What does the Bechdel Test assess in a work of fiction?

• A. Two women who talk about a man
• B. Two men who talk about something else
• C. Two women who talk to each other about something other than a man
• D. One woman who talks to herself

Answer: (C)

The Bechdel Test checks whether a work features at least two named women who talk to each other about something other than a man. This simple criterion highlights how female characters are represented in dialogue and interaction, beyond being defined by or tied to male characters.

That’s why the correct choice—two women who talk to each other about something other than a man—fits exactly. If two women talk about a man, the conversation centers on men and wouldn’t meet the test. If the focus is on two men, the test isn’t addressing that scenario. And if there’s only one woman who talks to herself, there aren’t two women having a conversation, so the criterion isn’t met.