--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Bechdel Test, was named for the comic…" description: "\"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..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e99/alison-bechdel-7240_character_bechdel-test-was-named-for-the-comic-str_1282430.jpg" --- # Bechdel Test, was named for the comic strip it came from… ![“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…” quote by Alison Bechdel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e99/alison-bechdel-7240_character_bechdel-test-was-named-for-the-comic-str_1282430.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e99/alison-bechdel-7240_character_bechdel-test-was-named-for-the-comic-str_1282430.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e99/alison-bechdel-7240_character_bechdel-test-was-named-for-the-comic-str_1282430.jpg) > “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.” [Alison Bechdel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-bechdel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Comic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic/) [Comic strip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic-strip/) [Comic strips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic-strips/) [Credit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credit/) [Female](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/female/) [Female character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/female-character/) [Female characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/female-characters/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) ## Related quotes > ['Humans' would definitely score really well on the Bechdel test - the one that tracks how well represented women are in drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-berrington/humans-would-definitely-score-really-well-on-the-bechdel-test-the-one/) [Emily Berrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-berrington/) > ['True Detective' would not pass The Bechdel Test.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-fukunaga/true-detective-would-not-pass-the-bechdel-test/) [Cary Fukunaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-fukunaga/) > [So how does Liz Phair feel about Lana Del Rey? Well, as a recording artist, I've been hated, I've been ridiculed, and conversely, hailed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-phair/so-how-does-liz-phair-feel-about-lana-del-rey-well-as-a-recording/) [Liz Phair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-phair/) > [There ain't no party like a Liz Lemon party 'cause a Liz Lemon party is mandatory!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz/there-ain-t-no-party-like-a-liz-lemon-party-cause-a-liz-lemon-party/) [LIZ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz/) > [Oh," says Owen, "but I would have, you know." "I know you would have," says Liz, "and knowing you would have is nearly as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/oh-says-owen-but-i-would-have-you-know-i-know-you-would-have-says-liz/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [When I see Liz Taylor with those Harry Winston boulders hanging from her neck I get nauseated. Not figuratively, but nauseated! All I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-day/when-i-see-liz-taylor-with-those-harry-winston-boulders-hanging-from/) [Doris Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-day/) > [Anyone watching '30 Rock' always knew Tina Fey was playing a fictionalized version of herself, a workaholic comedy writer who also plays one on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/anyone-watching-30-rock-always-knew-tina-fey-was-playing-a/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [You're Bes, I guess?" I said. "Yes," he said. "Your car's a mess," Liz muttered. "If one more person rhymes," Emma grumbled, "I'll throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/you-re-bes-i-guess-i-said-yes-he-said-your-car-s-a-mess-liz-muttered/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Crouched on the roof between BEx and Liz, I wasn't a girl who had just broken up with her boyfriend; I looked at my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/crouched-on-the-roof-between-bex-and-liz-i-wasn-t-a-girl-who-had-just/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [You really saw some?" Liz said an hour later. Sure, we had the stereo blaring and the shower running, but Liz still whispered, "They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/you-really-saw-some-liz-said-an-hour-later-sure-we-had-the-stereo/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [In our film profession you may have Gable's looks, Tracy's art, Marlene's legs or Liz's violet eyes, but they don't mean a thing without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-capra/in-our-film-profession-you-may-have-gable-s-looks-tracy-s-art-marlene/) [Frank Capra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-capra/) > [Liz Taylor was an amazing woman and screen legend. She was an incredible friend to my brother, at his side through some of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/latoya-jackson/liz-taylor-was-an-amazing-woman-and-screen-legend-she-was-an/) [LaToya Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/latoya-jackson/) > [“And there's a cop over there." "What?" the boy said, glancing at the D.C. police officer that stood at the corner of the street,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/and-there-s-a-cop-over-there-what-the-boy-said-glancing-at-the-d-c/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [I did about 10-12 national commercials and then got one line parts in things like 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' and the show 'The Unit.' Got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-did-about-10-12-national-commercials-and-then-got-one-line-parts-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Both the five-year-olds looked at me with bewilderment and a bit of fearful uncertainty. I had a sudden horrifying image of the woman I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/both-the-five-year-olds-looked-at-me-with-bewilderment-and-a-bit-of/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) ## More by Alison Bechdel > [Watching everyone root through their psyche, it just delights me. Especially R. Crumb's stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-bechdel/watching-everyone-root-through-their-psyche-it-just-delights-me/) [Alison Bechdel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-bechdel/) > [It's imprecise and insufficient, defining the homosexual as a person whose gender expression is at odds with his or her sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-bechdel/it-s-imprecise-and-insufficient-defining-the-homosexual-as-a-person/) [Alison Bechdel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-bechdel/) > [The writing is hard, and the drawing is fun. It's very satisfying to see a drawing start to come together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-bechdel/the-writing-is-hard-and-the-drawing-is-fun-it-s-very-satisfying-to/) [Alison Bechdel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-bechdel/) > [Sometimes I wish the writing and drawing were more integrated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-bechdel/sometimes-i-wish-the-writing-and-drawing-were-more-integrated/) [Alison Bechdel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-bechdel/) > [“My homosexuality remained at that point purely theoretical, an untested hypothesis. But it was a hypothesise so thorough and so convincing I saw no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-bechdel/my-homosexuality-remained-at-that-point-purely-theoretical-an/) [Alison Bechdel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-bechdel/) > [Autobiographical comics, I love them. I love them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-bechdel/autobiographical-comics-i-love-them-i-love-them/) [Alison Bechdel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-bechdel/) > [Partly I resented being perceived as weak because I was a girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-bechdel/partly-i-resented-being-perceived-as-weak-because-i-was-a-girl/) [Alison Bechdel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-bechdel/) > [“I put the odds on a psychic deathmatch between Attila the Hun and Virginia Woolf at fifty-fifty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-bechdel/i-put-the-odds-on-a-psychic-deathmatch-between-attila-the-hun-and/) [Alison Bechdel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-bechdel/) > [Basically, my work is play. It never actually feels that way - I'm always aiming to attain that state. But I get to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-bechdel/basically-my-work-is-play-it-never-actually-feels-that-way-i-m-always/) [Alison Bechdel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-bechdel/) > [What would happen if we spoke the truth?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-bechdel/what-would-happen-if-we-spoke-the-truth/) [Alison Bechdel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-bechdel/) > [It was a vicious cycle, though. The more gratification we found in our own geniuses, the more isolated we grew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-bechdel/it-was-a-vicious-cycle-though-the-more-gratification-we-found-in-our/) [Alison Bechdel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-bechdel/) > [“Then there were those famous wings. Was Daedalus really stricken with grief when Icarus fell into the sea? Or just disappointed by the design…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-bechdel/then-there-were-those-famous-wings-was-daedalus-really-stricken-with/) [Alison Bechdel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-bechdel/) > [“In this pause, I suddenly saw something very clearly. Whatever it was I wanted from my mother was simply not there to be had.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-bechdel/in-this-pause-i-suddenly-saw-something-very-clearly-whatever-it-was-i/) [Alison Bechdel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-bechdel/) > [People really want to think that these things really happened. I don't know why that is important, but I know that when I finish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-bechdel/people-really-want-to-think-that-these-things-really-happened-i-don-t/) [Alison Bechdel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-bechdel/) > [“It's said, after all, that people reach middle age the day they realize they're never going to read Remembrance of Things Past.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-bechdel/it-s-said-after-all-that-people-reach-middle-age-the-day-they-realize/) [Alison Bechdel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-bechdel/) [Explore all 93 Alison Bechdel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-bechdel/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. 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You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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