Stereotyping

6 Degrees Dictionary: A User's Guide to Inclusion

6 Degrees is a Canadian initiative that responds to rising nativism and exclusion through connection, artistic representation, online engagement and language. This co-created dictionary examines 12 words responsible for disagreement and misunderstanding, and recasts them to provoke and inspire.

6 Degrees Dictionary: A User's Guide to Inclusion - Videos

Three short videos on the 6 Degrees Dictionary. 6 Degrees is a Canadian initiative that responds to rising nativism and exclusion through connection, artistic representation, online engagement and language. The dictionary recasts 12 words typically responsible for disagreement and misunderstanding.

An open letter to reviewers, critics and editors

'Hello, lovely to meet you. I’m Cessalee: a Black woman, DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) consultant, director and performer, arts audience member, and advocate for a better industry – can we talk?'

'Comparing ... a play about a specific Asian community to another play ... from an entirely other Asian country tells me you’re not talking about the quality, talent or skill level ... you’re talking about the category you’ve created called ‘plays about Asian things I don’t understand'.'

Black Face

Overview of the history and contemporary expression of black face from the UK and the US.

'Popular contemporary ways of displaying blackface include: darkening your skin and especially your face; wearing clothes that you assume all black people wear and in a fashion that is mocking (think ‘ghetto’ or ‘thug’); throwing up obscure gang signs, or what you assume are gang signs, in order to ‘act black’; and depicting blackness in all its complexities as a caricature.'

Check Our Biases to Wreck Our Biases

Second in a New York Times series on implicit bias, looking at how implicit bias works in selection situations and how some people are auditing their own implicit biases.

Commissioning for Diversity and Inclusion Guidelines — Screen Content

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s “Diversity and Inclusion Commissioning Guidelines – Screen Content” will require production companies to provide greater access and opportunity to under-represented people and perspectives – on and off screen – including gender diversity, Indigenous Australians, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people living with a disability and the LGBTQI+ community.

'Dance is not a museum': how ballet is reimagining problematic classics

A look at the ways major UK ballet companies are reimagining the classics like The Nutcracker to avoid the damaging stereotypes protrayed in scenes like the Chinese and Arabian variations. "Historical ballets are rife with offensive colonial politics but choreographers and dancers are finding creative ways to change them for today’s audiences"

Design Studio for Social Intervention's "Cultural tactics"

A paper introducing inclusive cultural tactics that expose and amplify some of the complexities of culture in order to dissect challenging social problems. Including US case studies, it shows how cultural tactics can act as leverage points for social justice.

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Imagery Toolkits for 'authentic visual depictions'

These Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Imagery Toolkits are designed "to help marketers and communicators infuse authenticity into their visual storytelling across all communication channels and platforms."

The toolkit gives demographic information for different countries, strategies for converting intents into action, and a roadmap for incorporating 'authentic and multi-faceted depictions of people in global content' and 'identifies biases and stereotypes through specific lenses of identity'.

Ethical Storytelling Podcasts

Selected podcasts from the Ethical Storytelling community on inclusive, human-centered storytelling and marketing in not-for-profit work. Featuring filmmakers, photographers and writers on their failures and lessons; as well as NGO practitioners and clients’ reflections on best practices and wrestling with power dynamics.

‘Getting it Right’: Anita Heiss on Indigenous Characters

Indigenous Australian author, poet, cultural activist and social commentator, Anita Heiss, speaks about tokenism and how to research and write stories with ‘believable, meaningful and (hopefully) empowering Indigenous characters’.

How did rock music get so white?

Professor of media studies at the University of Virginia and Slate music critic Jack Hamilton interviewed on how rock and roll changed from an inter-racial expression to the soundtrack of whiteness.

‘Pat Boone covering Little Richard is probably the most egregious example of this. “But he was able to get his music played on radio stations that wouldn't play the black originators of that music and he was someone who almost objectively made much worse versions of that than the originals.”’

Meet the Illustrator Diversifying Airbnb's Image

AirBnB hired an illustrator to diversify its imagery and branding. This article explores how design considerations can seem small compared to policies or features for tech companies, but they are learning the value of people imagining themselves in the product.

