We can look at the results for each show, broken down by test step. In 1985, American cartoonist Alison Bechdel included the idea for the Bechdel test (also known as the BechdelWallace test) in a comic strip called The Rule. The Social Network stars Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin . In 2020, the archive shows that 78 films passed the Bechdel Test out of 329 films released in the U.S. and Canada. Tangled (rated PG): Rapunzel and Mother Gothel have enough interaction to help Tangled easily pass the test. 11 The Imitation Game Based on the 1982 biography Alan Turning:. Aw, Sorkin, you charmer,you. The single episode with the most Nurse/Nurse interaction, they were basically spending the episode bitching about Maj. Hoolihan. Journal Media does not control and is not responsible for user created content, posts, comments, But times are changing and there are a handful of incredible examples of ladies crushing mainstream media. Absolutely. It's worth noting though that this is in a series that shows women's asses at every opportunity & had gold-painted dancing girls earlier. This site uses cookies. policy. Theres maybe 3.5 major female characters (Skyler, Marie, Lydia who came in late, arguably Andrea) and they rarely talk to each other. Her best friend and coworkers are there for her, even at her lowest. Starring Jeon YeoBeen (as Hong JiHyo) and Afterschool's NaNa (as Huh BoRa), "Glitch" is a dazzling celebration of female friendships and WLW relationships, and the theme is brought out with the utmost grace and delicate nuance. Lauren OCallaghan. How it passes: The Hunger Games (opens in new tab) actually passes the Bechdel Test in the very first scene. This show will be missed. If youve never seen Workin Moms, stop what youre doing right now, open Netflix, and cue up an episode ASAP. It gets uncomfortable at times, but their stellar performances keep us glued. The movie: The 2016 Ghostbusters (opens in new tab) film is technically the third film in the franchise, but actually serves as a reboot, replacing the four main male characters with female alternatives - played by Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones. The best movies that pass the Bechdel Test are the ones that really, truly, pass with all the flying colors. Issa Rae embodies all of these qualities in her character, Issa. The movie: In this particular post-apocalyptic world, children are sent to battle to the death on TV. Im not completely certain, but possibly the original Star Trek? Where this show shines with regard to the Bechdel test is her relationship with her first captain Philippa Georgiou, and then further on with Captain Tilly. I dont think its really within the spirit of the test to count a brief conversation in a single episode of a TV series that ran for years as a pass. 483623. And you know when else Insecure passes the Bechdel test? This is straightforward, as the transcripts contain scene indicators, usually. TH3 RUNDOWN. New York? Next up, consideration of film beyond this basic test. Enter search term: Or, you can show the list for one or more years: 1. One of the biggest movies of the 21st century features no dialogue between two named female characters. Will and Grace also scores highly, through Grace-Karen and to a lesser extent Karen-Rosario conversations. The Bechdel Test is a metric used for measuring how women are represented in a given film. 1. Most are finallypassing the Bechdel test, aka a test that analyzes a scene where two or more women talk about anything else other than men. Land acknowledgements are a way for us to reflect upon the duality of our work while we work within our team, our community, and our client organizations to promote greater inclusivity and abolish inequities, we ourselves still perpetuate and contribute to various forms of historical and present oppression. Frasier performs similarly badly; although it had two female characters in the main cast, Roz and Daphne interacted relatively rarely (this pairs conversations passed the BT in only 14% of episodes). Anyone else feel like going for a little drive? An extra big kick in the nuts to Star Wars fans: The prequel trilogy actually passes the test (partially). Next on the list is the 2010 biographical drama movie The Social Network which also doesn't pass the Bechdel test. So, what is the Bechdel Test? A movie is typically no more than 2-3 hours long, while the complete run of a successful TV series could add up to over 100 hours. Seriously, George, why is the whole galaxy a sausage fest? Remember the test was originally invented to help lesbians find movies theyd like. Lauren OCallaghan. When you finish the breakdown, you will have a full measure of the quality of the female presence. Finally, although we can guess what the result will be, I computed the male equivalent of the test: two male characters must talk about something other than a female character. Director and Producer James Cameron first wrote the script in 1994 and it took a whole 15 years before the film was made and released. The Bechdel Test is a type of sexism test in the bracket of films. Cue epic action sequences, horrendously troublesome gameplay tactics, and even a little bit of romance. If you were ever looking for a film that could pass the Bechdel Test, this would be it. Pretty sure Peep Show passes the Bechdel test. The Wire had a lesbian couple, but they werent a focus. The View from the Window by Carina Paredes-Rivera. Are there any TV shows you can think of though that fail the Bechdel Test? American supervillain. The Bechdel Test is a way of evaluating the representation of women in film. They might as well be talking to themselves (or, more likely, the audience). The squads a little more preoccupied with ghost bustin than affairs of the heart, and casually saving the world from an evil menace. Pen15 might give you flashbacks to being a preteen. 