men they often got injustice from gender differences.

In Gracie movie, Gracie as a central woman character experienced various kinds of gender discrimination, it makes her subordinate and marginalize. In this movie the writer wants to show the actions that are classified as gender discrimination.

a. Subordination

Gracieis one of the films which tell about women oppression and gender inequalities caused by gender differences. Gracie as a major female character in this movie experienced various kind of discriminations. One of gender discrimination is caused by negative stereotype that labeled to feminine; in society gender perspective can create subordination to woman. For example gender perspective that women are weak, emotional, and irrational put women in lower position than men. It means woman position is not considered important thing.


(31)

As the explanation in theoretical framework that subordination is an attitude, action, or society’s opinion to women where theyput women lower than men. It means every women’s words and actions are not considered as important thing although they have done the right thing. These assumptions try to limit and eliminate woman’s action in many areas.

In Gracie movie, Gracie as major female character subordinates when she follows football tryout. Gracie experienced subordination from her coach (Colasanti), coach Colasanti placed her in junior varsity where this placed only for junior player. Coach Colasanti ever said if anyone can make a score in tryout, he or she can play in his team, but his promise not happened to Gracie whereas Gracie has made a score in tryout. Look at the figures and conversation below:

(Figure 1&2) Asking about the status

Colasanti : I know what you’re gonna say.

Gracie : I’m good enough.

Colasanti : that’s why your name’s on the board.

Gracie : yeah where?

Colasanti : junior varsity.

Gracie : junior varsity

Colasanti : if you’re gonna be the first girl on my team then you got to be better than good.and you got to act like you deserve to be there.

Gracie : I do deserve it.


(32)

The pictures and dialogues above describe that Graciesubordinatesfrom the main team. In tryout Colasanti said, if anybody can make a score they will play in the main team but, in fact it do not happen to Gracie, whereas in tryout Gracie made a score. Colasanti’s action to Gracie tries to eliminate her from the main team and it happens becausegender differences. Although Gracie has done the right thing Colasanti sees that Gracie does nothing. Colasanti’s word junior varsityshows that he tries to put Gracie in the lowest place.

b. Stereotype

In theoretical framework,stereotypeis a mark or a label to certain group or individual with negative or positive perspective. In western cultures, men are expected to be assertive, risk-taking, tough, unfeeling, insensitive, combative, the owner or ruler of the home, meanwhile women are expected to be nurturers, caregivers, demure, polite, the family homemaker.

Sometimes these stereotypes give advantages to woman, but, mostly give disadvantages to woman. It proves when Gracie asks an access for girls in sport. Connors and Kyle judge Gracie from the stereotype of woman, and it makes her so hard to get an access in football.


(33)

Gracie : and finally, title IX of the federal mandate requires access to sport for girls. Thank you.

Connie Bowsher : coach Connors, tell us what about title IX.

Connors : title IX means there is no money for girl’s soccer team but there’s no interest

Connie Bowsher : why is that?

Connors : Soccer is not considered a girl’s sport. The girls I know would rather watch it than play it.

Man : we offer girls’ gymnastics and field hockey any one of them could use a skilled athlete like miss. Bowen.

Kyle : everyone would be afraid to play hard because they’ll be worried about her breaking something or whining cause she’s bleeding. She can’t run as fast. She can’t kick as hard. I don’t want to lose cause of her.

The conversations and the pictures describe that at the court when Gracie asks an access for girls in sport, many people comment that woman is a passive creature and football not suitable for her. According to the theory that the woman’s negative stereotype is passive, fragile, dependent, non-competitive, receptive, afraid to the risk, emphatic, non aggressive, maternal, unambitious, emotionally labile, intuitive, having low pain, tolerance, sensitive to inner feeling and to responses from other people.31 It makes Gracie is hard to get an access for girl in football team. Kyle’s word, she can’t run as fast. She can’t kick as hard, shows that many people tend to see a woman from the negative stereotype of woman.

The negativestereotype toward women makes them considered as weak people. It means they have no same opportunity and same access like man in many areas. Stereotype also makes Gracie is considered as weak people by her father, her father considered Gracie is a weak person, although he knows her

31


(34)

daughter can play football, he realizes that this is football which need power and bravery to do it.

(Figure 5&6) Showing the skills

Gracie father : I’m calling it Gracie. You can’t even beat him. And he is not on the starting team!

Gracie : dad I can do this Gracie’s father : no, you can’t

Gracie : yes I can

Gracie’s father : it’s this simple. You are not tough enough.

