Bechdel Test
The Bechdel Test has 3 categories:
1. The film needs at least 2 named women
2. These women have to talk to each other
3. About something that is not a man
The Vito Russo Test has 3 categories:
1. The film has a character that is part of the LGBTQ+ community
2. But the character is not solely based on being a part of the LGBTQ+ community
3. This character needs to be important to the plot so that if they were removed from the film, the film would not be the same
The Race Test has 3 categories:
1. The film needs 2 people of colour
2. These people need to talk to each other
3. About something that is not a white person
Black Widow
The Avengers only meets the first category of the Bechdel Test as there are 3 named female characters in the movie.
Luckily, Black Widow does pass the Bechdel Test as 2 of the main characters are female.
The Avengers or Black Widow do not pass the Vito Russo Test or the Race Test.
The Joker
Joker does not pass the Bechdel Test as there are only 2 named women in the whole movie and then one woman is named in the credits.
Captain America
Captain America: The First Avenger does not pass the Bechdel Test. Peggy Carter is the only named female character. There are other female characters in the movie but they do not have names.
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Captain America: The Winter Soldier does pass the Bechdel Test but not by much.
Captain America: Civil War passes the Race Test but does not pass the Bechdel or Russo Test. This is because T’Challa’s father tells T’Challa how much he has grown as a person. This is the only conversation between 2 people of colour, where the conversation is about something other than a white person.
In Captain America: Civil War there are no LGBTQ+ characters.
The 2 named female characters in Captain America: Civil War are Black Widow and Scarlet Witch. These women never have a conversation with each other.
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is the first DC film that has a female lead. It does pass the Bechdel test. Other DC films only include women who are love interests of the male lead. Since 2005, Wonder Woman is the first superhero lead with a female lead. This highlights the need for more female superheroes.