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Bechdel Test- Gender Bias in Movies

MysticSang'ha

Big Squishy Hugger
Premium Member


Hmmm good question. It's difficult to pin-point who does it the most, although it's probably more from males. The time in my life where it was most prominant was in highschool/college by primarily other males, however it hasn't died out much as people get older.


I generally get the impression that more aggressive males tend to try to influence other males to suppress the emotions outside of aggression. I am curious what the experience is from other men and boys, since I'm coming from a completely different perspective.

Very rarely have I seen a woman/girl be ridiculed for crying, in the sense that it's not something their sex is supposed to be doing. :shrug:

I know this is only anecdotal, but to me it seems to be that if a Woman cries it generates sympathy, if a Man cries it generates ridicule.

On certain occasions, yes. Crying in either gender is generally seen as weakness. What I've come across is that though in some situations if a woman cries it generates sympathy, unless she is in an active caregiver mode. I've heard women chide other women if they cry or "show weakness" when they are caring for a sick or injured child, or an aging parent who might be terminal. In those situations, I've generally seen it to be forgiving for men to cry, which I have seen generates sympathy from others, but it seems expected for women to remain strong and to be there for those who are hurt, ill, or dying.
 

Me Myself

Back to my username
Sports, women, cheap beer. What else is a man supposed to amount to? Even men are starting to be portrayed as dimwitted, shallow, superficial, image-driven drones, and it may not be too long before things like anorexia become much more common in men.
And then of course a man isn't supposed to be encultured, because he is supposed to be watching men jump on each other and slap each other on the ***. Actually, to be encultured, to dance, to be able to name classic painters and sculptures, to watch non-violent sports, is somehow supposed to degrade a man's masculinity.
If I had to sum it up, I would say women are oppressed and men are unhealthy, as well as oppressed in some areas, especially custody and divorce.
Rather than some test based on an arbitrary definition, why not just point out the bias, oppression, unfairness, and general misinterpretations of both genders in the media at large? I for one don't care much for the sports obsessed macho tough guy who can't dance.
**edited**
I am curious though, what are the stastics like in Canada as far as divorce and custody go? Here in America it is hard for a mother to be proven unfit, dad's do not typically get more than Wednesday and every other weekend, and alot of men do get screwed in a divorce. It's almost as if it's assumed men cannot even hope to compare with women when caring for children and the guy is almost always the bad guy in divorce.
Women do have it worse than men, but nevertheless some things do work unfairly towards women. Just the psychology alone of everyone else but white men having their days, weeks, months, or whatever to celebrate can make on feel abit insignificant. From what I gather from some of the more far-leaning groups, white men should feel guilty just for being white men.
And of course a man is not supposed to ever cry no matter what, which is probably one of the worst things men have going for them.

Both men and women are opressed with rigid stereotyping in one way and another. Totally agree with you on that.

Society is advancing though and thats a good thing.

I wonder how are e statistics on female script writters on male scrip writters, if their writtings tend to pass the bechdel test more often, if there is a statistical difference in gender of the movie (comedy, horror, etc) that makes it more prone to pass the test, etc.

Arg, I wanted to make an experiment on that, now I actually could, I just wanna find a thread of mine I did the first time I wanted to try to put some quesiton and get some feedback before doing it. I think Ill delazy myself today and post again or just make a new thread xD
 

Me Myself

Back to my username
I generally get the impression that more aggressive males tend to try to influence other males to suppress the emotions outside of aggression. I am curious what the experience is from other men and boys, since I'm coming from a completely different perspective.



On certain occasions, yes. Crying in either gender is generally seen as weakness. What I've come across is that though in some situations if a woman cries it generates sympathy, unless she is in an active caregiver mode. I've heard women chide other women if they cry or "show weakness" when they are caring for a sick or injured child, or an aging parent who might be terminal. In those situations, I've generally seen it to be forgiving for men to cry, which I have seen generates sympathy from others, but it seems expected for women to remain strong and to be there for those who are hurt, ill, or dying.

Yes, I ve seen that too.

I think male "dont cry you ******" is very similar to "dont sleep with him you ****" kind of repression by shaming.

Is the kind of stuff where the same gender tends to be way harder on itself than the opposite one. Truly an unfortunate case.
 

Aquitaine

Well-Known Member
I generally get the impression that more aggressive males tend to try to influence other males to suppress the emotions outside of aggression. I am curious what the experience is from other men and boys, since I'm coming from a completely different perspective.