5. Then again, its possible that the nurses exchanged at least a few lines complaining about their living conditions, talking about the war, etc., and a conversation about treating a patient who happens to be a man is arguably not really a conversation about a man. 6) Encanto. Books? We all play a part in creating a more equitable and just workplace and world. To join our community, just fill out the form below. You can change your settings or, 10 surprising films that fail the feminist Bechdel test, Mary Berry Cooks / Headline Publishing Group, These women have a conversation with each other. G LOW, Netflix's new series about a troupe of female wrestlers in the 80s, opens with a dig at the lack of roles for women in the entertainment business. City Lights (1931) G | 87 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance 8.5 Rate 99 Metascore EEEP! Amongst civil unrest and economic collapse, Theo unwittingly becomes responsible for a young pregnant refugee, Kee, who he must protect against all odds. A Medium publication sharing concepts, ideas and codes. It covers domestic violence, marriage hardships, and the misconception of perfection. If you need a reminder of how strong women are, then turn on Glow. A film that excavates layers of myth and memory to find the elusive truth at the core of a family of storytellers. Note: Your privacy is important to us, so please know that your information will always remain confidential! REVIEWS. While they both grapple with these feelings, we get to see how gorgeously complicated the human experience is through the lens of this intense and beautifully acted series. Often, the two women must be named, prominent characters to meet the criteria. Stay tuned by signing up for our newsletter! If you havent, then youre missing out on the creative genius that is Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson. Bath top of page. Avatar (2009) James Cameron's 2009 blockbuster movie does have strong feminist themes but fails the Test in one key aspect: its strong female leads Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) and Dr. Grace Augustine . Congratulations to Fast & Furious 7: Furious 7 for becoming the fifth movie in Big Stupid Movie Month to pass the Bechdel test. 20th Century Fox. Killing EveVillanelle and Eve are the two stars of this thriller series and have a relationship like weve never seen before. Another rule, that is sometimes included, is . But even then, she doesnt really speak. By providing the information below you will receive early-bird invitations to our events, exclusive musings tailored to your interests, and access to our curated mentorship program. Sounds simple, right? Friends, Will and Grace, and Married With Children had more conversations between different gender characters than same gender. Should it be dismissed entirely? Did you see that fight scene where there was no music and she was just fighting and it was painful and awful and brilliant? The only problem is that the conversation is about Jake, who, you probably noticed, is a man. How it passes: Its true that Frozen (opens in new tab) only has two named female characters, but the movie is literally about them and their relationship to each other. supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and the Office of the Press Ted LassoWhile it may be a mans name in the title, this might be one of our favorite TV shows that passes the Bechdel test with flying colors. The Bechdel Test, if youre not familiar with it, is a benchmark for movies developed by Alison Bechdel in 1985. However, since her name is never mentioned in the film, it fails the test. and indemnify Journal Media in relation to such content and their ability to make such content, The test is named for Alison Bechdel, creator of the comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For, who made it known to the world with this strip. The world has changed since the Bechdel-Wallace Test was created Hulu When The Bechdel-Wallace Test first appeared in 1985, the world was an entirely different place. Yes, theres boy drama and girl drama (Kat identifies as bisexual), but the show isnt about romantic relationshipsits about friendships. All rights reserved. Are there any TV shows that fail the Bechdel Test. Married With Children went in the other direction. pic.twitter.com/rW4NDxMObf Seamus Ryan (@meanderingtripe) March 1, 2021 Theyre primarily white and primarily male and it makes sense that those who control the stories, will ensure they reflect their own world views. TV shows tend to run far longer than movies and