Diversity is part of the human experience. 

 

As an autistic, queer, physically disabled, Indian-American human, I am always looking for inclusivity in media. Does that mean I am only seeking characters who are autistic and queer and physically disabled and Indian-American? No! I certainly do, however, delight in seeing someone even fractionally like me in media, since each of the traits I listed above are severely underrepresented. And I particularly delight when that representation is well executed.

 

Human beings are diverse within their communities. Many of these communities intersect, which creates even more diversity. For example, I am brown and I am autistic. My lived experiences as a brown autistic person differ from those of a white autistic person and those of a Black autistic person. They also differ from those of a brown neurotypical (not autistic) person.

 

When I read a book, watch TV, go to the movies, what I am truly seeking is a cross-section of the human experience, such as I might see when I go to the grocery store, use public transportation, walk through my neighborhood, eat at a restaurant, travel.

 

What I am looking for is meaningful representation.

 

Meaningful representation means creating characters who are fleshed out, flawed, and believable. Three-dimensional characters who go beyond token appearances and tropes. People who are living their own lives, who don’t exist simply to support the main (usually more privileged) character’s journey.

 

I believe all storytellers have a responsibility to include meaningful representation. Unless every character in your story is exactly like you (and how boring would that be?!), this will take time and effort. I assure you, though, your story will be richer and more authentic for it.

 

In this eight-part essay, I will share suggestions on how to create meaningful representations of diverse characters. I will ask you to explore your own intentions and lived experiences to guide you as your create your story. Using television shows, I will give specific examples of successful representation (spoiler alerts included).* 

 

I will be discussing the following topics:

• Perspective
• Tropes As A Starting Point
• Breaking Away From Tropes
• Character Development
• Researching For Authenticity
• Consulting and Compensating Experts
• Hiring and Supporting Diverse Creators