The conversations and pictures describes that Gracie shows her father that she can play football as well as a man. But her father does not care what she has done. Although her daughter can play football he judges Gracie from thenegative stereotype of woman which woman is weak and gentle. Her father says that Gracie is not strong enough to be a football player, it proves many parents in certain culture and country considered woman is not suitable to be a football player. The situation is experienced Gracie can be classified as gender discriminationwhich is caused by thenegative stereotypeof woman.

c. Marginalization

Marginalizationis an elimination process which done by certain people to another. Marginalization can happen to anyone, but mostly the victim is


(35)

woman. Marginalizationtoward woman not only happens in work field, it also happens in household, society, culture, even state.32 Gracie as a major female character marginalize from her family because her father only cares about her boy (Johnnie). When Gracie asks him to coach her, her father says that he only wants to coach Johnnie because he is a boy.

(Figure 7&8) Angry to her father

Gracie : where were you when I was begging you? Where have you been my entire freakin’ life? Everything’s always been about Johnny. About your boys. You don’t care about me because I’m not of them.

Gracie’s father : I coached Johnny. Johnny was a natural. Johnny was a boy!

The pictures and the dialogues above describe that Gracie really is angry with her father because his attention only for Johnny, his boy. He never cares about Gracie. In certain cultures boys always get special attention from their parents. It is caused by genderdifferences between men and women. According to the theory thatmarginalizationis an elimination process, so her father’s action can be classified as the elimination process which marginalize his daughter (Gracie). Her father’s words “I coached Johnny. Johnny was a boy”as if shows that Gracie is not the important one, certainly it makes her marginalize.

32


(36)

Themarginalizationprocess also happens to Gracie in society. It happens when Gracie goes to the Gym, at gym he meets with Colasanti who train men’s football school at her school. Colasanti says that this gym is for boys only. It means Gracie cannot use this place. This case happens because the gender differencesbetween man and woman.

(Figure 9&10) In the weigh room

Colasanti : the weigh room doesn’t open till eight. It’s for boys only.

Gracie : are these written policies or just common practice? The girls’ gym weigh doesn’t have any weights. I can be here early and nobody would even know.

Colasanti : I’d know.

Gracie : is that such a burden?

Colasanti :I can’t break rules for you.

Gracie :fine.

The pictures and the dialogues above describe that Gracie experiences marginalizationfrom this rule that is caused bygender differences. Gracie as a woman cannot use facilities what the men can use. Coach Colasanti does not permit Gracie to use the weigh room. The situation is experienced by Gracie can be categorize as gender discrimination that causes marginalization to Gracie, because the weigh room only for boys not for woman. It means Gracie experiences unfair thing by men’s power. Colasanti’s words “the weigh room doesn’t open till eight. It’s for boys only” shows that Gracie has no same access


(37)

and opportunity like a boy. Certainly, this rule really marginalizes Gracie from this area.

2. Violence inGraciemovie

Violence is an assault to physique or physical someone. Basically, violence toward people based on many sources, but one of violence to certain sex is caused by gender differences. And the violence is caused by bias-gender called gender-related violence. Basically gender-related violence is caused by there is no balancing role in society. There are some kinds and forms that are categorized as violence:33

a. Sexual harassment

Sexual harassmentis one kind of violence that often happens to feminine because gender differences. This violence often happens to feminine because men’s domination in all aspects of life. In other words, masculine has great power to control and pressure feminine. In several aspects, sexual harassment is become a reason to be friend whereas this action only gives disadvantage to woman because they get unpleasant thing from this action.

Gracie as a central feminine character in this movie experiences sexual harassment from her brother, it is caused her brother considers he is better than Gracie. Her brother thinks that Gracie is only a woman, so he considers he can do

33


(38)

anything to his sister including convey rough word that makes her shy to her environment.

(Figure 11&12) In the dinning room

Gracie’s brother : girl lose their brains when their boobs grow

Peter : and Gracie must be really smart Gracie’s brothers : ha..ha..ha

The pictures and the dialogues above describes that in the dinning room when they are eating together her brother says “girl lose their brains when their boobs grow” to Gracie,according to the theoretical framework that who says an vulgar jokes to someone, and she or he feels getting hurt that action can be classified as sexual harassment. And her brother’s action to her it can be classified as thesexual harassmentbecauseher brother’s word makes Gracie shy to her environment. It looks at Gracie’s response. She is only silent when her brother says that jokes because she feels shy with her brother’s word.

b. Pornography

Another kind of violence also is experienced by Gracie that is pornography. Pornographyis classified as violence because someone’s body is


(39)

used to get advantage. In this case Gracie’s body is used as object by Kyle to win the bet with Curt.