thus, most of them end up passing the Bechdel Test. In some cases, my processing couldnt pick up the scene breaks, or the transcripts didnt contain any; these episodes are each treated as one long scene, which makes it easier to pass this first step, but only slightly easier to pass the other steps than when scenes are properly detected. But if females are in the story, theres no reason cant they be involved in at least one conversation with each other. To search the database, enter a search term below. The test is named for Alison Bechdel, creator of the comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For, who made it known to the world with this strip. She joined GamesRadar+ in 2017, revitalizing the news coverage and building new processes and strategies for the US team. CONTACT. By continuing to browse, you agree to the use of cookies. I assume Yeoman Rand and Sulu dont count. They exchange quips a few times, such as when Mrs. Weasley utters the iconic line of "Not my daughter, you bitch" to Bellatix as she protects Ginny. The movie: The Bride is hellbent on - surprise surprise - killing Bill because he and his assassins tried to kill her and her unborn child many years ago. Do those bacta tanks grow babies,too? Probably because, well, just have a look at this article to see who sits behind the camera. Emma Stone chills, sings, dances and colour-coordinates her outfits with her three gal pals, buuuut the friends themselves are never named. SuperJail, unless JailBot is female. Toy Story is such a beloved film to so many, but it unfortunately doesn't pass the test. Fox Searchlight Pictures. The Bechdel Test asks three key questions about a movie's female characters. We are now operating in a virtual space, but we can still honor and name the physical spaces we all inhabit. Fantasies are notoriously male-dominated (Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, we see you!). Grace and FrankieHow often do we get to see older women rise up against adversity with a whole lot of laughter and a whole lot of love? And, sure, maybe its not realistic to have female characters in historically accurate movies set on ships in the 18th century, such as 2003sMaster and Commander with Russell Crowe, which features zero females. That said, I wouldnt be terribly surprised if MASH** didnt pass even that loose version of the test. Content copyright Journal Media Ltd. 2023 Registered in Dublin, registration number: England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Younger is a marathon-worthy series about a fortysomething who pretends to be in her twenties in order to break back into publishing. Most are finally passing the Bechdel test, aka a test that analyzes a scene where two or more women talk about anything else other than men. Its authentic to life, and theyre all trying to make their way in New York. To pass this step I looked for a three-line sequence. Failing the test doesnt mean the movies evil or anti-woman, or that passing makes it some sort of strongly feminist movie. Rate. Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice. The women of this show are complex and the show does a wonderful job of passing the Bechdel test, focusing on their friendships, their careers, their kids. Thank you for subscribing to ENTITY. Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled. PH: (01) 6489130, Lo-Call 1890 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie. Not only are the relationships between the female characters strong and loving (see: Rebecca and Keeley, Nora, Noras mom Sassy, and the powerful moments between Rebecca and her mother), one might argue that Teds lack of patriarchal bullshit is what makes him a part of the feminist society ideal that many of us wish for. In 1985, American cartoonist Alison Bechdel. Heres an excerpt on research conducted on film and gender in 2021: After reaching historic highs in 2020, the percentages of women directing top grossing films declined in 2021. But what makes this show pass the Bechdel test so handily is her relationship with her manager played by the brilliant Alex Borstein (she is everything). She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. Although they spend a good portion of the film apart they still manage to have a many conversations about important things like their love for each other and saving their Kingdom from a perpetual winter. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Wire service provided by AFP and Press Association. This Canadian-made comedy about friends navigating motherhood will have you laughing out loud. It has a lot of well written three dimensional women, but theyre spread far apart from each other. Plus, the entire film is about a young woman and her pregnancy (which could save the world), and the fact that the main character is a man is more incidental than anything else. *WaitShore Leave has two women on the planet at the same time. Although there is some discussion about the beauty of Chris Hemsworths character at some points - and how ditzy he is. I think it's a show that has great female characters. Despite all the bitchy girl-on-girl crime that goes on though, at its heart this film is about female friendships and how complicated they can be. Then