Movie Rating System Measures Gender Bias
NPR
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or
Flash plugin.
Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
Some Swedish movie theaters are introducing the system. The scale grades films based on a concept introduced by the feminist cartoonist Alison Bechdel. Whether a film passes or fails depends on whether any of its named female characters have conversations with one another about something other than men.
Transcript
DAVID GREENE, HOST:
And our Last Word In Business today is Bechdel test. In Sweden, some movie makers - some movie theaters are introducing a new rating system that measures gender bias.
RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:
The scale grades films based on a concept introduced by the feminist cartoonist Alison Bechdel. Whether a film passes or fails depends on whether it has at least two main female characters having conversations with one another about something other than men - a surprisingly high bar.
GREENE: Yeah, seriously, because many movies actually failed this test, including classics we know well - like "Star Wars" - and also, recent hits like "The Social Network."
(SOUNDBITE OF MOVIE, "THE SOCIAL NETWORK")
MONTAGNE: Love it.
GREENE: Fail. (Laughter)
MONTAGNE: One Swedish TV channel plans to show the new rating some respect by running a Bechdel-approved marathon, The movies include "The Iron Lady" and "The Hunger Games." And that's the business news on MORNING EDITION, from NPR News. I'm Renee Montagne.
GREENE: And I'm David Greene.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "RESPECT") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
View this story on npr.org
Follow us for more stories like this
CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you. As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.
Donate Today