The Bechdel Movie Test, sometimes referred to as the Bechdel Rule, is a way to gauge the active presence of women in movies. Developed in 1985 by Alison Bechdel, famous Hollywood films can be scrutinized by these three simple questions:
1. Does the film have at least two named female characters?
2. Do these named female characters talk to each other?
3. Do these named female characters talk to each other about something other than men?
Surprisingly, many popular films fail this test, which underscores what little presence women have on the silver screen. It is interesting to notice how many movies are centered on male characters, even with women as the main roles. Not passing the Bechdel Test does not mean a movie innately promotes sexist ideologies, but it can be interpreted that way. Why writers can’t produce screenplays that present women as autonomous beings is something I can’t answer, but I can show you why some of your favorite movies pass (or fail) the Bechdel Test.
The Hunger Games
When you live in a post-apocalyptic world, you have more things to worry about than chatting about guys. The Hunger Games has a handful of named female characters that interact numerous times about a multitude of topics. There is no question that The Hunger Game movies pass the test with flying colors
The Great Gatsby
There are many important female characters in the film (Daisy, Jordan, and Myrtle, to name a few), and they do interact with each other, though briefly. Jordan and Daisy are seen conversing when Nick, the narrator, enters. However, we do not know what they are talking about. I’d like to think it’s about something other than men because well, women’s lives do revolve around something other than the male species. Myrtle and her friends also talk to each other about an array of topics, but again, not for very long. The Great Gatsby does pass all three tests, but barely.
21 Jump Street
There’s no denying the comic genius that is 21 Jump Street, but the hit movie does not pass. The plot is very much male-oriented, and though it does have more than two named characters who are women, their brief conversation is about Schmidt, a man. Perhaps the upcoming sequel will be more progressive and have an active female presence.
The Avengers
This action-packed hero movie does have two named female characters, but, surprisingly, they have no interaction. At all. In the entire film. This is very much a male-dominated movie, and although there are “strong female characters” (a cliché in itself), by having them talk to only men, their autonomy is decreased. It appears as though these characters cannot have a presence without a man’s assistance.
Frozen
Two named female characters? Check. Who talk to each other? Check. About something other than a man? Check! Disney’s newest animated film definitely passes! The two main characters, Anna and Elsa, are sisters with a detailed backstory, making them diverse characters. Frozen is mainly about the bond of sisterhood and their connection throughout their lives. It gets two big thumbs up.
American Hustle
While this movie does pass the Bechdel test, it only does so with some debate. There are at least two named characters who talk to each other (Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence), but their conversation focuses mostly on Christian Bale’s character, wavering off to another topic at the end. Also, Jennifer Lawrence’s character does speak to a politician’s wife, but they discuss nail polish and perfume. Progressive? Not really.
The Hobbit
To finish off the list, The Hobbit fails all three parts of the test. There is only one named female character in the entire cast. Many people give The Hobbit slack because it is based off the book by Tolkien. However, Peter Jackson, the film’s director, changed many aspects of the novel to make it more entertaining. Could he have added another female character to add a more diverse presence? That’s up for you to decide (but, in my opinion, yes, he could have).