Resources for Writing (More) Authentic Representation
Below is a list of sensitivity/authenticity resources that publishing professionals and authors can use to create more authentic representation for characters or learn more about stereotypes and caricatures. It was created by an American and as such, the articles are in English and generally Americentric. Understandings of identity, race, ethnicity, stereotypes, and caricatures change in each country, language, and region of the world. This list reflects prominent areas where people generally need support, however it is NOT all-inclusive, nor does it supersede getting an authenticity review.
General Information
- Conscious Style Guide: https://consciousstyleguide.com/
- Diversity Cross Check: https://diversitycrosscheck.tumblr.com/
- Diversity Style Guide: https://www.diversitystyleguide.com/
- Race vs. Ethnicity vs. Nationality: https://blog.prepscholar.com/race-vs-ethnicity-vs-nationality
- Understanding Appropriative Worldbuilding: https://mythcreants.com/blog/understanding-appropriative-worldbuilding/
- What are sensitivity Reads: https://knliterary.com/sensitivity-read/
- Why not to Use Caucasian: https://www.workforce.com/news/6-reasons-not-say-caucasian
- Writing Accents: https://www.louiseharnbyproofreader.com/blog/how-to-convey-accents-in-fiction-writing-beyond-phonetic-spelling
- Writing the Other: https://writingtheother.com/resources/
- Writing with Color: https://writingwithcolor.tumblr.com/
Abelism
- Ableism/Language: https://www.autistichoya.com/p/ableist-words-and-terms-to-avoid.html
- APA Style Guide: Disability: https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/bias-free-language/disability
- Conscious Style Guide: Disability: https://consciousstyleguide.com/ability-disability/
- National Center on Disability and Journalism: https://ncdj.org/style-guide/
- Psychiatry Today: Reporting on Mental Health Conditions: https://www.psychiatry.org/newsroom/reporting-on-mental-health-conditions
- Rooted in Rights: If You’re Writing About Disability, You Need to Read These Guidelines: https://rootedinrights.org/if-youre-writing-about-disability-you-need-to-read-these-guidelines/
- Why is there still a stigma around antidepressants: https://patient.info/news-and-features/why-is-there-still-stigma-around-antidepressants
Antisemitism
- Antisemitic Imagery: https://antisemitism.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Antisemitic-imagery-May-2020.pdf
- Antisemitic Tropes: https://getthetrollsout.org/campaign/antisemitic-tropes
- History of the Hooked Nose Stereotype: https://www.media-diversity.org/understanding-the-antisemitic-history-of-the-hooked-nose-stereotype/
Asian
- 6 Charts that Dismantle the Trope of Asian Americans as a Model Minority: https://www.npr.org/2021/05/25/999874296/6-charts-that-dismantle-the-trope-of-asian-americans-as-a-model-minority
- Anti-Asian Racism: Breaking through stereotypes and silence: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/anti-asian-racism-breaking-through-stereotypes-and-silence-2021041522414
- Asian Stereotypes-Rethinking Perceptions: https://www.ted.com/talks/laura_lim_asian_stereotypes_rethinking_perceptions
- Countering Stereotypes about Asian Americans: https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/12/countering-stereotypes
- Stereotypes, Fetishes, and Fantasies: Asian American Women Link Sexism and Racism: https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/national-international/stereotypes-fetishes-and-fantasies-asian-american-women-link-sexualization-and-racism/2497859/
- The inadequacies of the term “Asian American”: https://www.vox.com/identities/22380197/asian-american-pacific-islander-aapi-heritage-anti-asian-hate-attacks
- Why some ‘Brown Asians’ Feel Left Out of the Asian American Conversation: https://asiasociety.org/blog/asia/why-some-brown-asians-feel-left-out-asian-american-conversation
- Who counts as Asian (academic article): https://www.russellsage.org/sites/default/files/Who%20counts%20as%20Asian.pdf
Black
- Not all Black People are African American: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/not-all-black-people-are-african-american-what-is-the-difference/
- Racist African Stereotypes: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/28/racist-africans-stereotypes-tv-colonial
- Stereotyping Africa (YT video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6jP2DnLIl4
- Straight Talk About the N-Word: https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/fall-2011/straight-talk-about-the-nword
