Diversity in YA: Should We Comment If We’re Not Diverse? Ft. Opinions.

Here I am, talking about whether I should be talking about diversity or not. 

mY NerVEs ARe tHe oPpOSiTe oF cOLleCted rIGht NOw. 

They’re scattered across the universe.

Diversity is like,, the toughest thing for me to talk about because I feel that since I am not a PoC, or from minorities, or part of the LGBTQ+ community, my opinion doesn’t matter. BUT. I do have things like anxiety, and I have, and still do, suffer from things like depression, and I’m not “skinny“, which I don’t really talk about on my blog.

But, I still feel that my opinions don’t matter as much because I feel like my opinions aren’t as important as other people’s (who are PoC, LGBTQ+, etc), even though if someone else were to have the same things as me, I would yell at them that, “yes, you need to be represented too!!”

So yes. When talking about diversity I find it really hard to talk about and I’m so scared of offending people, or seeming like I can’t talk about it since I’m not in minorities etc. But today I am braving this discussion.

And guys I am so scared. This is more nerve-wracking than my post about why I’d unfollow a blog, or even sharing my poetry for the first time.

Let’s start with the basics:

why it’s important:

1. 1. There needs to be a realistic portrayal of the world in books –> not everyone is white, straight, Christian, able-bodied, neurotypical, and skinny. This needs to be shown in books. I find that it’s so basic when all the characters in a book are white, skinny and able-bodied because the world just isn’t like that.
   2. People need to be able to relate when they read a book –> Now I get that this isn’t arguably the “most important” thing that needs to be represented, but when I find a book that has a character that isn’t exactly “skinny” it’s so refreshing to me and I feel that I can connect more. Even with anxiety, when I read Starfish (yes, I’m not of the same ethnicity,) but because of her anxiety, I felt that I could relate to her. When people read a book, they need to be able to find themselves there, since a lot of people read to escape. And even if they weren’t reading to escape: people deserve to see themselves in what they read, the same way they deserve to find themselves in the world they see around them.
   3. They need to be given a voice when they don’t have a voice –> so many people do not have a voice. People need a voice. People deserve a voice.

*internal screaming* I hope that this all sounds okay please don’t shout at me!!

okay, so the thing: 

The reason that I really don’t like talking about diversity is that even though yes, I belong to some representations, they feel so insignificant compared to other people’s “things” that need to be represented.

BUT.

As I said earlier if someone else were to have the same things as me, I would scream at them that they needed to be represented. AND DFHBGJKDF words don’t work for me, okay? I feel like the fact that I’m not “skinny” isn’t as important as the fact that people of colour need to be represented. BUT IF SOMEONE ELSE WAS THE SAME AS ME I WOULD SAY THAT IT’S IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO BE REPRESENTED IN BOOKS TOO.

And, I think that own-voices opinions about diversity/representation matter more than mine (they do!!) –> especially if I’m talking about a representation that doesn’t represent me/that I belong to. I feel that I shouldn’t be talking about representation because others will think that I’m using my “white privilege” to do so, even though if I were talking about it to promote a diverse book. I’m scared of getting shouted at that it’s not my place to comment on representations that I don’t belong to. Sometimes I feel like it’s not my place, and that’s what makes me worried???? (even though, when I do talk about it, I don’t act as though I know alllll about the rep).

I’m so scared that all of this is sounding like a really privileged view.

own-voices reviews to take note of: 

Ilsa’s review of Love, Hate and Other Filters.

Fuzaila’s review of Love, Hate and Other Filters.

OKay I can’t find anymore?lk,l??? SO. erm. SO this is a sign that THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE? OKAY?

own-voices books to take note of: 

 

Do you talk about diversity? What do you think about diversity? Are you a “diverse reader”? Do you think that people who aren’t “diverse” should comment on diversity? Let me know!! 

Luuuuuu