Would Your Favorite Movies Pass the Bechdel Test?

Quick, think of your top five favorite movies. Go on, do it, I can wait.

Got them? Beautiful. Now, think about the characters in those five movies. We’re going to do a quick test to find out how woman-friendly your favorite films might be by using a simple measure known as the Bechdel Test. Developed by comic writer Alison Bechdel in 1985, the Bechdel Test is a means of measuring female presence in movies. It asks three simple questions: 1) Does the movie contain two or more named female characters? 2) Do they talk to each other? and 3) Do they talk to each other about something other than a man?

Keep in mind, it’s not a measure of how good a movie is, or how feminist-y it should be considered- it’s simply a measure of female presence, and the characters’ ability to engage in something other than the discussion of men. And if you’re like me, a lot of your favorite movies don’t pass. In fact, I’m not sure any of my favorite movies pass. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with a movie focusing on male characters, the fact of the matter is that this failure of female presence isn’t exemplified in just a handful of films: it’s systematic.

If you think of films that pass the Bechdel test, or even just films that feature women interacting with other women, chances are the vast majority of those films are romantic comedies, or geared towards children. While there’s nothing wrong with the occasional “chick flick”, failing to portray women in a more proactive and complex light trivializes real issues. In action movies there’s typically one, if any, female character who is allotted an active roll, while the other women serve as background to the scene (strippers, prostitutes, waitresses, etc). Instead of being identified as fully realized characters, most women in films are marginalized and objectified, and portrayed as servants to the male leads. I understand that some movies are geared toward a male audience, but the complete exclusion of complex women from male-centered movies reinforces the idea that men don’t have to and shouldn’t care about women’s issues and women’s stories.

Remember, a movie passing the Bechdel Test doesn’t mean it’s necessarily a good movie. But the fact of the matter is that there’s a lack of visibility of complex female characters in most major Hollywood films. Furthermore, it reinforces the societal notion that women’s stories are not worthy of being told and therefore are not important. So the next time you and your friends are about to spend a precious $9.75 at the Regal, just think for a minute about whether or not your film choice would pass the Bechdel Test by asking these three simple questions:

1) Does this movie have at least two named women?

2) Do the women talk to each other?

3) Do they talk about something besides men?

If the answer is “yes” to all three of these questions, then congratulations, you might be about  to view a film with genuine female presence. Treat yourself to some popcorn! Happy viewing, everyone.