Obvious Child told the story of a young comedian who had a one-night stand, got pregnant and decided to have an abortion.

The Bechdel, Russo, and Race Test

Obvious Child passed the Bechdel test but did not pass the Russo or race test. 

In reference to the Bechdel test, there were a few instances where named female characters talked to each other without mentioning men so Obvious Child passed the test.

As to the Russo test, Obvious Child did not pass it as the film’s one gay character, Joey, wasn’t important to the plot and could have easily have been replaced. The film also did not pass the race test as there were no non-White characters.

*The Bechdel test entails three requirements:
1. It has to have at least two (named) women in it
2. Who talk to each other
3. About something besides a man

**The Vito Russo test entails three requirements:
1. The film contains a character that is identifiably lesbian, gay, bisexual, intersex and/or transgender
2. The character must not be solely or predominately defined by her sexual orientation, gender identity and/or as being intersex
3.The character must be tied into the plot in such a way that her removal would have a significant effect

***The race or people of color (POC) test has three requirements:
1. It has two people of color in it
2. Who talk to each other
3. About something other than a White person

****Just because a film passes the Bechdel, Russo and race test does not mean that it is not sexist, heterosexist, racist and/or cissexist, etc. The Bechdel, Russo and race test is only a bare minimum qualifier for the representation of LGBTI individuals, women and people of color in film. The failure to pass these tests also does not identify whether the central character was a woman, a person of color or a LGBTQI individual and it does not dictate the quality of the film.