Navigating culture in the workplace with Professor Nareen Young

"Organisations don't do things because it's the nice thing to do...change happens when we put pressure on": In this episode of the Voices of Australia podcast, Professor Nareen Young discusses how Australian workplaces can become more diverse and inclusive. Nareen is Professor for Indigenous Policy and Indigenous Workforce Diversity at the Jumbunna Institute at the University of Technology Sydney.

Peanut Butter, Jelly and Racism

The first in a series of short films from the New York Times looking into implicit bias (aka unconscious bias). It looks at the difference between racism and implicit bias and how associations are unconsciously made when we are are exposed to racial stereotypes through media, education and art.

#PowerShifts Resources: Reclaiming Representation

The introductory post to a blog series by Oxfam’s ‘From Poverty to Power’ offering stories, projects and resources addressing blindspots in development work, and how to make power shifts happen. Features a special focus on other ways of telling stories and decolonising knowledge.

Racial Equity Tools Glossary

The Racial Equity Tools Glossary defines a wide range of terms used in work to achieve racial equity and racial justice at every level, including board and senior management in systems, organisations and communities.

Reflecting Me: Global Representation On Screen

Explores perceptions of on-screen representation in Australia and 14 other countries. Based on interviews with over 15,000 people (1000 in Australia), the research reveals:

* 55% of respondents feel there needs to be more accurate representation of diverse identities, 47% feel there needs to be more types
* the media is more than twice as influential in shaping positive views toward marginalised groups than those closest to you

Remixing Europe: unveiling the imagery of migrants in European media

Available via free download, this book examines imageries of migrants in European media. Produced out of ‘Remapping Europe, A Remix Project Highlighting the Migrant’s Perspective,’ it explores concepts, tools, and case studies to re-view, re-investigate and re-consider prevailing imageries of migrants.

Simpsons actor Hank Azaria says he will no longer voice Apu

The white actor who voices the Simpsons' Indian convenience store owner is stepping down from the role, after comedian Hari Kondabolu highlighted cultural stereotypes in his documentary The Problem with Apu.

The Blueprint for Muslim Inclusion: Recommendations for Film Industry Professionals

A broad set of recommendations for film industry professionals. Includes sector-based guidance, solutions, examples of production companies and studios; agencies; festivals; film and drama schools.

The Dominance of the White Male Critic

Review of the reviewers, and the dangers of a national art debate that remains 'largely segregated'. It begins with a look at the 2019 Whitney Biennial in the US.

'Several white reviewers faintly praised the show but argued that it wasn’t “radical” enough. In response, Simone Leigh, an artist featured in the Biennial, suggested that reviewers could not detect radicalism in her work because they were unfamiliar with the art, artists and themes she draws from, a criticism others echoed.'

The Exhibitionist

Art tours of UK galleries and museums that position works in the context of colonialism, imperialism and racism.

'we unravel the role colonialism played in shaping and funding a major national collection, looking at the broader material history of celebrated works: where the money comes from, the ways they’ve been displayed, and the ideological aesthetics at work. The history of British art is also the history of empire and genocide, written by collectors who traded in landscapes and lives.'

The far-right and other speculative fictions for Europe

A filmed talk and timelapsed graphic illustration of two events on political imagination leading up to the 2019 European Parliamentary Elections. One focused on the ‘identitarian’ narratives of the far-right in Europe, the other centred on a speculative fiction workshop on European futures.

“Five S” Methodology for Designing Effective Social Interventions

A handout on US-based DS4SI’s “5 S methodology,” signifying Structure, System, Scale, Symbol and Sensation. It is shared as a first step towards designing effective social interventions by exploring and understanding the social, cultural and political terrain before beginning justice work.

The Great White Social Justice Novel

Review of reviews of US work American Dirt and Australian novelist Anna Krien's Act of Grace.

'The white standpoint of the writer, her appropriation of the stories and voices of non-white characters, have mostly gone unacknowledged in this literary reception.'

The Inclusion Imperative: Why Media Representation Matters For Kids' Ethnic-Racial Development

A common sense media report authored by four academics with findings on how children make sense of, think about, and evaluate their own ethnicity-race (and the ethnicity-race of others) - and the effect of negative and positive media representations and depictions.

