The document provides an overview of the representation of women in films from the 1940s to 2010s. It discusses the Bechdel test and how few films pass it. It then summarizes some of the common tropes and roles of women in American films for each decade, such as the femme fatale in the 1940s and Marilyn Monroe's roles in the 1950s. It notes that the films only represent white, slim women and calls for further research on a more diverse set of international films.

1. Representation of Women in
Film
A Basic Overview

2. Bechdel Test
• To pass this ‘test’ a film has to:
1. Have at least two [named] women in it
2. Who talk to each other
3. About something besides a man
• Can you think of any recent films that might
pass this?

3. 1940s – the femme fatale
• http://youtu.be/Gz-5wKegyOw

4. 1950s - Marilyn
• http://youtu.be/e5_GTzZFwwI

5. 1960s - Audrey
• http://youtu.be/buIAtvhEpFQ

6. 1970s – getting more diverse?

7. 1980s – from power dressing to action
to motherhood
• http://youtu.be/AQBAc1qCMOc

8. • http://youtu.be/c4Jo8QoOTQ4
• http://youtu.be/zNE0dlHcmgA

9. 1990s – the game changer
• http://youtu.be/PRr0HY9MPZ0

10. 1990s – or did they change?

11. 2000s – some ideas
• http://youtu.be/kC5L4IJoERM

12. 2000s – some ideas
• http://youtu.be/dad4-gQfhMs

13. 2000s – some ideas
• http://youtu.be/ot6C1ZKyiME

14. 2000s – some ideas
• http://youtu.be/4eHOGvEr15I

15. 2000s – some ideas
• http://youtu.be/KAOmTMCtGkI

16. 2010
• http://youtu.be/5jaI1XOB-bs

17. Did you notice?
•
•
•
•
Every film mentioned is American
They all feature white women
They’re all slim
They’re all mainstream films
• Your task: research a wider variety of films and
representations of young women, focusing on
countries other than the US