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Gwendolyn Sour
AP English 11
Mr. Rabbene
1/11/15

In the mid-2000s, Alison Bechdel published multiple graphic novels (including the
critically-acclaimed Fun Home), and from one of these came the Bechdel test. In essence,
the Bechdel test was a way of analyzing media and a way to expose any anti-feminist
media. To pass the Bechdel test, the media must have: Multiple women, multiple women
that are named, those women must have a conversation about something other than men.
Not surprisingly, most media in our male-hero-centric culture doesn't pass this test.
However, in 2013, Netflix produced a show that passes not only the Bechdel test, but
many, many others: Orange is the New Black. Not only is this series a prime example of
feminist media, but it is a holy grail of diversity, excellent writing, and women that
women can actually see themselves in.
First of all, one of Orange is the New Black (commonly abbreviated OITNB)'s
biggest successes are their racial and ethnic diversity. From Red, the strong Russian cook,
to Gloria the Latina who steps in to take her place and everyone between and outside, you
would be hard-pressed to find a group underrepresented at the Leitchfield Detention
Center, the fictional women's prison where the show is set. The women self-divide into
groups, true to real life prison culture, and in these groups we see some of the most
interesting dynamics. Within all of them, whether Latina, Caucasian, Black, or any other
group you could think of, we see rich back stories, deep care about their fellow women,

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and so much life and light. All backstories are acted in the language they would actually
have been spoken in and subtitled, and there is frequent Spanish spoken in regular
dialogue. Overall, this shows how much care is being taken by the writers to ensure that
these women's cultures are finally represented properly.
Second, OITNB is one of the only, if not the only, shows of right now to portray
lesbians. However, they take it a step further by having not just one but many lesbian and
bisexual women portrayed in many different lights. Piper Chapman, the show's
protagonist, is a proud bisexual and frequently clears up the definition for some of the illinformed people on the outside, stating that just because she is currently engaged to a
man, it does not erase her former serious relationship with a woman or her attraction to
women. There are other characters, such as Nicky Nichols, shown frequently having
sexual relations with women, and characters such as Poussy, who are shown being
romantically and sexually interested in women. For a show to have such diverse
representation of women of all sexual orientations, given that most shows lack even slight
representation of anything other than heterosexuality, shows how far ahead of
competition the show truly is.

Finally, OITNB is the only show where you can see so many women so
physically diverse. As far as nudity goes, any media that dares to take the plunge all
generally looks the same; dolled up faces and arched backs in perfect lighting and
strategically placed cameras, not to mention the glammed-up sexual scenarios these
human Barbies participate in. This is yet another place where OITNB dares to be
different. All figures get their moments in the limelight, from the thin and petite to the

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curvy divas and everywhere in-between. Not only do viewers get treated with what the
female form actually realistically looks like, but with very seldom exceptions, the
women's faces are naked of any makeup. This is also practically unheard of, making it
feel like a camera truly just stumbled upon these characters; the true sign of wellproduced and believable media.
Overall, the biggest sign of how revolutionary this show is would be the fact that
an entire essay can be written about it without the mention of men. OITNB is a fresh
drink of crisp, cool, and crystal clear water to a parched populace desperate for real
women to look up to and care about. Women are finally put in the spotlight and seen as
more than the trophy for the male hero, and many begin to wonder why something so
naturally right-feeling has taken so long to be made. When media so blatantly laughs at
the idea of not passing the Bechdel test or inaccurately portraying women, one can't help
but feel that Orange truly is the New Black.