Understanding Why the Bechdel Test Is Important in Media

The Bechdel test is a simple yet powerful tool for evaluating the representation of women in media. It's a straightforward three-part test that asks: do the women in a story talk to each other, do they talk about something other than a man, and do they have their own agency and motivations?

In the 1985 comic strip that introduced the test, Alison Bechdel's character Dykes to Watch Out For, the women in the story often spoke about men, but rarely about their own lives or desires. This lack of representation and agency is a common theme in many forms of media.

The Bechdel test has been used to highlight the lack of diversity and representation in many films and TV shows. For example, the 2013 film Frozen passed the test, while the 2015 film Mad Max: Fury Road did not.

The Bechdel test is a simple yet powerful tool for evaluating the representation of women in media. It was created by Alison Bechdel in 1985.

It's a test that asks three basic questions: do the movie or TV show have at least two named female characters, do these characters talk to each other, and do they talk about something other than a man? The test is not meant to be a definitive measure of a movie's quality or feminist credentials, but rather a way to gauge the presence and agency of women in the story.

The test is not meant to be a definitive measure of a movie's quality or feminist credentials, but rather a way to gauge the presence and agency of women in the story.

The Bechdel Test is a simple yet powerful tool for evaluating the representation of women in media. It's named after cartoonist Alison Bechdel, who created it in 1985.

The test has three criteria: two named female characters, who talk to each other about something other than a man. This might seem obvious, but it's surprising how many movies and TV shows fail this test.

The Bechdel Test is not just a fun game, it's a serious measure of sexism in storytelling. It's a way to identify and challenge the ways in which women are marginalized and excluded from the narrative.

In fact, studies have shown that only about 30% of movies pass the Bechdel Test. This means that most movies don't even meet the basic standard of having two women talk to each other about something other than a man.

Movies that pass the Bechdel Test tend to be more nuanced and realistic in their portrayal of women. They often have more complex and multidimensional female characters, which makes for more engaging and satisfying storytelling.

Including women in your stories is a simple yet effective way to pass the Bechdel Test. It's not about forcing a conversation between women just to meet the criteria, but about creating a more realistic and inclusive world.

You don't need to write a film with only women, but if you're writing a traditional story with a main character interacting with an extended cast, ask yourself why all the supporting roles are given to men. Could women perform the same roles and bring something different to the interactions?

Women are fully formed humans with lives outside of their male counterparts, and this should be reflected in your writing. Real people often talk about their feelings and goals, and women are no exception.

It's okay to write about characters who have feelings and goals related to men, but don't make those things all-consuming to the female character. Having a deeper understanding of her motivations and desires will lead to fuller characters and more realistic conversations.

The Bechdel test is just one way to gauge how females are represented in works of fiction, but it's not a clear indicator of how feminist or even how good a work is. It also doesn't take representation into account.

Some industry figures have devised new tests to encompass a broader spectrum of issues. For example, actress and writer Lena Waithe created the Waithe test, which requires a film to have a black female character in a position of power and a healthy relationship.

Writer/producer Ligiah Villalobos suggests a movie should have a Latina lead who is not sexualized, speaks unaccented English, and is shown as professional and educated to pass her test.

Kate Hagen from the Black List thinks half of single-scene roles should go to women, and at least the first crowd scene should include 50 percent women.

Other tests look at film crews, other ways women are included in a cast, or how female protagonists are written. Some tests are complicated, and some are simple.

Here are some alternative tests mentioned in the article:

The main takeaway is that if you're doing your best to create a fictional world that adequately reflects reality, you're doing fine. There are always ways to get better!