The Bechdel-Wallace Test for Circus

Who

15 to 20 people

Source et inspiration

This exercise was developed by the group Cirque et Genre, “Adapting the Bechdel-Wallace Test to Circus – How Are Women Represented in Circus Performances?” by the Collectif Chercheur·e sur le Cirque

Where

Space which allows for work in small groups

DURATION

1h-1h30

MATERIALS

Paper, pens, post-its

EXERCISE DESCRIPTION

The “Cirque et genre” (Circus and gender) group offers workshops for developing tools that help formulate questions about circus performances, inspired by the Bechdel-Wallace Test. The Bechdel-Wallace Test, created by author Alison Bechdel and her friend Liz Wallace, is a measure of the representation of women in works of fiction. For a work to pass the test, it must meet three simple criteria:

1. There must be at least two female characters (who have names)
2. Who have a conversation together
3. About something other than a man.

This test highlights the lack of meaningful roles for female characters in many works of fiction, including circus. It remains a basic tool, as it does not measure either the complexity of the characters or the ways in which women are represented.

After a presentation of the Bechdel-Wallace Test, each group creates their own test and shares it with the others. A collective discussion follows, allowing participants to reflect on the value and the limitations of these tests for evaluating the representation of women in circus. The Bechdel-Wallace Test focuses on women, but it can take other forms of discrimination into account. The CCCirque website documents the results of previous workshops. It presents the strengths and limitations of the test and suggests possible developments.