Gender Bias in Oscar-Nominated Cinema: A Contemporary

Application of the Bechdel Test

Christine RyanMarist College

Nice to Meet You!● Marist College Senior● Communications: Advertising, Minor: Psychology

● Phrases that aptly describe me:

Movie Fiend (both old and new - no discrimination here)Social Media ConnoisseurFrasier Crane’s #1 fan

Relevance and ObjectivesFeminism is trendy. Women and men alike are discussing it, reading about it, and hopefully, altering their thoughts and behaviors

toward the sexes because of it.

But, how is feminism reflected in modern cinema – one of the most pervasive media outlets in the United States? Are feminist

ideals reflected in film at all? How glaring is the disparity between male and female characters? How do current depictions

compare to “outdated” depictions?

Curiosity Development of RQ

Research Question

If not men, then what are women talking about in Oscar nominated films? How can these conversations

be characterized/categorized?

The Bechdel Test● Origin● Qualifications

To “pass” the Bechdel Test, a film must feature

1. two women2. who speak to each other3. about something other than a man

*Occasional fourth standard

Alison Bechdel’s: Dykes to Watch Out For “The Rule”

The Bechdel Test (Continued)

First Pilot Study: Method● Bechdel Test (Pass or Fail)● Analyze Screenplays● Compile Themes● Create Codebook

Primary Source: http://bechdeltest.com/

First Pilot Study: Presentations ● Presented at 24th Women & Society Conference, November 2014

○ First original research presentation○ Encouraging feedback:

■ “The audience members (all professors) couldn’t believe the quality of the study, the creativity, and attention to

detail and spent no less than 15 minutes offering feedback, suggestions and praise,” (Dr. Jen Eden, Mentor)

● Presented at Honors Research Forum ● Presented to Communications Faculty (Communications Faculty Meeting)

First Pilot Study: Feedback & LimitationsFeedback

● Analysis of genre, screenwriter● Box Office vs. Oscar success● Male v. Female Directors● Add: “What can this research be used for?” and “Predictions for the future” section

Limitations● Reliability of Bechdel Test database● Screenplay v. final feature film● Unorganized data collection process

○ Handwritten note-taking vs. Google spreadsheet● Codebook walkthrough & examples

Second Pilot StudyStage 2 of my overall research process

○ Advanced data to be compiled as research paper

What’s New?

● Film analysis○ I have watched and coded 18 films (since my Honors Forum presentation in November)

● Time Stamps● Organized data collection and codebook examples● 5-year analysis (2006-2014, odd years) instead of 6-year analysis ● Data visualization, Videos

○ Graphs & Tables

Codebook: Themes & ExamplesPower Differential

Race: “Crazy Mexican! I call immigration on you! Look you do to my car!” (Crash)Career: “I’m here to be fired, right?” (Up in the Air) Familial Status: (Mother to Daughter) “Collins, we’ll wait outside. And don’t double condition in the shower - you still have homework.” (The Blind Side)Age: “I hope you’re not going to be getting under our feet today Miss Briony. We’ve got a dinner for ten to prepare” (Atonement)Socioeconomic

Other WomenNeutral: “I’m looking for Miss. Tallis. Cecilia Tallis. Is she here?” (Atonement)Positive (Compliments)Negative (Gossip)

Physical AppearanceNeutral: “God you’re getting huge. How many months has it been now?” (Juno)Positive: “You are so pretty. You’re exactly what I want to look like in 15 years.” (Up in the Air) Negative: Putdowns/Insults

Codebook: Themes & ExamplesHousehold: “Got a couple of errands I gotta run. Be back in an hour or so.” (Capote)Shopping: “There are some things you must buy for us.” (Atonement)Family: “Tell her how you were drunk the other night. Tell her maybe you’re an alcoholic.” (The Descendants)

Small Talk: “Oh, hi, Juno. How are you.” “Good. I’m good. Finish that paper yet?” (Juno)Past: “It wasn’t like that. We weren’t movie stars like they have now…” (Hugo)Religion: “It’s in God’s hands now.” (Philomena)

More:Compliment (Physical vs. Non Physical): “So many of my friends would like to meet you” (Capote)Sex/LoveEmotional Expression (Positive, Negative)EducationFuture

