Tardis

New to Doctor Who or returning after a break? Check out our guides designed to help you find your way!

READ MORE

Tardis
Register
Advertisement
Tardis
Bechdel test
You may be looking for The Bekdel Test (audio story).

According to Iris Wildthyme, a story passes the Bechdel test if there is a part where two women discuss something other than a man. Iris criticised a story of Egyptian mythology where the only roles for women were to have sex with men, be mothers, or be nursemaids. (PROSE: Lilac Mars)

On 13 October 2016, Tanya Adeola joked that April MacLean just made them fail the Bechdel test when she brought up that she wanted to ask Charlie out to the prom. (TV: For Tonight We Might Die)

Behind the scenes[]

  • The Bechdel test was popularised by Alison Bechdel, who is mentioned in the novel Seeing I.
  • The episode Mummy on the Orient Express lampshades the Bechdel test when Clara asks why all she and Masie "can talk about is some man".
  • To pass the Bechdel test, a piece of media has to have at least one conversation between at least two women (sometimes required to be named characters) about something other than a man—though interpretations vary as to whether a long conversation covering a variety of topics, including but not limited to a man, counts. The reference comes very close to breaking the fourth wall, as this was Class's first conversation between two female characters, and it does indeed cause the episode to fail the test if it is required that the conversation not include any discussion of a man.
Advertisement