In the first episode of the season, the four girls, Bree, Lynette, Susan, and Gabby, dealt with the death of their friend and neighbor, Mary Alice. Throughout the episode, it showed the day of and up to a week after her death. 

This episode would pass the Bechdel test 

  • At least two girls 
    • There are four main characters that are girls 
  • These two girls talk to each other 
    • The four girls are all neighbors and close friends, so they interact almost daily
  • They talk about something other than a man
    • Although they do talk about men and their love lives, they also talked about their friend, Mary Alice, and their children. 

This episode was also analyzed with the Bem Sex-Role Perspective which looks at whether the characters are presenting feminine or masculine traits.  Although some more than others, they each had at least one masculine trait along with many feminine traits from the Bem sex-role inventory list. 

Bree

  • Feminine traits: cheerful, loyal, sensitive to others’ needs, compassionate, eager to soothe hurt feelings, soft-spoken, warm, tender, love children, gentle, and doesn’t use harsh language 
    • Much of these were shown towards Mary Alice’s family and friends as they all grieved her death but were also shown to her own family. 
  • Masculine traits: self-sufficient
    • As she is a stay at home mom, she is constantly working around the house whether it’s cleaning, gardening, or cooking. 

Susan

  • Feminine traits: shy, compassionate, eager to soothe hurt feelings
    • As she has just gone through a divorce, she is very shy about entering the dating world. She was also compassionate and eager to help Mary Alice’s family. 
  • Masculine traits: competitive, ambitious
    • As Susan met a new bachelor across the street, she is insistent to win him over before another single woman on the block, Edie, does. 

Lynette 

  • Feminine traits: eager to soothe hurt feelings, affectionate 
    • Like the other girls, shew was there for Mary Alice’s family. She was very affectionate towards her husband when he surprised her by coming home for a night while away on a business trip. 
  • Masculine traits: assertive, aggressive, acts as a leader
    • Since she is often home by her self with her children, she has to be a leader for them. This sometimes comes with being aggressive and assertive towards them as they often don’t listen to her. 

Gabby

  • Feminine traits: feminine, eager to soothe hurt feelings, childlike
    • Along with being there for Mary Alice’s family, she is very immature with her husband as she cheats on him and is very feminine like as she is a model and consistently dresses and acts like a lady.
  • Masculine traits: athletic, strong personality, willing to take a stand 
    • She has a very bold and strong personality which allows her to take a stand towards her husband when she doesn’t want to do something or doesn’t get something she wants. She is also athletic as she wants to keep her figure. 

Shared by: Lexi Anderson
Image Credit: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=httpsseenonceleb.combracelet-cartier-diamond-of-gabrielle-solis-eva-longoria-seen-in-desperate-housewives-season-1-episode-1&psig=AOvVaw16jGstVjhALlGGZzFfhsXQ&ust=1599503387019000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCMjrhPeV1esCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD