Bechdel test
/ˈbɛkdəl tɛst
/noun
A way of evaluating whether or not a film or other work of fiction portrays women in a way that is sexist or characterized by gender stereotyping. To pass the Bechdel test a work must feature at least two women, these women must talk to each other, and their conversation must concern something other than a man: a lot of Hollywood movies fail the Bechdel test miserably...
- The system measures whether or not a film passes the Bechdel Test.
- Named for its popularizer, the Bechdel test has three requirements an artistic piece must meet in order to pass.
- It also passes the Bechdel test with flying colors, giving female characters decent screentime together.
Origin
Early 21st century: from the name of the US cartoonist Alison Bechdel, who formulated the criteria in 1985 in a comic strip ‘ The Rule’, part of the series Dykes To Watch Out For (1983–2008).