In the third episode of Grace and Frankie both the men and women in the show are trying to move forward with their lives. The men do so by holding a dinner party with themselves and their 4 children. The women try to move forward by returning to work: Grace to Say Grace and Frankie as an art teacher. However, for both women their job choices don’t work out. Grace’s daughter doesn’t think it would be a good idea if Grace came back to work and Frankie’s job falls through due to a misunderstanding by the “employer”.
Grace and Frankie “The Dinner” passes the Bechdel Test by including…
- Grace and Frankie
- Grace and Frankie have conversations throughout the episode
- Grace and Frankie have numerous conversations throughout the episode, including one where they discuss cigarettes and eventually decide to buy a pack.
Grace Skolka (Hanson)
Masculine Traits:
- Forceful
- Grace is forceful with Frankie when Frankie is having trouble hearing Grace. Grace exclaims that Frankie needs to get a hearing device, and Frankie isn’t at all pleased to hear that from Grace.
- Masculine
- There is a scene where Grace is having to plunge with kitchen sink. It isn’t discussed at all, but that is something that would stereotypically be known as a “man’s job”.
- Willing to take a stand
- Grace makes the choice to not be involved in the silent auction that Robert and Sol’s law firm hosts. She calls the office and takes a stand saying that she will “not be doing the silent auction!”.
- Individualistic
- Both Grace and Frankie decide to make the individualistic decision to buy a pack of cigarettes. In today’s world it isn’t common for elderly feminine individuals to start smoking.
- Ambitious
- Grace shows ambition when she decides that she is going back to work. She is getting bored being cooped up in their beach house and realizes it is time for a change.
- Loud-spoken
- Often times feminine individuals stay calm and don’t like to make a scene in public, however, Grace did. She started yelling and making a commotion in a store when the man working wouldn’t help them.
Feminine Traits:
- Loyal
- When returning to work at Say Grace, the company that Grace started, she tries to seem loyal and dedicated to the company. She does so by saying that is the reason she is returning to work.
- Soft-spoken
- Unfortunately, Brianna, Grace’s daughter, politely turned Grace away from Say Grace saying that Grace would over shadow her. Instead of getting angry with Brianna, Grace was very soft-spoken with her.
- Sensitive
- Grace is hurt, though, when she finds out that her face will soon be removed from the Say Grace packaging. She is very shocked and clearly is saddened by Brianna’s decision.
Frankie Bergestein
Masculine Traits:
- Assertive
- When Frankie finds out that she isn’t being interviewed for the art teaching position, she flips a switch from being cheerful to assertive. With this flip she becomes very confident in herself and almost cocky.
- Forceful
- Frankie is forceful in a conversation with Grace where Frankie tells her to get her scissors away from her rug. Grace had gotten so bored that she was trimming the rug and Frankie called her out.
- Aggressive
- Frankie is very aggressive towards her painting that she has begun and is trying to feel inspired by. At the end of the day she gets very frustrated and starts to beat the canvas and smack food all over it.
- Individualistic
- Both Grace and Frankie decide to make the individualistic decision to buy a pack of cigarettes. In today’s world it isn’t common for elderly women to start smoking.
Feminine Traits:
- Cheerful
- Frankie decides to apply for an art teaching position and is then given a chance to speak with who she thought was interviewing her. She was very cheerful and kind to the individual.
In this episode, Grace and Frankie both seem to be acting more masculine than feminine. Grace could be considered androgynous in this episode because she has a good mix of both, however, I would say that her masculine traits outweigh her feminine traits in this episode. Frankie on the other hand is definitely showing a more masculine side by being aggressive and overly confident in herself.
Shared by: Reegan Haines
Image Credit: Grace and Frankie Season 1, Episode 3 (approximately 5:40)