It uses evidence to chart a path towards understanding these influences - and concludes with general considerations for parents, media content developers and researchers.

The Unusual Suspects: damaging for Filipino stories

Gloria Demillo writes about how not all representation is productive, and how damaging the impact of bad representation can be to a vulnerable group. The Unusual Suspects and its portrayal of Filipino domestic workers are harmful to ongoing work against worker abuse and exploitation.

Demillo argues that representation should come from community engagement, imploring creatives to consider: who is their real audience, and who should be telling the story?

“Theatre Can’t Miss This Moment”: An Interview with Audra McDonald

US theatre legend Audra McDonald speak on theatre, race and colour-blind casting.

'There are so few directors of color...a lot of the trouble would be solved if you had other people of color in the room saying, “Well, this is why you’re getting blowback right now,” or “Just open your mind to this,” or “Why are we not telling more of these people’s—our people’s—stories?” You have no one in the room thinking about that, because they can have the privilege to not have to think about that'.

Towards Equity: A Research Overview Of Diversity In Australia’s Arts And Cultural Sector

This Australia Council report presents information for eight focus groups or demographics in the Australian community: First Nations people; cultural and linguistic diversity; people with disability; gender; LGBTIQ+ people; Australians living in regional and remote locations; children and young people; and older people.

This useful resource brings together published and unpublished data and research on representation in the arts and cultural sector in Australia.

Watch now: Using First Nations Protocols for Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts

Lucy Byrne with Patricia Adjei, Dr Paula Abood, Travis De Vries and Jake Smithers as they discuss the First Nations Protocols. Together they highlight the importance of everyone understanding these Protocols to ensure care of First Nations Intellectual Property through appropriate permissions, acknowledgement and consent. This discussion illustrates how everyone can be an ally in holding these Protocols up to accomplish safe consultation and consent when using First Nation stories & knowledge.

Whitewashed: why does Australian TV have such a problem with race?

Discussion of representation in Australian TV, from the awful stereotypes of the 90s, like Neighbours' first non-white family, the Lims, being accused of eating a dog, to shows that got it right, such as Gary Foley on A Country Practice.

'Crucially, Foley says, he was allowed to write his character himself. “[Creator] Jim Davern rung me up and asked me if I was interested,” Foley told Guardian Australia. “I said I was only interested if I could write my own character and my own dialogue.”'

Whose life is it anyway? Novelists have their say on cultural appropriation

Hari Kunzru, Kamila Shamsie, Aminatta Forna and others on writing outside their experience.

Ask 'Did I find it easier to write about this because I filtered it through a white gaze and thus made it palatable for a largely white publishing industry? And most of all, and this bears repeating, don’t get defensive. Because you may be making a larger conversation about marginalised communities, and their ability to tell their own stories in their own voices, all about yourself.' ~ Nikesh Shukla

Why is this racist, sexist show getting an encore?

Critical review of the Opera Australia production of Miss Saigon.

'Today, most people in Vietnam are under 35 and don’t remember the war. For many in the West, Vietnam equals the Vietnam War. The plot of this musical perpetuates many stereotypes: America is the dreamland and Asian women are sexualised objects that need rescuing.'

Why So Many Organizations Stay White

Assuming that discrimination is a rare or exceptional event may hinder attempts to decrease racial inequality.

This article discusses what can be done to break patterns of organisational segregation and unequal distribution of resources.

Winnie Dunn on bringing marginalised voices to the centre

Writer, editor and manager of Sweatshop Western Sydney Literacy Movement Winnie Dunn spoke at the launch of Diversity Arts Australia's Voice, Agency & Integrity report.

'The problem is that the Australian Arts sector is dominated by a cultural perspective where excellence is synonymous with Whiteness. It is a deep systemic issue of racism. I mean, that’s how Chris Lilley got to make multiple TV shows in Blackface and Brownface.'

Writing With Color

Writing and resources about racial, ethnic and religious diversity, including Q&A-style writing advice, guides and book recommendations.

Mods from diverse backgrounds answer questions sent in by writers about writing issues related to cultural diversity, with a searchable database of answers. Site does not accept 'Questions that seek our permission or approval to write about a topic,' but rather offers advice on research.