it might be kinda shocking to find out that out of 2,500 movies, only about half pass the test. Here are ten television shows today that pass the Bechdel Test. There must be two female characters in the scene. Swedish cinemas take aim at gender bias with Bechdel test rating Movies need to pass test that gauges the active presence of women on screen in bid to promote gender equality Jennifer. The show is set in the world of 80s womens wrestling and follows an out-of-work actress who decides to achieve fame by wrestling. Couldn't have used all that time to write in a conversation between two female characters that wasn't Neytiri and her mother discussing Jake, about, I don't know - like the fact that their whole planet was under threat of being destroyed? The female characters must talk to each other. (Though it should be called the Bechdel-Wallace test, according to the lesbian cartoonist Alison Bechdel, who helped create it.) In a film about violence and mafiosos, Karen ( Lorraine Bracco) and Rosie ( Illeana Douglas) manage to squeeze in a Bechdel Test pass with a conversation about Florida. submissions or preferences. 10 Films and TV Shows that pass Bechdel's Test. Shes also right pretty much all of the time and her male captains need to listen to her more often. Beyond the central relationship between those two women, any time theres a moment between women features the show at its best. ), and there werent as many scenes that passed the Bechdel test in this season as there were in its first, but its absolutely still worth mentioning. Why? But it goes much further than this, with Katniss having a variety of conversations with other women, ranging from her mother and Rue, to the delightfully colourful Effie Trinket, and only once does a romance get mentioned in one conversation between Katniss and Rue. They each have their own baggage which we learn about over time (and theres definitely more to unpack). and RollingNews.ie unless otherwise stated. Eat Sleep Die (2012) If youre behind on this one, too, then Im honestly kinda surprised you even know what movies are. To pass, a movie must have two named women converse about something other than a man. Um, no. The Bechdel test was designed by cartoonist Alison Bechdel in 1985. That doesnt mean its not funny, though! She later also attributed the idea to her friend Liz Wallace and to Virginia Woolfs writings. Employment is overrated. Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Let us know! The best part about Girls is that the characters arent that likable. The series begins with the three of them working at Scarlett magazine (inspired by Cosmopolitan), and four seasons later, theyre still best friends and bonafide badasses. Mrs. Maisel is about a woman who is getting a divorce from her husband who cheated on her and finds her voice as a comic in the 1950s/60s and to be clear, she is definitely seen as a female comic. In fact, the example Bechdel gave as a film that passed the test was Alien, simply because Ripley and Lambert have a brief conversation about the alien. Please note that uses cookies to improve your experience and to provide Whats not to love? They trade quips a few times, like when Prof. McGonagall makes a comment about always wanting to use that spell to Mrs. Weasley when she brings the stone statues to life, or when Mrs. Weasley calls Bellatrix a bitchbut no one actually responds and, yknow, talks. The Bechdel test ( / bkdl / BEK-dl) [1] is a measure of the representation of women in film (and, by extension, in fiction in general). In order to pass, the film or show must meet the following criteria: It includes at least two women, note who have at least one conversation, note about something other than a man or men. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: PartII. Seinfeld, Frasier, and The Office have more male than female main characters, so inevitably there are many more male-male than female-female conversations. Some of the most popular films of all time fail The Bechdel Test, and often for reasons you may have never considered. And its been surprisingly challenging for movies and TV shows to pass this basic test. How it passes: Both the main characters are named women, who talk to each other a lot about football, their families, and yes, occasionally boys. For more information on cookies please refer to our cookies Movies that fail the Bechdel test tend to have higher IMDB ratings. The data Im using are the same as introduced in this previous post: episodes transcripts for most episodes of seven major sitcoms from the last 30 years. Mark Zuckerberg and his buddies spend two hours screwing over each other and everyone else around them in pursuit of Facebook billions, apparently in an attempt to prove that nerds cant havefriends. 