The Bechdel Test, Rioux’s Article, and Davis’ Speech

The Bechdel Test assesses the presence of women in movies. It originated from a comic book written by Allison Bechdel. A movie must pass a series of 3 simple questions; Are there two or more women in the movie who have names?, Do they talk to each other?, and Do they talk to each other about something other than a man?. There are so many movies out there that do not pass this simple test. This is evidence of a systemic problem in society in which the movie industry is creating movies that cater to, and are about, men.

Rioux’s articel and Davis’ speech are part of the same conversation because they both revolve around equality for women in books, movies and all forms of media in general. Rioux’s article delves into the book “Little Women” and how young boys should and have begun to read it. It shows them that women are strong and powerful, and deserve to be the center of the conversation instead of it always being all about men. The book helps young boys recognize that women’s discussions do not need to be kept private or only be discussed with other girls. When boys join in on the conversation, it opens up a dialogue to discuss larger debates revolving around gender and what it means to grow up. This relates to Davis’ speech because she discusses equality, but more specifically since she talks about black women receiving the same opportunities as white women in the film industry. She mentions the line that separates black and white women and conveys that opportunity is what that line consists of. All three of these sources convey the point that there needs to be gender and racial equality in all forms of media, as well as in society as a whole. Everyone deserves the chance to make a difference in this world regardless of their race or gender.