Disney and the (Reverse) Bechdel: A Reconsideration
Disney, Bechdel and Reverse Bechdel
So, this isn't the post I was originally going to make, but it's been brewing for a while so I figured it would be an idea to put it into place. The Bechdel test has been much discussed in feminist circles, and I am aware that there have been problems, but I will be using it for the following reasons: it is simple, it is clear-cut, and the Reverse test can also be applied.
For more information on the Bechdel Test, there are a lot of links online. A few include:
- The origin of the test - a webcomic!
- BechdelTest.com [Lists of movies and their pass or fail]
- The Bechdel Test: What it Is and Why it Matters
- The Bechdel Test: It's Not About Passing
For the sake of this discussion, I will use the Bechdel Test thus. A film must:
- Contain two female [human/humanoid!] characters;
- Who have names;
- Who talk to each other;
- About something other than a man or romantic relationship.
The Reverse Bechdel test is less common, but is essentially the same but with genders reversed. It is usually referenced to mention that although many films fail the Bechdel Test, those same ones would pass a Reverse one - because men dominate the films. However, as we shall see, it may be an important point of reference; if you like, it is a control.
I will be looking at the Princess movies first, and then several other major Disney movies, both popular and lesser-known. I will, however, be staying to films with human or humanoid characters. Films which are literary adaptations are pointed out, because their source material may be influential.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (1937)
Bechdel: Fail. The Evil Queen is not canonically named, and she and Snow White do not directly interact.
Reverse Bechdel: Pass. If you include the mining song, or the discussion of bathing, by the dwarves!
Cinderella (1950)
Bechdel: Pass. Three female characters are given first names, and they interact extensively (if in non-ideal ways.
Reverse Bechdel: Fail. There are no named male characters.
Sleeping Beauty (1959)
Bechdel: Pass. There are five named female characters who interact extensively.
Reverse Bechdel: Questionable. Kings Stefan and Hubert discuss their childrens' marriage.
The Little Mermaid (1989)
Bechdel: Fail. Ariel and Ursula are named, but their conversation is focused on Eric.
Reverse Bechdel: Fail. Triton and Sebastien discuss only Ariel; Eric and Grimsby likewise.
Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Bechdel: Fail. Several female characters are named, but when interacting only discuss Beast.
Reverse Bechdel: Fail. Interaction between male characters always concerns Belle.
Aladdin (1992)
Bechdel: Fail. Jasmine is the only named female character.
Reverse Bechdel: Pass. But barely! Jafar and Aladdin talk about the Cave of Wonders, and Genie tells Aladdin about the wishes [though Aladdin then turns the conversation to Jasmine].
Pocahontas (1995)
Bechdel: Pass, narrowly. Nakoma and Pocahontas talk about dreams.
Reverse Bechdel: Pass. Ratcliffe, John and Thomas interact extensively.
Mulan (1998)
Bechdel: Questionable/Fail. Mulan and her mother interact very briefly prior to the 'Bring Honour to Us All' song.
Reverse Bechdel: Pass. The men discuss training techniques, and named male characters interact extensively at the climax.
Princess and the Frog (2010)
Bechdel: Pass. Tiana talks to Charlotte and her mother about her restaurant, and to Mama Odie about becoming human again.
Reverse Bechdel: Pass. But just - Facilier, Naveen and Lawrence interact extensively, mostly about power but also about marriage and Charlotte.
(Note: this film actually passes even in the shorter time when the characters were human, but their time as frogs has been counted because they are magically transformed humans and not sidekick animals.)
Tangled (2011)
Bechdel: Pass. Mother Gothel and Rapunzel interact, mostly not about Flynn.
Reverse Bechdel: Fail. There are no named male characters apart from Flynn! "Stabbington Brothers" doesn't exactly count.
That gives four Bechdel passes, five Reverse Bechdel passes,and two films (Pocahontas and Princess and the Frog) which pass both - though barely. Two films (The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast) fail on both counts. But the figures are not wildly different, meaning that Disney does not actual suffer a massive imbalance in the way that some films do/would.
Now, for some variety, some of the other famous and/or popular Disney films:
Peter Pan (1953)
Bechdel: Fail. Tinkerbell does not speak; Wendy and Tiger Lily do not interact
Reverse Bechdel: Pass. Captain Hook and Smee interact extensively, as does Peter with John and Michael.
Note: Literary adaptation.
101 Dalmatians (1961)
Bechdel: Pass. Anita and Cruella talk about the puppies.
Reverse Bechdel: Questionable. Roger does not interact with any other human. However, named male animal characters interact extensively - and are the focus of the film.
Note: Literary adaptation.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
Bechdel: Fail. Esmerelda is the only named female character.
Reverse Bechdel: Pass. Frollo, Quasimodo, Phoebus and Clopin variously interact.
Note: Literary adaptation.
Hercules (1997)
Bechdel: Fail. Meg and Hera do not interact; no other female characters are named.
Reverse Bechdel: Pass. Male characters interact extensively.
Tarzan (1999)
Bechdel: Questionable. Kara and Terk talk briefly about Tarzan, but he is a baby at this point. Also, they are gorillas.
Reverse Bechdel: Questionable. Tarzan interacts with Kerchak (a gorilla) and Tantor (an elephant). He does not talk to Clayton, and Jane's father is not named.
Note: Literary adaptation.
Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
Bechdel: Fail? There are various female characters, but they do not seem to talk to each other.
Reverse Bechdel: Pass. Various male characters interact.
Lilo & Stitch (2002)
Bechdel: Pass. Nani and Lilo are the leads.
Reverse Bechdel: Pass. Jumba and Pleakley interact, they talk to Stitch, etc. (This is provided you count Pleakley as male-identifying.)
Note: There's a reason that Lilo & Stitch is FeministDisney's highest scoring film.
Treasure Planet (2002)
Bechdel: Fail. Captain Amelia and Sarah Hawkins do not interact. (But that's still one female character more than the original book.)
Reverse Bechdel: Pass aplenty. Probably helped by a lack of real romantic storyline.
Note: (Loose) Literary adaptation.
Of these films, there are two clear Bechdel passes, six Reverse Bechdel passes, and only one film which gets them both in. Of the two original films, one passes the Reverse but has various female characters, and the other passes both. Note also that the Treasure Planet adaptation doubles the number of female characters from the original book.
This actually implies that Disney does significantly better than it could do in the circumstances - and there's definite promise in those films which are created with original stories. It also indicates that the Princess films might have a middling ratio in terms of passes, but they are a lot more even than might have been expected.
So, I'm not really sure that there's too much to say here, save that sometimes you need to look a little deeper at the numbers - know what you're comparing things to. No, Disney is far from ideal when it comes to the presentation of women - but it's rather better than some might think.