On certain occasions, yes. Crying in either gender is generally seen as weakness. What I've come across is that though in some situations if a woman cries it generates sympathy, unless she is in an active caregiver mode. I've heard women chide other women if they cry or "show weakness" when they are caring for a sick or injured child, or an aging parent who might be terminal. In those situations, I've generally seen it to be forgiving for men to cry, which I have seen generates sympathy from others, but it seems expected for women to remain strong and to be there for those who are hurt, ill, or dying.

As a Male, I have drawn similarities between how (some) Men will grill other Men for crying, with how (some) Women will grill other Women who're promiscious. This of course is entirely anecdotal.

I've seen more Women be critical of a Women for what she wears, or her sexual behaviour, and I've seen more Men be critical of a Man who cries and/or shows "weakness".

I think it's got something to do with people not conforming to society's designated behaviour roles. Another example would be to compare the use of the word "whore" or "****", and how there doesn't appear to be a male example other than "Man-whore" or "Man-****", and how promiscuity is accpeted for a man's behaviour, but God-forbid if a Woman sleeps around then BURN HER!!!1
 

Alceste

Vagabond


As a Male, I have drawn similarities between how (some) Men will grill other Men for crying, with how (some) Women will grill other Women who're promiscious. This of course is entirely anecdotal.

I've seen more Women be critical of a Women for what she wears, or her sexual behaviour, and I've seen more Men be critical of a Man who cries and/or shows "weakness".

I think it's got something to do with people not conforming to society's designated behaviour roles. Another example would be to compare the use of the word "whore" or "****", and how there doesn't appear to be a male example other than "Man-whore" or "Man-****", and how promiscuity is accpeted for a man's behaviour, but God-forbid if a Woman sleeps around then BURN HER!!!1

A cousin of mine told me he found my phase of dreads, purple hair, crazy manga-like outfits and Bohemian promiscuity very disturbing when he was a teen. I was surprised to hear that, but this is a kid who has spent his while life bending over backwards to "Fit in" and be popular. He was threatened by the idea there might be other motivations in life.

Poor guy married his second girlfriend and had two kids. They're a miserable couple. I don't expect their marriage will last.
 

Me Myself

Back to my username


As a Male, I have drawn similarities between how (some) Men will grill other Men for crying, with how (some) Women will grill other Women who're promiscious. This of course is entirely anecdotal.

I've seen more Women be critical of a Women for what she wears, or her sexual behaviour, and I've seen more Men be critical of a Man who cries and/or shows "weakness".

I think it's got something to do with people not conforming to society's designated behaviour roles. Another example would be to compare the use of the word "whore" or "****", and how there doesn't appear to be a male example other than "Man-whore" or "Man-****", and how promiscuity is accpeted for a man's behaviour, but God-forbid if a Woman sleeps around then BURN HER!!!1

Pretty much. Men urge men not to cry women urge women not to "sleep around"

Weird upside down crazy society we live in.
 

The Sum of Awe

Brought to you by the moment that spacetime began.
To be honest though, it's probably because many people haven't gotten used to their protagonists being females, and I can admit I'd probably find it harder to follow at first if one of the major characters are women (with an exception for Resident Evil).

But that's because I'm a male and would find it easier to relate to a character when they're closer to me, gender included, in the same way culture is included.
 

MysticSang'ha

Big Squishy Hugger
Premium Member


As a Male, I have drawn similarities between how (some) Men will grill other Men for crying, with how (some) Women will grill other Women who're promiscious. This of course is entirely anecdotal.

I've seen more Women be critical of a Women for what she wears, or her sexual behaviour, and I've seen more Men be critical of a Man who cries and/or shows "weakness".

I think it's got something to do with people not conforming to society's designated behaviour roles. Another example would be to compare the use of the word "whore" or "****", and how there doesn't appear to be a male example other than "Man-whore" or "Man-****", and how promiscuity is accpeted for a man's behaviour, but God-forbid if a Woman sleeps around then BURN HER!!!1

Ah, interesting parallel. I see what you're saying.
 

Me Myself

Back to my username
You know something?

This thread reminds me of how unconfortable I used to feel as a young child when I saw "too developed" a female character.

Movies and cartoons used to be confortably predictable. I knew who to root for, I knew who would gracefully bow out and let the protagonists do their stuff.

Then one day there was that story (a cartoon, IIRC) where suddenly the female character was just awesome, unstoppable. She knew how to handle every situation, she was always prepared and self-reliant.

I was scared out of my wits. I had no idea of what I should feel. Was I supposed to fear her? To hope she turned out to be a romantic interest? To expect that she would need some sort of help or rescue at the most dramatically significant moment?

I had no idea, and that troubled me in ways that I am not certain I understand even now. True story.

1-cooties

2-she sounds like a mary sue
 
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