“Nothing in nature is simple and there are a lot of different ways to be human.” – Melissa Fabello
Last year, I got to hear the managing editor of Everyday Feminism, Melissa Fabello, talk about diversity; specifically, gender and sexuality. Everyday Feminism is an online magazine which combats discrimination and the marginalization of women. This quote, which she offered while speaking about the validity and importance of identities, really resonated with me, and is a thought I’ve come back to many times since. It’s so true – there are so many different ways to be human. In a world with over 7 billion people, there’s no way we’re all going to be the same in one aspect or another. There are an infinite number of factors that make up who you are, and each should be embraced and celebrated. We are a diverse population and that’s a really beautiful thing. Whether it’s race, gender, sexuality, religious beliefs, native language, or political views, there’s a huge chance that you are different than your best friend, your siblings, your significant other. How boring would it be if we were all exactly the same?
An important aspect of diversity that often gets overlooked is representation, which is incredibly vital to ensure that diversity is celebrated. For example, there’s been a historical lack of representation in the Disney Princesses up until recently. From Snow White (1937) to Belle from Beauty and the Beast (1991), every Disney princess was white. A year later, Jasmine, the first non-white princess, appeared in Aladdin. Since then, Disney has gotten better at representing different ethnicities and cultures, which gives little girls of virtually all races a princess to look up to. Representing diversity can also get very messy when it’s not done correctly. Cultural appropriation is what happens when an ethnic group is represented in an inaccurate way by someone who is not of that ethnicity. It’s not uncommon for well-known white actors and actresses to be casted as non-white characters. It’s so important for the cultures of these characters to be respected. If that means hiring a lesser-known non-white actor or actress, I think it’s worth it.
I think there is a lot you can do to surround yourself with diverse people and so many benefits to doing so. While it may feel comforting and supporting to be surrounded by people who share similar traits with you, the best way to grow and learn as an individual is to spend time with people who are different than you. Diversity strengthens communities by bringing together different ideas, ways of thinking, experiences, and a myriad of different things you can learn from each other. In our Her Campus group, we welcome members of different majors, years, and geographical locations, as well as deeper diversifications like races, religions, political views, and sexualities. Our mix of opinions and experiences allows us to flourish as a team because everyone has something unique to bring to the table and we all encourage each other to be our authentic selves. Like Melissa said, there are so many different ways to be human and each identity is valid.
To learn more about the people around you, I encourage you to seek out groups and communities that are specifically made to be diverse. When interacting with these people, ask questions, share your thoughts, and listen carefully. There is so much to learn as long as you keep an open mind!