(Figure 13&14) Meeting with Kyle at night club

Kyle : let’s do this. Just relax.

Gracie : stop!

Kyle : I mean look what are you wearing.

Gracie : stop…!

Kyle : hey I told you a Bowen can’t go all the way you are way out of your league. Sweetheart. You owe me 20 bucks, Curt.

Curt : yeah, whatever.

Gracie : oh my good.

The pictures and the dialogues describes that Kyle tries to get sexual contact with Gracie. Gracie does not know that her body is used as object by Kyle to win the bet. Gracie tries to reject Kyle but when she rejects it, Kyle saysYou owe me 20 bucks, Curt.At that time Gracie realizes that her body is used as object by Kyle to win the bet with Curt. According to the theoretical framework that Kyle’s action toward Gracie is classified aspornographybecause he tries to use Gracie’s body for his advantages.

3. Gracie’s efforts to break the problem

Basically human being has mind and thought to break the problem; this is a natural instinct to human being. From the analysis above, Gracie experiences various kinds of gender discrimination and violence. But she is not only silent; she


(40)

decides to face her problem alone about gender discrimination and violence toward her. There are some efforts done by Gracie to face gender discrimination and violence toward her, here they are Gracie’s efforts to break her problem from gender discrimination and violence.

a. Training with boys

Gracie realizes that the gender discrimination and violence has happened to her come from her society and family, especially from men. So, she realizes to change their perception about her she must play and work with boys.

(Figure 15&16) Training with boys

Gracie :so Boys’ Varsity Team, think I can do it?

Peter : tryout or make the team? If you want to play with boys you are gonna have to start training with them.

The conversation and the pictures describe that Peter suggests Gracie to play with football, if Gracie want to change men’s perception to her, she must act and do like men. And Gracie decides to take a risk with playing football together with men, although this thing is so hard to do it she must do it because this one of the efforts to break her problem from gender discrimination and violence toward her.


(41)

b. Convince her father

She is not only playing with boys to break her problem, but how to make them sure of her, so she must hard train to be stronger as well as men. Gracie hard trains morning till evening, she does it to prove her environment that woman is not weak creature. In this movie Gracie wants to make sure his father that he is better than Johnnie.

(Figure 17&18) Hard training Gracie’s father : all right. Chin-up.

Gracie : what?

Gracie’s father : let’s go, all right give me ten.

Gracie : did Johnnie do ten? Gracie’s father : at least, let’s go.

The conversation and the dialogue above describe that Gracie tries to make sure her father with doing what Johnny does in the past. When her father asks her to do chin-up and also asks her to give him ten, Gracie asks her father whether Johnny does ten, because she wants to prove her father that she can do anything what Johnny can do. This is her way to solve her problem from gender discrimination; her father always distinguishes her and Johnny. With hard training she wants to prove that she is better than Johnny so her father will not discriminateher with Johnny again.


(42)

c. Take the law lane

To change men’s perception is quiet hard, but Gracie never gives up changing their mind. In this case Gracie uses law lane to get justice and equality in sport. At that time there is no access for girls in sport, so she decides to take law lane to get justice. She visits Mrs. Connie Bowsher to help her to get justice. And Mrs. Connie Bowsher is ready to help Gracie.

(Figure 19&20) At court

Gracie : excuse me; I’m here to see a Connie Bowsher.

Woman : and you are?

Gracie : I really need to see him.

Woman : her

Woman : I’m Connie Bowsher

Gracie : can we talk about this? Gracie’s father : couldn’t change their mind?

Gracie : I have to file an appeal by tomorrow. Gracie’s father : need help?

Gracie : from you? And finally, title IX of the federal mandate requires access to sport for girls. Thank you.

The pictures and the dialogues describe that Gracie uses law lane to get equality and justice, she insists in order girls also can enjoy what the men enjoy in sport. Gracie uses law because she has no idea to take another way, and the point is Gracie wants equality between man and woman in sport. She asks anaccess to sport for girls,although she realizes about the consequences.


(43)

CHAPTER IV

CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION

A. Conclusion

After analyzing the gender discrimination and violence in Gracie movie, the writer concludes that there are several actions that can be classified as gender discrimination and violence. In this movie, gender discrimination manifests into several actions such as marginalization, subordination, and stereotype, these actions are classified as gender discrimination because these actions give disadvantages to Gracie.

In Gracie movie violence also manifests into several actions such as sexual harassment and pornography. Thee actions are classified as violence because these actions assault emotional or physique someone. Basically the gender discrimination and violence happens to Gracie based on the gender differences, gender differences has brought woman into low position they are considered as second creature after man.