2006 Oscar Nominees ✓ Crash (Drama/Crime) *Film Analysis

○ Winner, Best Picture ✓ Capote (Biography/Crime/Drama) *Film Analysis✓ Brokeback Mountain (Epic Film/Romance) *Film Analysis

X Good Night, and Good Luck (Drama/Political Drama) *Film AnalysisX Munich (Drama/History/Thriller) *Film Analysis

⅗ Pass Bechdel Test

Crash: Non-Passing Vs. PassingNon-Passing Conversation 43:33 Passing Conversation

Maria: Sorry I take your car, Miss Jean. I turn key to my car but nothing. James wanted to take this to school, but I don’t want the kids to fight over it.Jean: Are these clean or dirty?Maria: All clean, señoraJean: You know Maria, just once I would like to wake up and find these dishes in the cabinetMaria: Sí, señora. No problem.

Crash: Notes & Coding

Capote: Non-Passing Vs. Passing15:52: Non-Passing ConversationHarper Lee: Nancy was your best friend?Laura Kinney: (nods), Yeah, she was my best friendHL: How has Danny been?LK: Pretty shattered. Nothing terrible has ever happened to him before. Danny was the last one at the house that night. That’s why Mr. Dewey keeps interviewing him. They don’t think he had anything to do with it, it’s just to see if he remembers anything unusual.H.L: People in town do seem to wonder if he was involved.LK: Yeah, that’s been really hard for Danny.Truman Capote: It’s so hard when someone has a notion about you and it’s impossible to convince them otherwise. Ever since I was a child, folks have thought they have me pegged because of the way...the way I am...you know. The way I talk. And they’re always wrong. You know what I mean? (Talking to Laura)L.K. nods: “yeah, i want to show you something”

3.22: Passing ConversationMarie: So many of my friends would like to meet youHarper Lee: Oh, that’d be fine

Capote Notes & Coding

Brokeback Mountain: Non-Passing vs. PassingNon-Passing ConversationLureen Newsome: You’re a tri delt. I was Kappa Phi myselfLashawn Malone: Well, even though we ain’t quite sorority sisters, we just may have to dance with ourselves. Maureen our husbands ain’t the least bit interested in dancing. Ain’t got a smidgin of rhythm between ‘em.Lureen: Funny, isn’t it. Husbands don’t ever seem to want to dance with their wives. Why do you think that is, Jack?

58.44 Passing ConversationAlma Jr: Mama, I need crayonsAlma: Not now, Alma

Brokeback Mountain Notes & Coding

2008 Oscar Nominees✓ Atonement (Drama/Mystery/Romance)✓ Juno (Comedy/Drama/Romance) *Film analysis

X Michael Clayton (Crime/Drama/Mystery)X There Will Be Blood (Drama)X No Country for Old Men (Crime/Drama/Thriller)

○ Winner, Best Picture

⅖ Pass Bechdel Test

2008 Oscar NomineesAtonement (5 themes)

Theme: Power DifferentialAge (1)Career (1)

Theme: Emotional ExpressionPositive (1)Negative (3)

Theme: Family (1)Theme: Sex/Love (1)Theme: Other Women

Neutral (1)

2008 Oscar NomineesJuno (7 themes)

Theme: Power Differential Theme: Sex/Love (1)Familial Status (3) Theme: Small Talk (1)Age (1)

Theme: FamilyPositive (1)Neutral (2)

Theme: Physical AppearanceNegative (1)Neutral (1)

Theme: Emotional ExpressionNegative (1)

2010 Oscar Nominees ✓ Precious (Drama)✓ The Blind Side (Biography/Drama/Sport) *Film analysis✓ Up in the Air (Drama/Romance)✓ An Education (Drama) *Film Analysis

X A Serious Man (Comedy/Drama)X District 9 (Action/Sci-Fi/Thriller) *Film AnalysisX Up (Animation/Adventure/Drama) *Film AnalysisX The Hurt Locker (Drama/Thriller/War)

○ Winner, Best Picture

4/8 Pass Bechdel Test

2010 Oscar NomineesPrecious: Non-Visual Depictions (Letters), Family (Negative), Emotional Expression (Negative), Emotional Expression (Positive), Power Differential (Age, Familial Status, Race)

The Blind Side: Power Differential (Family & Socioeconomic Status)

