An ongoing struggle in the film industry is the need for better representation of women onscreen. While there has been a gradual improvement in the quality of the representations, it is still hard to weed out the characters that are fully fleshed out and the ones who act as support for the men in their stories.
Women are still used as props or plot devices in movies, and sometimes you might want to see women play more substantial roles. It can be extremely disappointing and frustrating to see the characters you are “supposed” to relate to fall into these basic tropes portrayed from a male perspective.
Enter: The Bechdel Test.
The Bechdel Test, named after cartoonist Alison Bechdel, comes from a comic she made which explains a rule with three criteria that a movie must have in order to be considered a good representation of women.
To pass the Bechdel Test, a movie must have at least two women who talk to each other about something other than a man. Depending on the specifics of a movie, the women must also be named.
Because the rule isn’t narrow, there are many movies that aren’t necessarily considered feminist that still pass the Bechdel Test. There are also movies that pass the test by only one conversation. While it may not be foolproof, this is still a great way to classify movies that give substance to the women involved.
To shine some light on movies that do pass the Bechdel Test, here are a few of my favorites that pass with flying colors.
Unpregnant (2020): This movie deals with the topic of teenage pregnancy and abortion as it follows two ex-best friends on a road trip from Missouri to New Mexico. While relationships with boyfriends and dads are mentioned in the two main characters’ conversations, it is never the entire focus, and they are both well-rounded characters without men. They discuss their goals, aspirations, insecurities, and friendship with each other, which makes for a relatable coming of age story.
Jennifer’s Body (2009): This newer cult classic is about a teenage girl who becomes a demon and eats men. Her best friend realizes what she is and tries to put a stop to it, which doesn’t go over well with the title character. This movie passes the test because there are plenty of conversations between the two women about their own friendship, betrayal, and of course, the whole demon thing. Although this movie isn’t necessarily empowering, it is regarded as a commentary on a woman’s sexuality and body autonomy all wrapped up in a feminist horror flick. This one might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it is definitely worth watching at least once.
Freaky Friday (2003): This iconic Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis movie focuses on the tumultuous relationship between a mother and daughter. The topic of boys, both in regards to Curtis’ and Lohan’s love interests, does come up throughout the plot, but the majority of their conversations have to do with trying to understand one another better. Aside from being another 2000’s classic, it’s nice to see wholesome and real representations of mother-daughter relationships onscreen.
Although a movie doesn’t have to pass the Bechdel Test to be considered good, it is still nice to see enjoyable movies that also include substantial roles for women. It’s my hope that we begin to see more and more popular films that include women with fully-rounded characters and storylines that serve a purpose.