Noelle Connell Bechdel, Russo, and Race Test, TV

The Bechdel, Russo, and Race Test: Jane the Virgin, “Chapter Twenty-Nine” – Season 2, Episode 7

On Jane the Virgin, “Chapter Twenty-Nine,” Rogelio refused to cut back on his expenses despite his lack of income; Petra and Magda worked on disposing of a body; Wesley released an expose on the Solanos; Michael worked as an undercover cop; and Jane tried to woo Dr. Bolton into becoming her advisor.

The Bechdel, Russo, and Race Test

“Chapter Twenty-Nine” passed the Bechdel, Russo and race test.

Rogelio shows up to a set that he can’t stand.

There were several named women and non-White individuals in “Chapter Twenty-Nine” and there were several occasions where some of these named women talked to each other without mentioning men and some of the non-White individuals talked to each other without mentioning White people so the episode passed the Bechdel and race test. “Chapter Twenty-Nine” also passed the Russo test, and the episode passed this test because the one LGBTI character in the episode, Luisa, was not solely defined by her sexual orientation (e.g., she was also defined as being a Solano) and because her removal from the episode would have significantly affected the plot as she was one of the people who told Wesley all about the Solanos and she discovered that her mother isn’t dead.

*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 show 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 show 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 television. 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 show.