In this movie, Gracie as the major female character experiences many kinds of gender discrimination and violence in society although in family. He experiences gender discrimination from his father, his brother, and his friend but it makes her stronger. Gracie is not silent to face gender discrimination and violence toward her, she fights back to change men’s perception and opinion toward her.


(44)

And it proves, when she tries to change men’s perception and assumption about her, she gets the result from her work, now her environment respect her and does not judges her that she is a passive, weak, and gentle woman. Now she is recognized with a hero because she brings her team to be a champion.

B. Suggestion

From the conclusion above the writer tries to show the viewer Gracie movie that the character of Gracie experiences many kinds of gender discrimination and violence. This research is just one way to interpret a literature. There are many ways that can be used to analyze and interpret the literature. From the Gracie’smovie main character, the writer suggests to do a research whether only her who experiences gender discrimination and violence. The writer realizes that this research is imperfect. It is needed deep research to relate more references that support this research.


(45)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Anonymous, Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Longman Group Ltd, 1978

Anonymous, Pengantar Kaijan Gender, Jakarta: Pusat Studi Wanita UIN Syarif Hidayatullah, 2003

Aristo, Salman.Seminar Membaca Film. Ciputat. 8 April 2008

Djajanegara, Soenardjati, Citra Wanita dalam Lima Novel terbaik Sinclair lewis dan Gerakan Wanita di Amerika, Fakultas Sastra Universitas Indonesia, Depok 1995

Djajanegara, Soenardjati, Kritik Sastra Feminis: Jakarta, Gramedia Pustaka Utama, 2003

Fakih, Mansour, Analisis Gender dan Transformasi Sosial: Yogyakarta, Pustaka Pelajar, 1996

Farkhan, Muhammad, Proposal Penelitian Bahasa dan Sastra: Jakarta, Cella, 2007

Gender, Planning, and Human Rights,edited by Tovi Fenster. Routledge, 1999 Gender reversal and gender cultures, edited by Sabrina Petro Ramet, Routledge,

1996

Humm, Maggie,Ensiklopedia Feminisme. Jakarta, Fajar Pustaka baru, 2002 Http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davis_Guggenheim

Http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film.

Http://www2.ivcc.edu/radek/Gender_2000/Gender%20Characteristics.htm. Http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotype#Sex_and_gender_stereotyping Manifesting Power,Edited by Tracy L. Sweely, Routledge, 1996

Men, Gender Division, and Welfare, edited by Jennie Popay, Jeff Harn, and Jeanette Edard, Routledge, 1998


(46)

Ratna, Nyoman Kutha, S.U, Teori, Metode, Dan Teknik Penelitian Sastra, Pustaka Pelajar, 2004

Ridwan, M.Ag, Kekerasan Berbasis Gender, Pusat Study Gender STAIN Purwokerto, 2006

Selden, Raman, Panduan Pembaca Teori Sastra Masa Kini, Gajah Mada University Press

Shadily, Hassan dan Echols, John, An English-Indonesian Dictionary: Jakarta, Gramedia Pustaka Utama, 1976


(47)

The Synopsis of

Gracie

Movie

Set in 1978, 'Gracie' is an inspirational film about a teenage girl who overcomes the loss of her brother and fights the odds to achieve her dream of playing competitive soccer at a time when girls' soccer did not exist. Based on true events from the lives of the Shue family (producer and co-star Andrew Shue, Academy Award-nominated actress Elisabeth Shue), the film is directed by Academy Award-winning director Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth), who happens to be part of the family as well, being married to Elisabeth Shue. The film also features a terrific 1970's soundtrack including classic songs from Boston, Blondie, Aretha Franklin, and the Boss, Bruce Springsteen.

Living in South Orange New Jersey, 15 year old Gracie Bowen (Carly Schroeder) is the only girl in a family of three brothers. Their family life revolves almost entirely around soccer: her father (Dermot Mulroney) and brothers are obsessed with the sport, practicing in the backyard's makeshift field every day from morning 'til night. Tragedy unexpectedly strikes when Gracie's older brother Johnny (Jesse Lee Soffer), star of the high school varsity soccer team and Gracie's only protector, is killed in a car accident.

Struggling with grief over her family's loss, Gracie decides to fill the void left on her brother's team by petitioning the school board to allow her to play on the boy's high school varsity soccer team in his place. Her father, a former soccer star himself, tries to prove to Gracie that she is not tough enough or talented enough to play with boys. Her mother, Lindsey Bowen (Elisabeth Shue) already


(48)

an outsider in the sports-obsessed family, is no help either. Undeterred, Gracie finds reserves of strength she never knew existed, and persists in changing everyone's beliefs in what she is capable of, including her own. Gracie not only forces her father to wake up from his grief and see her as the beautiful and strong person that she has always been but she also brings her family together in the face of their tragedy.