Up in the Air: Power Differential (Employment), Physical Appearance (Positive)

An Education: Physical Appearance, Small Talk, Household, Other Women (Neutral), Shopping, Education, Emotional Expression (Negative)

2012 Oscar Nominees✓ The Help (Drama)✓ Hugo (Adventure/Drama/Fantasy) *Film Analysis✓ The Descendants (Comedy/Drama) *Film Analysis✓ Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (Adventure/Drama/Mystery) *Film Analysis

X The Tree of Life (Drama/Fantasy) *Film AnalysisX War Horse (Drama/War)X Moneyball (Biography/Drama/Sport)X The Artist (Comedy/Drama/Romance) *Excluded from data

○ Winner, Best Picture

4/8 Pass Bechdel Test

2012 Oscar NomineesThe Help: Other Women (Positive & Negative), Emotional Expression (Positive & Negative), Power Differential (Socioeconomic Status, Employment, Age, & Race)

Hugo: Past Experience

The Descendants: Family (Negative), Other Women (Neutral), Power Differential (Age), Emotional Expression (Positive)

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close: Emotional Expression (Negative)

2014 Oscar Nominees✓ 12 Years a Slave (Biography/Drama/History)

○ Winner, Best Picture✓ American Hustle (Crime/Drama) *Film Analysis✓ Nebraska (Comedy/Drama) *Film Analysis✓ Philomena (Biography/Drama)✓ Dallas Buyers Club (Biography/Drama)

? Her (Drama/Romance/Sci-Fi) *Female Character is Operating SystemX The Wolf of Wall Street (Biography/Comedy/Crime)X Captain Phillips (Biography/Drama/Thriller)X Gravity (Sci-Fi/Thriller) *Film Analysis

5/9 Pass Bechdel Test

2014 Oscar Nominees12 Years a Slave: Power Differential (Familial Status)

American Hustle: Small Talk, Beauty, Power Differential

Nebraska: Other Women (Negative)

Philomena: Other Women (Positive & Negative), Religion, Small Talk, Power Differential

Dallas Buyers Club: Emotional Expression (Positive)

Her: Female Character is Operating System

Year Bechdel Test Passing Rate (%)

2006 60%

2008 40%

2010 50%

2012 50%

2014 56%

Data Visualization

Data VisualizationMale Directors Total Directors

33 35

Female Directors Total Directors

2 35

Female directors were no more likely to make Bechdel-Test passing films. Of the two female directors, one movie passed (An Education) and one did not (The Hurt Locker).

Insight● Number of Oscar Nominations has increased from 2006-2014, while percentage of Bechdel Test - passing films

has not● Number of conversations between women has increased from 2006 to 2014

ex) 2006 - Passing films only feature 1-4 qualifying conversation

● Most common theme: Power Differential, Emotional Expression (Negative)○ instances, 6 instances of power differential in first two years alone

● Male dominated writing and directing● No discrepancy between screenplay and film in terms of passing Bechdel Test● Bechdeltest.com says Brokeback Mountain and Incredibly Loud & Incredibly Close fail

○ After film analysis, I disagree

Challenges● Screenplay v. Final Film (Film takes a lot longer to code)

● Computer-mediated depictions of women ○ Communication Faculty: “Remove Theme”

● Women “named” Mrs. ________

● Conversations that transition to men - disqualification or new category?

● Need for “double-coding” (ex. computer-mediated conversation & transitions to talk of man)

● Reliability of Bechdel Test Website

Implications for Future Study● Who is initiating conversation in power differential conversations? What does this

tell us?● How would results compare if the study was centered on highest-grossing films?● Bechdel Test & Genre, Bechdel Test & male/female directors● Theme: Non-Visual Depictions (Valid?)

○ Bechdel test doesn’t specify named woman has to be on screen● Research is important because we are becoming more media-focused

What’s Next For Me?● Write full research paper

○ Analysis of full 10-year period● Create online database

○ Consistently updated○ Sole researcher more reliable than user-generated reviews

● Submissions and Presentations○ ICA: The Feminist Scholarship Division, The Visual Communication Studies Division

● Graduate School: Interpersonal Communication○ Focus: Film Studies, Women’s Studies, Psychology, Social Media, Marketing

Questions?

Thank You!