THE BECHDEL TEST

 Ever since I learnt how the world works, and the patriarchy that fills it, I’ve been told that there is a certain obligation where women must forget particular things that once brought them joy, as they sleep inside their cocoon of feminism, to one day transform into a badass feminist. However, since I have always been a badass feminist I am going to continue watching my rom-coms, and loving them (as you do).

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The thing about these rom-coms is that 70% of the time screenwriters will fail the Bechdel Test, whilst the small percentage left behind scrape a pass. What is the Bechdel Test you ask? Well the Bechdel Test, sometimes called the Mo Movie Measure, is a test which adheres to three particular things:  

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1. It must have at least two women in it

2. Who talk to each other

3. About something besides a man

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The Bechdel Rule gained fame when Alison Bechdel’s tongue-in-cheek comic strip, ‘The Rule’ was published (see above), which has now become somewhat of a cultural touchstone when we relate film to feminism. Despite the fact that the 3 stage criteria sets a pretty low bar for female representation within the film industry, it is actually quite popular, considering that a majority of the media related industry shockingly fail this test over and over again.

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There are so many rom-coms that highlight how underrepresented a woman’s life is in the film industry, when really she could be juggling 3 jobs, fighting off a shopping addiction and other struggles in her life that are genuinely intriguing, but the majority of screenwriters choose to pinpoint one conventional issue that requires women to fail the Bechdel Test at all costs. This may be due to the fact that there was a period beginning in the late 80s when rom-coms grew rapidly, and successfully with conventional narratives; although this worked then, it has come to a point where film executives out there need to stop dialling Jennifer Aniston to come and churn out another generic rom-com. However, this can’t be said for all films because, as I mentioned before, there is a small percentage of rom-com screenwriters who pass this ridiculously easy test.

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The films I am about to highlight are classics that have been scrutinized through the eyes of a hopeless romantic, and socially awkward adult:

 

The Other Woman (2014)

The Other Woman is a completely modern take on the rom-com, and manages to pass the Bechdel Test (although dubiously). Despite the narrative revolving around a man during the entire movie, it is the nature of an unlikely friendship formed between Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann and Kate Upton’s characters that really brings this piece together. Although this movie is somewhat of a cheap pass in regards to the Bechdel Test, it still passes it because there are numerous times when the women bond over their love for dogs, tequila and Kate Upton’s double D’s throughout the 109 minutes of comedic success.

 

Legally Blonde (2001)

Legally Blonde was and still is so important, because of the insight it provides on gender representation and social attitudes, which is the main reason it passes the Bechdel Test. Despite the fact that the centrepiece of the narrative begins with Elle Woods working her way into Harvard, because she was chasing her boyfriend, she ends up focusing on what truly matters: becoming a kick-ass lawyer. The film unfolds with Reese Witherspoon's character successfully gaining her law degree, all whilst depicting the stereotypical image of femininity on steroids, from her pink scented resume to her consistently pink outfits.

 

Miss Congeniality (2000)

I cannot stress how much this movie, and especially Sandy Bullock’s performance, shaped my very own thoughts when I was once a clueless youth. The narrative focuses on an aggressive FBI agent who goes undercover as a beauty pageant contestant. Although critics claim that this movie is a bit of a cheap pass for the Bechdel Test, because the main plot highlights how a woman’s appearance gets her to be taken more seriously in a male-dominated occupation (FBI agent), it is forgotten that the Bechdel Test requires 3 things: it must have at least two women in it, who talk to each other about something besides a man, which Miss Congeniality does successfully. The fact that Bullock’s character pokes fun at the generic stereotypes against women challenges the patriarchal paradigm we’re forced to live in. Miss Congeniality passes the Bechdel Test, on numerous occasions, throughout the 110 minutes of twists, turns and laughter.

 

On that note I shall part with a quick question, can you pass the Bechdel Test?