Have you ever heard of the Bechdel test?

If you’re not a Film buff or a big movie lover in general, chances are, you may have never heard about it.

Given the times we’re living in now, making films that pass the Bechdel test is essential to realistically and Fairly Representing Women in media. One of the reasons why people are so passionate about the Barbie movie is that it passes the Bechdel test with flying colors.

So, what exactly is the Bechdel test?

Writer Alison Bechdel, known for writing the hit musical “Fun Home,” was inspired by her friend Liz Wallace to create a test that measures the representation of women in film in 1985.

To pass the Bechdel test, a film, no matter its genre, must feature at least two women who converse about something other than a man.

The test started as a joke in a comic featured in a feminist newspaper but became a powerful critical lens in the film world.

After learning about what it takes to pass the Bechdel test, you’d probably think many of the biggest films made in the last two decades pass, right? Not exactly.

For instance, hit films like “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “A Star Is Born (2018),” “Avatar,” “The Avengers,” “Elvis,” and even Disney’s 1998 “Mulan,” which is literally about a female warrior, failed the Bechdel test.

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When a film fails the Bechdel test, a bare minimum requirement of female representation, it keeps women voiceless and marginalized on the big screen.

So, which films pass the Bechdel test?

Films like “Barbie,” “The Hunger Games,” “Mean Girls,” “Legally Blonde,” “Lilo and Stitch,” and “The Devil Wears Prada” all pass the Bechdel test.

Since the Bechdel test was first introduced, it has been critiqued for its lack of inclusion and diversity, as it’s quite vague and could better address race, disability, and class. However, that does not mean it isn’t still important.

A series of other important tests films can follow to have more representation include the DuVernay test, which focuses on African American characters, the Mako Mori test, which advocates for films with prominent female character arcs; and the Vito Russo test, which requires movies to have at least one character that’s part of the LGBTQ+ community and isn’t defined by their sexuality or gender identity.

At this point, you may be wondering why films should have to pass all these tests. But think about it: do we constantly want to portray worlds where women don’t have their own voices or where there is hardly any diversity? What does that tell our future generations?

Now that you know what the Bechdel test is, do you know if your favorite movie passes it?

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