Friday nights and Feminism.

Friday, February 17, 2012


So, I've spent the last hour watching all of the videos on this channel, but this one is my favorite.  In short, the Bechdel Test is "a basic gauge to measure women's relevance to a film's plot and generally assess female presence in Hollywood movies." (quote from afore-mentioned clip)  The idea is simple.  Are there two women characters (who have names)?  Do they speak to each other?  And is any of that dialogue about anything but a man?  You'd think that was a seriously low bar to set, wouldn't you?  Well... We'll see.  Now, this test doesn't have anything to do with whether a movie is any good, has a positive view of women/men, or is focused on a woman character, it just gauges whether there are female characters in this movie relevant to the plot.  In the clip, Anita Sarkeesian goes through this year's Best Picture nominees and the results are surprising...

I won't ruin it for you, just spend the 10 and a half minutes and watch it.  Think about it.  (And then go to the YouTube page and watch all of the rest of her videos...)

I also really like #6 in her Tropes vs. Women series, The Straw Feminist. and the Lego & Gender videos part 1 and 2.  Now, I don't agree with every single thing she says or some of the rhetoric she uses, but these are things we need to think about.  Anyone who's seen the amount of skirts I wear (that I made myself!) or embroidery I do won't argue that I don't have stereotypically female interests and skills.  But, that doesn't mean I don't need to be aware of what I think about being a woman in the US at this period in time.  I might have a daughter some day; do I want her to think it's interesting/weird/different that Mama has just as many power tools as she does sewing accoutrements?  Or should she just think that I'm really good at a lot of things and wielding my jigsaw is just one of them?  Cause I am.  :)

Anyways.  These are things I think about and I hope you do too.

6 comments:

  1. I've always thought power tools were gender neutral but that's just the kind of person I am.

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  2. I agree, they are. But most people don't and that's the sad part.

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  3. i just watched her video on the top 5 creepiest christmas songs... she named my all time favorite as the all time worst. guess i'm not a feminist. surprise surprise. ;)

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  4. ps. can you teach me how to wield a jigsaw? i have many uses for such a talent. oh, and tho i proclaim to be something very very different than a feminist (btw: we should definitely have some lively debate over all of this next time we are face to face!! would be fun!) i do claim the power tools as mine... just don't tell matt. ;)

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  5. Yeah, I don't like the Christmas song video either

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  6. super interesting and yet not surprising... which is sad.

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