All About the Bechdel-Wallace Test at the Movies (Intro to Feminism)

Let's talk about the Bechdel Test, also known as the Bechdel-Wallace test! This Intro to Feminism course will help new and established feminists understand an important film criticism theory related to the role of women in movies. Students who enjoy talking about feminism, women's issues, gender equality, LGBTQ+ concerns, and more will learn all about how the simple, 3-rule Bechdel-Wallace Test can help them recognize patterns in how women and girls are represented in movies. 

In this class, students will learn about the Bechdel Test, named for graphic novelist Alison Bechdel, author of Fun Home, Are You My Mother, and more. The Bechdel Test is a way to evaluate movies for the presence of women and girls. While it doesn't determine whether or not the movie is good or feminist, it does help audiences determine trends in movies of the past and today.

We'll discuss the 3 simple rules of the Bechdel Test and how to apply them to movies. To pass the test, a movie simply needs to do the following:
1) Include 2 women who have names
2) The women have to talk to each other
3) The conversation has to be about something other than a man

We'll talk about movies that pass and fail the Bechdel Test and look at the different reasons why they may pass or fail. 

We'll also address questions like:

-Are movies getting better over time with representing women?
-Why does it matter that women are present in movies?
-Is it a problem that so many movies don't include women and girls? 
-What does "representation" mean and why is it important? 

This is a fun, discussion-focused class where students will have a chance to learn a new concept and apply it to their own interests. 

PARENTS: Please see the parental guidance note below about the intersectional feminist approach used in this class.