We've all heard of the Bechdel test. I know it's not a cure-all to sexism and hidden patriarchy, but it is a good question to ask as a writer.

For those who don't know, the original "Bechdel test" posited that 99% of movies don't have two female characters talking to each other about something other than a male. Basically that women in fiction usually exists just to further the plot of male characters.

My novel is first person PoV of a middle school boy and he's part of a trio with two other teenage girls (these are the main 3 characters). But because he is the only PoV, it can never pass "the Bechdel test." Otherwise, I think I've made the other two main characters fairly fleshed out characters.

  • Saint [he/him]
    ·
    3 years ago

    I’m no authority, but I think the Bechdel test is meant to be applied on a broader scale. It’s not a litmus test for individual works.

    Yes, exactly this