Hi! It's Bechdel, as in Alison, not Bechtel as in the corporation! (Also Alison says she got it from a friend, but still.) thanks! Great piece, the lamp thing is too real.
I'm 77 today. Been married three times. Now a widow, living alone with my four rescue dogs. I read one to two books a day. Except for one male author, I find myself boycotting books written by men or with male protagonists. Not big on females who have to be rescued by males, either. So I'm definitely on board for doing away with women as sexy lamps!
This is so eye-opening! It would be interesting to see the same kind of statistics for popular streaming shows. I’d like to think they have more creative freedom and there is more representation…but is there? Theoretically, a series is more developed (for the same reasons a book is always better than the movie), so it could follow that w/more character development we see more ‘real-life’ and not just what’s in the minds you described, But I’ve been known to be ignorantly optimistic before.
This was fascinating to read, and it also puts a fire under me. I write novels and screenplays, and my stories most definitely pass the tests. I love to write about strong complex women. Your words encourage me to keep going.
The thing that strikes me is that most men interact with many women in school and work. My boss is a woman and 60% of my peers are women; they discuss many topics the least of which is men. 95% of my team women, could only name 50% of the men in their lives (significant others). These are highly effective women that get shit done by leading project teams.
Men in Media must actively create these made-for-TV realities where women don’t contribute while sitting in meetings rooms with women leading teams of designers, casting crews, bankers, and marketers. Some report to women bosses, yet choose to create worlds where the voices heard are male.
As consumers, these tests can guide the “macros” we are consuming.
Okay could this be why I love all of the real housewives shows? I wouldn’t want to know or hang out with any of these women but I think these shows pass all 4 of the tests? Lol
I also see this as the easiest support for female voices. Even with the best of intentions many males are going to write from the male perspective just out of bias. This is another reason representation matters. All those left behind by male only narratives. Shawshank isn’t a problem until all other movies are. When all movies meet representation collectively, a movie about just a man, woman, non binary person, etc. wouldn’t stick out so bad.
Great post! I can remember being pissed at Florence Pugh for Oppenheimer - she is so much better than that role. But I can't even remember Emily Blunt being in that film. Such a waste of great talent... 🙁
Not only that, but of the movies that do pass the Bechdel test, I’d be willing to bet a fair amount of those conversations are completely one dimensional/stereotypical…gossip, housework, complaining/nagging. 🙄
“Forget *movies* not passing the sexy lamp test, I want to know how many men’s minds would pass!”
This line made me pause and consider it for myself.
I like that, thank you for sharing.
Hi! It's Bechdel, as in Alison, not Bechtel as in the corporation! (Also Alison says she got it from a friend, but still.) thanks! Great piece, the lamp thing is too real.
I'm 77 today. Been married three times. Now a widow, living alone with my four rescue dogs. I read one to two books a day. Except for one male author, I find myself boycotting books written by men or with male protagonists. Not big on females who have to be rescued by males, either. So I'm definitely on board for doing away with women as sexy lamps!
Happy Birthday, Elaine! I think dogs are nice people to live with.
This is so eye-opening! It would be interesting to see the same kind of statistics for popular streaming shows. I’d like to think they have more creative freedom and there is more representation…but is there? Theoretically, a series is more developed (for the same reasons a book is always better than the movie), so it could follow that w/more character development we see more ‘real-life’ and not just what’s in the minds you described, But I’ve been known to be ignorantly optimistic before.
This was fascinating to read, and it also puts a fire under me. I write novels and screenplays, and my stories most definitely pass the tests. I love to write about strong complex women. Your words encourage me to keep going.
Suuuuuch a great article! Thanks Celeste! xxx
The thing that strikes me is that most men interact with many women in school and work. My boss is a woman and 60% of my peers are women; they discuss many topics the least of which is men. 95% of my team women, could only name 50% of the men in their lives (significant others). These are highly effective women that get shit done by leading project teams.
Men in Media must actively create these made-for-TV realities where women don’t contribute while sitting in meetings rooms with women leading teams of designers, casting crews, bankers, and marketers. Some report to women bosses, yet choose to create worlds where the voices heard are male.
As consumers, these tests can guide the “macros” we are consuming.
Okay could this be why I love all of the real housewives shows? I wouldn’t want to know or hang out with any of these women but I think these shows pass all 4 of the tests? Lol
I also see this as the easiest support for female voices. Even with the best of intentions many males are going to write from the male perspective just out of bias. This is another reason representation matters. All those left behind by male only narratives. Shawshank isn’t a problem until all other movies are. When all movies meet representation collectively, a movie about just a man, woman, non binary person, etc. wouldn’t stick out so bad.
Great post! I can remember being pissed at Florence Pugh for Oppenheimer - she is so much better than that role. But I can't even remember Emily Blunt being in that film. Such a waste of great talent... 🙁
Same here. Oppenheimer was a waste of time.
Footnote #6 around Divinity after all they were replacing the Life Goddess of Egalitarian with DeathBringerMan god of Domination.
Not only that, but of the movies that do pass the Bechdel test, I’d be willing to bet a fair amount of those conversations are completely one dimensional/stereotypical…gossip, housework, complaining/nagging. 🙄