Whether you are a sexist or not, you have probably noticed that the role of women on screen is often under-represented in fiction. Most of the time, women are relegated to the role of the male protagonist’s love interest or support role. Women on screen tend to be highly sexualized – think Tomb Raider and James Bond. If you’re unsure whether a film is gender-neutral, you can use the Bechdel Test to find out if the female characters are represented accurately. However, the Bechdel Test isn’t a universal standard for judging a film. It is intended to spur conversation and serve as a guideline for selecting films. Using the test to determine whether or not a movie has gender-neutral content can be tricky, so you’re best off avoiding it entirely. In most cases, however, a movie that passes the test is the best choice for your evening out.