- The Jim Crow Museum (information about Black caricatures): https://www.ferris.edu/HTMLS/news/jimcrow/
- The Racial Roots Behind the term Nappy: https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2019/08/09/412886884/the-racial-roots-behind-the-term-nappy
- The Vocabulary of Freedom (US Centric): https://undergroundrailroadhistory.org/the-vocabulary-of-freedom/
- What’s Colorism (focuses on Blackness but the concept applies to many groups): https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/fall-2015/whats-colorism
- When did the word “Negro” become Taboo: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2010/01/how-old-was-harry-reid-when-the-word-negro-became-taboo.html
- White Teachers Stop Saying ‘Negro’: https://princetonsummerjournal.com/2020/08/13/white-teachers-stop-saying-negro/
Indigenous
- Cultural Appropriation and Wellness: https://nativegov.org/cultural-appropriation-and-wellness-guide/
- Native Appropriation: http://nativeappropriations.com/
- Native Perspectives: Information and Resources: https://library.massasoit.edu/nativeperspectives
- 10 Myths About Indigenous People: https://www.ictinc.ca/blog/insight-on-10-myths-about-indigenous-peoples
- The Politics of White Sage: https://www.themarysue.com/politics-of-white-sage/
Islamophobia and Arab Stereotypes
- Arab, Middle Eastern, and Muslim? What’s the Difference?: https://teachmideast.org/articles/arab-middle-eastern-and-muslim-whats-the-difference/
- Arab Americans: Stereotypes, Conflicts, History, and Cultural Identity and Post 9/11 (academic journal): https://web.uri.edu/iaics/files/Gaby-Semaan.pdf
- Arabs’ Stereotypes Revisited: The Need for Literary Solution: https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1128083.pdf
- Countering Arab Stereotypes: https://socialjusticebooks.org/countering-arab-stereotypes/
- Media Representations, Negative Stereotypes, And Islamophobia: https://cmes.uchicago.edu/content/media-representations-negative-stereotypes-and-islamophobia
LGBTQ+
- Avoiding LGBTQ Stereotypes in YA Fiction (link to the first article in five-part series): https://www.malindalo.com/blog/2010/06/avoiding-lgbtq-stereotypes-in-ya-fiction-part-1-major-lgbtq-stereotypes
- For Queer Women, What Counts as Losing Your Virginity: https://www.self.com/story/for-queer-women-what-counts-as-losing-your-virginity
- Shattering Transgender Stereotypes: https://www.wglt.org/shattering-transgender-stereotypes-personal-stories-of-transition
- The Bury Your Gays Trope: https://the-take.com/watch/the-bury-your-gays-trope-explained
- The Politics of Penetration: http://www.thesandb.com/opinion/the-politics-of-penetration-from-a-lesbian-perspective.html
- What is Queerbaiting: https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/02/26/what-is-queerbaiting-everything-you-need-to-know/
- What’s the Deal with Scissoring: https://www.autostraddle.com/you-need-help-whats-the-deal-with-scissoring-242968/
Latino/a/e/x
- 6 Harmful Stereotypes about Latin Americans: https://www.verywellmind.com/6-harmful-stereotypes-about-latin-americans-5113358
- Colorism within the Latino Community: https://hiplatina.com/colorism-within-the-latino-community/
- Hispanic Americans want Hollywood to See Them as More Than Gang Members: https://morningconsult.com/2020/11/30/hispanic-americans-want-hollywood-to-see-them-as-more-than-gang-members/
- Latina Women are Exoticized: https://dailyfreepress.com/2019/10/09/our-true-face-latina-women-are-exoticized-and-unfairly-portrayed-in-the-media/
- Racist Stereotypes in Spanish: https://raceandethnicity.org/exhibits/show/racist-stereotypes-in-spanish-/racist-stereotypes-in-spanish-
- The Impact of Ethnic Stereotypes on Discrimination: https://phys.org/news/2019-07-impact-ethnic-stereotypes-employment.html
- What the ‘Hot and Spicy’ Stereotype Needs to End: http://affinitymagazine.us/2017/05/19/why-the-hot-and-spicy-stereotype-of-latina-women-needs-to-end/
Pacific Islanders
- Eliminating Pacific Islander Stereotypes: http://theguardsman.com/eliminating-pacific-islander-stereotypes/
- Pacific Islander Stereotypes/Misconceptions (YT video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3TcUumdHwA
- The Stereotype of Dumb, Fat, Violent Pacific Islanders are Wrong: https://www.thatsus.co.nz/the_stereotype_of_dumb_fat_violent_are_wrong_here_s_why
- What Pacific Islanders Want You To Know: https://www.thecoconet.tv/know-your-roots/pacific-history-legends/what-pacific-islanders-want-you-to-know/