Welcome to the Bechdel Book Club

A bit of history:

The Bechdel Test was originally conceptualised by the feminist cartoonist Alison Bechdel. She didn’t take full credit for the idea though, referencing Virginia Woolf among other feminist writers and critics. In Woolf’s ‘A Room of One’s Own’, she highlights just how little classic fiction we would have if male characters existed only in relation to female characterss, without their own autonomy. Flip that concept on its head and you’ve got most women’s representation in literature: apparently only existing only to adore, hate, support, or talk about men.

Boring right? I thought so too.

So that’s why I’m here. On a bookish quest to find, and get overexcited about, intelligent, individual, and interesting female characters. Bechdel worthy babes.

Yeah but, is it enough?

Well, no…obviously not. After researching the concept a little, I came across some criticism surrounding the Bechdel Test. Most of it seemed to come from people (I mean we can’t say for sure they were men but…if the mansplaining shoe fits) who were sitting aloofly on their high horses. “Just having two female characters doesn’t automatically make a book/film feminist”. Sir mix-a-lot’s (very clearly objectifying) ‘Baby Got Back’ was thrown about as a reference here, with its memorable first line:

“Oh my god Becky! Look at that butt!”

So, we can see quite clearly that having female-to-female dialogue doesn’t necessarily equate to forward thinking feminist discourse. Thanks to Becky and co. for clearing that up. But hey, we’ve got to start somewhere right? Don’t worry, we’re not going to take it too literally. We’re just going to focus on finding some badass women, writers and characters alike.

So, now you’re an honorary Book Club member, how about I bring the books and you bring the wine and snacks? Good, now that that’s sorted get stuck into it by clicking on the link to my first review here.