a place in the narrative

when you were growing up, how many people in leadership roles looked like you? how many characters in books, television, or in movies, were like you? did you feel like you could become a leader, an actor, or that you would ever see your life experience represented in a book? true - inspiration can be found in someone who looks different than you, or has a different life experience from yours - but: do accurate portrayals of people similar to you exist?

it is easy for some people to say yes to all of these; they have grown up feeling represented everywhere. if they happened to disagree with one leader that looked like them, there was another leader that looked the same, but with different policies, to take their place. characters and actors in television and movies looked like them, and it was fairly easy to find someone that aligned with their life experience in literature.

​yet, for other people, representation needs improvement. there exist few, if any, leaders who look like them. actors and characters in movies and shows that look like them may be out there, but with far-removed life experiences, while other characters provide inaccurate portrayals and only perpetuate harmful stereotypes.

when more diverse and accurate portrayals of underrepresented groups begin to appear, some people ask why it matters - why mention the connection to the underrepresented group at all. these people jump to the conclusion that the leader, actor, or character is only valued because of their connection with a particular group. they disregard - or believe others disregard - the possibility that the leader rose to prominence because of their experience; that the actor was a wonderful fit for the role; that the character portrayed something that spoke into the life experience of the people they represented. it is so easy for someone who has grown up knowing a variety of people like them are visible in the world as leaders and actors, and that their life experience is easy to find in literature, to discount why such portrayals matter.

so, what does it matter that a record number of underrepresented individuals either began or continued their leadership roles in a land marred by civil unrest? only that for some people, they will feel represented by one of more of these leaders. only that it opens the potential for more leaders of underrepresented groups in future. only that with more voices comes more ideas, new directions, and new life to a land at war from before its birth. only that those who did not grow up seeing themselves everywhere will potentially take more seriously their role as inspiration for future generations.

a leader, actor, or character should be valued beyond being a part of any particular group. however, problems arise when the accepted narrative continues to silence underrepresented voices. it becomes essential that these voices be allowed to be heard. leaders have the potential to inspire others. when people get good leaders and the leaders get talked about, create change, and inspire, children take notice. just as with inspiring actors and characters, the children can see themselves out in the world. this inspiration can manifest in adulthood as achieving in leadership, creative endeavours, or in a frontier where they are still underrepresented. the more anyone sees themselves in the world around them, the more things they believe they are capable of.

so, yes, encourage people to rise to leadership roles because of their valuable experience, continue to find actors that are skilled in their craft, and continue creating characters that speak into diverse life experiences - but when any or all of these things happen to make visible and give prominence to underrepresented people and voices, do not be surprised that it matters to someone. or to a lot of people. because not everyone grew up seeing themselves or their life experiences represented everywhere. it is time to make more room for more people in the narrative.

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{other pieces on Gender, Sexuality, and Relationship Diversity (GSRD)}

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