(49)

(1)

And it proves, when she tries to change men’s perception and assumption about her, she gets the result from her work, now her environment respect her and does not judges her that she is a passive, weak, and gentle woman. Now she is recognized with a hero because she brings her team to be a champion.

B. Suggestion

From the conclusion above the writer tries to show the viewer Gracie

movie that the character of Gracie experiences many kinds of gender discrimination and violence. This research is just one way to interpret a literature. There are many ways that can be used to analyze and interpret the literature. From the Gracie’smovie main character, the writer suggests to do a research whether only her who experiences gender discrimination and violence. The writer realizes that this research is imperfect. It is needed deep research to relate more references


(2)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Anonymous, Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Longman Group Ltd, 1978

Anonymous, Pengantar Kaijan Gender, Jakarta: Pusat Studi Wanita UIN Syarif Hidayatullah, 2003

Aristo, Salman.Seminar Membaca Film. Ciputat. 8 April 2008

Djajanegara, Soenardjati, Citra Wanita dalam Lima Novel terbaik Sinclair lewis dan Gerakan Wanita di Amerika, Fakultas Sastra Universitas Indonesia, Depok 1995

Djajanegara, Soenardjati, Kritik Sastra Feminis: Jakarta, Gramedia Pustaka Utama, 2003

Fakih, Mansour, Analisis Gender dan Transformasi Sosial: Yogyakarta, Pustaka Pelajar, 1996

Farkhan, Muhammad, Proposal Penelitian Bahasa dan Sastra: Jakarta, Cella, 2007

Gender, Planning, and Human Rights,edited by Tovi Fenster. Routledge, 1999

Gender reversal and gender cultures, edited by Sabrina Petro Ramet, Routledge, 1996

Humm, Maggie,Ensiklopedia Feminisme. Jakarta, Fajar Pustaka baru, 2002 Http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davis_Guggenheim

Http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film.

Http://www2.ivcc.edu/radek/Gender_2000/Gender%20Characteristics.htm. Http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotype#Sex_and_gender_stereotyping

Manifesting Power,Edited by Tracy L. Sweely, Routledge, 1996

Men, Gender Division, and Welfare, edited by Jennie Popay, Jeff Harn, and Jeanette Edard, Routledge, 1998


(3)

Ratna, Nyoman Kutha, S.U, Teori, Metode, Dan Teknik Penelitian Sastra,

Pustaka Pelajar, 2004

Ridwan, M.Ag, Kekerasan Berbasis Gender, Pusat Study Gender STAIN Purwokerto, 2006

Selden, Raman, Panduan Pembaca Teori Sastra Masa Kini, Gajah Mada University Press


(4)

The Synopsis of

Gracie

Movie

Set in 1978, 'Gracie' is an inspirational film about a teenage girl who overcomes the loss of her brother and fights the odds to achieve her dream of playing competitive soccer at a time when girls' soccer did not exist. Based on true events from the lives of the Shue family (producer and co-star Andrew Shue, Academy Award-nominated actress Elisabeth Shue), the film is directed by Academy Award-winning director Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth), who happens to be part of the family as well, being married to Elisabeth Shue. The film also features a terrific 1970's soundtrack including classic songs from Boston, Blondie, Aretha Franklin, and the Boss, Bruce Springsteen.

Living in South Orange New Jersey, 15 year old Gracie Bowen (Carly Schroeder) is the only girl in a family of three brothers. Their family life revolves almost entirely around soccer: her father (Dermot Mulroney) and brothers are obsessed with the sport, practicing in the backyard's makeshift field every day from morning 'til night. Tragedy unexpectedly strikes when Gracie's older brother Johnny (Jesse Lee Soffer), star of the high school varsity soccer team and Gracie's only protector, is killed in a car accident.

Struggling with grief over her family's loss, Gracie decides to fill the void left on her brother's team by petitioning the school board to allow her to play on the boy's high school varsity soccer team in his place. Her father, a former soccer star himself, tries to prove to Gracie that she is not tough enough or talented enough to play with boys. Her mother, Lindsey Bowen (Elisabeth Shue) already


(5)

an outsider in the sports-obsessed family, is no help either. Undeterred, Gracie finds reserves of strength she never knew existed, and persists in changing everyone's beliefs in what she is capable of, including her own. Gracie not only forces her father to wake up from his grief and see her as the beautiful and strong person that she has always been but she also brings her family together in the face


(6)