The Men in Media test (MIM)
Watch a movie or TV show and use the MIM test (below) to assess the portrayal of male characters…
You’ll learn more about the kinds of manhood on display in what you watch!
The Men in Media test is a tool to evaluate the stories we create and consume about men. It examines a spectrum of principles and experiences relating to masculinity and manhood. This spectrum includes:
Dominance manhood (stoic, hyper-masculine, tough guy)
Questioning dominance manhood (suffers due to not being ‘manly’ enough; rejects norms)
Relational manhood (expressive, collaborative, and authentic)
The “Bechdel” version of the MIM test is a Pass/Fail question. It asks if a film or TV show has:
(1) two named male characters who talk to each other
(2) about how they are feeling and
(3) give a compassionate response