Sweden Uses New Rating System to Screen for Sexist Films

The Shawshank Redemption. Good Will Hunting. 12 Angry Men. Of these three critically acclaimed films, not one of them would receive an ‘A’ rating based on a review system being implemented in several Swedish cinemas. The rating system in question? The Bechdel Test, of course.

The Bechdel Test, named after the author/artist Alison Bechdel, was first introduced in 1985 to assess films according to the following guidelines:

• Are there at least two female characters with names?

• Do those characters have a conversation about something other than a man?

• Are there strong female presences in the film? Read more...