2. Who talk to each other. In a world where superhero movies reign supreme, it's hard to imagine any of them not passing the Bechdel Test. posts, comments and submissions available. The movie also includes Jess sister Pinky and a whole host of other named women on the football team, and besides that, the basic message of the movie is that women can do anything even become professional footballers. Then again, its possible that the nurses exchanged at least a few lines complaining about their living conditions, talking about the war, etc., and a conversation about treating a patient who happens to be a man is arguably not really a conversation about a man. Don't get too bogged down in the requirements of the Bechdel Test test though because even if you're not sure what it means, every film on this list is a great movie in its own right, so you won't be disappointed. Shes brilliant and weird and is really really good at choosing great roles. Theres a 99% chance youve seen at least one episode of Broad City. The Bechdel Test - Everything You Need To Know No Film School 116K subscribers Subscribe 150K views 4 years ago This video essay is part of the "Everything You Need to Know" series created. None of the female characters in the film actually have a conversation. Rebecca Nicholson. And as a sidenote, can we just say, basically anything that Laura Dern does is freaking gold. Take Game of Thrones for example. There's only two named female characters in the whole of the 2008 Oscar winner of Best Picture: Jamal's mother (who dies early on), and Jamal's love interest. Having acquired hundreds of sitcom episode transcripts, I can apply the test programmatically to each episode of these . The Wheel of TimeIn a rare turn of events, we have one of two fantasy series on the list! The movie: Jess loves football, but she comes from an orthodox Sikh background, which means her traditional parents want her to give up playing and go to university, become a doctor, and marry a nice Indian boy. The Bechdel Test is a simple test which names the following three criteria: (1) it has to have at least two women in it, who (2) who talk to each other, about (3) something besides a man. The movie: This dystopian movie paints a bleak picture of a future where humanity has lost the ability to reproduce. The dramedy follows Issa, her best friend Molly, and their other girlfriends as they navigate life in Los Angeles. In order to pass the test, a film must feature at least two women who speak to each other on a subject that does not revolve around men. The Bechdel Test is a test for whether a movie contains: Its commonly used as a commentary about the lack of female representation in Hollywood. Growing up, TV was mostly used as a way to entertain oneself. News images provided by Press Association . Third, that conversation must be about something other than a man. There are also a handful of episodes that do not pass either test (grey). Cinderella. Women comprised 17% of directors working on the 250 top grossing films in 2021, down from 18% in 2020. The movie's total kill count of . Miramax Films. "Glitch". Sadness, joy, frustration, bittersweetness. This test attempts to acknowledge the disparity between female and male characters in media. Red flags that you're dealing with a man-child. About something besides a man Movie list 2023 (5 movies) Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Infinity Pool Missing Pathaan Reflect 2022 (153 movies) The 355 A Fada do Lar A Man Called Otto The Adam Project All the old knives Like Harry Potter, there are a few brief moments where female characters say a single line at each other, but they dont actually hold a conversationexcept in one scene, where Neytiri and her mother have a drawn out discussion. Women make up more than half of the population, but it seems that theres still a problem with representation in films and on television. Cartoonist and graphic novelistAlison Bechdel came up with a test when she was younger that a movie had to have: For her to see the movie, it had to pass these three standards, and this test was first featured in her 1985 column Dykes to Watch Out For.. I cant remember a landing party with more than one female. The Bechdel test is a simple test to evaluate films (and other media) for portrayals of women. The film follows three different possible outcomes for her actions and explores her relationships and interactions with the people and the world aroundher. But it easily passed the Bechdel test, focusing on their badass careers saving an entire CITY and their friendships. Currently, only the titles of the movies are searchable. I havent sat down to do a critical analysis or anything, but I bet 95% of Breaking Bad episodes would fail the test. Toy Story is such a beloved film to so many, but it unfortunately doesn't pass the test. Yes, please. Its pass rate drops dramatically at steps 2 and 3. Overall, women accounted for 25% of those working in key behind-the-scenes roles (directors, writers, executive producers, producers, editors, cinematographers) on the top 250 grossing films in 2021, up from 23% in 2020. Heres how it works. The Bechdel Test -- created by Alison Bechdel in her 1985 comic, "Dykes to Watch Out For" -- is a well-known measurement of gender bias in movies. Its exciting to see them roll up with their emotional Away bags and yet be really nervous to unpack them in front of each other. Star Wars: The Last JediWhile Carrie Fisher has always been a strong female presence in the Star Wars series, The Last Jedi takes female interaction to a whole new level. For fun, how about shows that not only regularly pass the normal test but fail the reverse Bechdel Test?