Representation Matters, Always and Now More Than Ever

“Scholars and community leaders have declared mottos like how it's "hard to be what you can’t see," asserting that people from marginalized groups do not pursue Career or academic opportunities when they are not exposed to such possibilities.”

One of the more insidious parts of systemic racism and white privilege in general, is representation.

Representation is defined “as the description or portrayal of someone or something in a particular way or as being of a certain nature.”

Most white people who claim they are not racist or racism does not exist, are also blissfully unaware of the fact that nearly everything in the culture is catered to those that look like “them..” namely, white, christian, cis hetero, able bodied…

From bandaids to baby dolls, movie stars to presidents, if you are BIPOC, LGBTQ+, differently abled or neuro-diverse, even in this day and age, it is not as common to see yourself or your culture represented other than in marginalized ways.

Take the supreme court, there has never been a Black woman on it. And many, many Black women are and have been, more than qualified.

“Representation can serve as opportunities for minoritized people to find community support and validation…

representation can be helpful in reducing negative stereotypes about other groups.”

Social media and other technological advances are allowing more representation to be available, and for people to find their people, and be exposed to other people, in many ways.

It is still only a start, but make no mistake, now more than ever, representation matters and should be intentional towards healing and justice.

(Quotes from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/psychology-the-people/202112/why-representation-matters-and-why-it-s-still-not-enough)