Character Quote by Alison Bechdel
“Bechdel Test, was named for the comic strip it came from, penned by Alison Bechdel - but Bechdel credits a friend named Liz Wallace, so maybe it really should be called the Liz Wallace Test...? Anyway, the test is much simpler than the name. To pass it your movie must have the following: a) there are at least two named female characters, who b) talk to each other about c) something other than a man.”
About This Quote
Source Comic Strip: Dykes to Watch Out For, 1985
The Bechdel Test checks for two named women who discuss something other than a man, measuring female representation.
In simple terms: Test for female characters talking about non‑male topics.
Key Takeaway
Create inclusive stories.
Themes
gender representation
media analysis
equality
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
cultural
educational
When to use this quote
- Screenwriting
- film criticism
- classroom discussion
Key Concepts
film criticism
social standards
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we expand the test for deeper analysis?
- What stories break the test successfully?
A Different Perspective
It simplifies complex gender dynamics into a binary metric.
