Friday, March 27, 2015

Modern Musical Tropes : Gender Politics

I'm still debating my friend's question about which musicals have "progressive gender politics." With some brainstorming I've attempted to draft a quiz. Sort of a musical theater Bechdel test.


  1. Does your musical have significant roles for women? Y / N
  2. Does a woman pursue a goal that is not marriage, sex or a baby? Y / N
  3. Does she sing a song about said goal? Y / N
    • Example: Annaleigh Ashford in Kinky Boots wants to save the factory, but her solo is about her crush on Charlie.
  4. Does she achieve that goal by the end of the show? Y / N
  5. Does she have to seduce or sexually blackmail someone to achieve her goal? Y / N
    • Example: Lorelei in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes pursues wealth, but has to use sex appeal to get it. 
  6. If a man helps her, does he help or does he give her what she wanted as a prize?

This is a work in progress. Give it a look and let me know what you'd edit or add!

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