Just saw Tik Tok that claims LOTR is trash because it doesn’t pass the Bechdel Test. So I wanted to talk about how LOTR actually breaks down a lot of Toxic Masculinity.

First of in general the men are all incredibly well rounded - they cry, they love, they are respectful, they are faithful, and they fully and openly love one another without fear.

Samwise (the real hero of the story) is a cook, a gardener, a friend, empathetic, and gentle - and all these traits are what make him the most powerful character, he never changes to become the hero, as the tale goes on we see that these traits make him the hero

Aragorn - fuck where do I begin, like, literally his entire character is a massive ‘fuck you’ to toxic masculinity - he is the epitome of love, friendship, and kindness, and is constantly putting everything and everyone before himself.

Yes I understand the entire fellowship is made up of men - but find me one man in that lineup that would do anything remotely sexist or derogatory or anything that could remotely be seen as toxic.

The woman, while I admit there are few, are all strong independent and constantly throughout the story show that they do not need or want men to control them, and constantly prove to everyone around them that they are just as capable, if not more so, than any man.

You could make most, if not all, of the characters female and it would not change the story whatsoever, like it wouldn’t be weird and everything would still make sense.

While LOTR may not pass the Bechdel Test, it is 100% a story that defies gender norms, and shows a group of men who openly and vocally love each other, and who should be a real benchmark for men everywhere

I might even go as far as to say that LOTR is the perfect example of how men can and should be feminists. Every single member of The Fellowship would 100% be a feminist and nobody can fight me on that.