What is The Bechdel-Wallace Test and Why Does It Matter?
Recently, the lack of female representation behind the scenes and in front of the camera in the entertainment industry has become a hot topic. Whether it’s pay discrepancies between actors and actresses or the lack of diverse characters, we’re finally talking about what’s been apparent for so long: women aren’t represented in the media to the degree that they exist in the world. Recognition of the issue has grown throughout 2015 and for good reason! The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media found that in popular movies across 11 countries, only 31% of speaking roles are occupied by females.
Enter the Bechdel-Wallace Test.
In 1985, cartoonist Alison Bechdel wrote in her comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For, that one of the characters only went to a movie that met the following requirements:
- It has to have at least two women in it
- The women must talk to each other
- The women must talk about something other than a man
This test soon became the benchmark for equality-centric critics to judge films, television shows, books and pretty much any type of media. While it seems like a pretty simple and straight-forward test, it’s shocking how many films don’t pass it. Go ahead, try it out!
If you’re curious as to what types of films actually do pass the test, it ranges through all genres and generations. From animated films like Inside Out to action films like The Hunger Games to outer-space flicks like The Martian, there’s no rule as to what movies can pass the test. Scary films like Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist pass the test while classics like the original Star Wars trilogy all fail.
However, The Bechdel-Wallace Test isn’t perfect. It’s so simple that it can’t really include all of the factors that indicate whether or not a piece of work has an accurate depiction and representation of women. Pieces of work can pass the test but still have sexist undertones. While the test isn’t perfect, it does encourage us to consider how women are presented in media in relation to their male counterparts. The Bechdel-Wallace Test doesn’t fix the problem. Instead, it simply opens the door to broader discussions of the roles of women in front of and behind the scenes. When the people making the content aren’t diverse, the content itself won’t be as diverse. Let’s start with this simple benchmark and work together towards progress.
Check out this video for a quick breakdown of The Bechdel-Wallace Test!
Image Credit: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 / Facebook
Editor’s note: This article has been modified to reflect the updated name of the Bechdel-Wallace Test.
Also, be sure to check out the newest episode of our show, She Said, hosted by two of our favorite comedians (and fiancees in IRL), Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butcher. In our fourth episode, Cameron and Rhea discuss gender equality in Hollywood, including some rather interesting statistics. Did you know that only 17% of crowd scenes consist of women (even though we represent about half of the world population). Check it out below.
