Just a quick post to mention two things related to books and storytelling.
This blog post by author Neesha Meminger does a great job addressing what I feel to be an important issue: the way people of color are so often found just in stories that are about the struggle and strife they must face as a result of being people of color. What about fantasy, adventure, comedy, romance? These are not solely the domains of white (or straight, able-bodied, cisgender, probably attractive) people, and shouldn’t be shown that way in books. I won’t go on too much about it, though, as Ms. Meminger says it so well. I am totally adding her book Jazz in Love to my to-read list.
Relatedly, this video, referenced in Ms. Meminger’s post, features author Chimamanda Adichie speaking about the dangers of representing a group of people with “a single story.” It’s not only insightful but funny. And it’s just under twenty minutes. You totally have time to watch it.
February 11, 2011 at 4:43 am
Is “cisgendered” really a word? Nice.
February 11, 2011 at 4:47 am
Glad you mention that, actually, insomuch as it occurs to me that since the official terminology has just changed from “transgendered” to “transgender,” the suffix probably comes off of “cisgendered,” too. *Ka-change* But yep, it’s a word!