There are a lot of factors I consider when thinking about my favorite books. I appreciate strong character development, a multi-faceted setting that feels real, flowing prose, and an engaging plot that keeps me glued to the page. But my favorite books of all time are the ones where I really see myself in the main character and relate to their experience. For this reason, I often seek out books featuring sapphic characters or books with queer-normative world building.
Access to books with good representation is vital to LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and disabled readers. Stories with characters who share our perspectives help us feel like our own stories matter and are worth telling. Plus, for young people who may not have a community of people like them to turn to, books about minority experiences can provide both vital information and a sense of belonging.
With buzzwords like “representation” and “diversity” floating around book communities online, it’s easy to start to tune out when these topics come up. Representation matters, though, and not just for the groups who are being represented.
What Is Representation in Literature?
When talking about books and other media, “representation” refers to the inclusion of characters who are part of marginalized groups, such as:
- People of Color
- LGBTQ+ folks
- People with disabilities, including learning disabilities and neurodivergence
- Religious minorities
- People from small regional cultures, such as Appalachains
- People with mental health disorders
- Socioeconomically disadvantaged people
Such people often aren’t shown in media, and when they are, writers have sometimes relied on stereotypes or harmful tropes. Many readers who belong to these communities as well as their allies have tried to encourage people to create and consume more diverse books in an attempt to help increase the reach of good representation in literature.
Why Representation in Literature Matters
You can boil the importance of representation down to two components: inclusivity for the groups being represented and exposure to new perspectives for people who are unfamiliar them. Both are beneficial to marginalized people and can have a real impact on their lives.
Telling Inclusive Stories
As I mentioned before, reading about characters who have similar experiences to your own can be very comforting and validating, particularly when those experiences aren’t typically included in traditional media. It’s important for marginalized people to feel like they have a place in society, and being included in the stories that are told and promoted in books is one way to help them do that.
This is important for all marginalized people, but especially for those who might not have access to a community of people like them. Queer youth who don’t know any other LGBTQ+ people, for example, may turn to books with queer characters to learn about what it means to be gay and to feel less alone. They may not have anyone in their life who can answer questions for them about their identity, so they may look for answers in books.
A specific example of this that I often see people mention is queer people who thought that by coming out and living authentically, they are giving up the chance to have a marriage and children. Seeing queer couples and their families in media showed them that these things are possible to attain.
Influencing Public Perceptions
It’s important to note that not all representation is good representation. For example, a book that includes disabled characters but depicts them as being helpless or burdensome could do a lot of harm. Good representation would show the realistic struggles a person with a disability faces, but also how they are still capable of achieving great things and living a fulfilling life.
For people outside of underrepresented communities, reading diverse literature can help shape their opinions of marginalized communities. Good representation can challenge stereotypes and other harmful preconceived notions about groups that readers might not otherwise have regular exposure to.
This can build empathy for minorities among the majority, pushing back against racism, homophobia, ableism, and other prejudices. While representation alone won’t eliminate the discrimination faced by marginalized people, its influence on how these groups are perceived can have wider impacts on how they’re treated in society at large. This can lead to ripple effects in policy that improve people’s lives.
Where to Find Diverse Books
So, if you want to read more books with diverse characters, where do you find them? There are plenty of ways to find examples of good representation:
- Follow POC, LGBTQ+, and disabled influencers on social media (especially TikTok and Instagram)
- Ask your local librarian or independent book seller for recommendations
- Check out blog posts with lists of book recommendations, like my LGBTQ+ book suggestions
- Look through the #OwnVoices tag on social media
- Find recommendations on StoryGraph
- Seek out diverse book award lists, such as the Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature or the Stonewall Book Award
If you’re able, it’s always great to purchase books by underrepresented authors. The publishing industry doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to platforming minority authors. Spending money on these books tells publishers that there is a market for them, increasing the chance they will continue to publish diverse books.
Conclusion
Representation in literature has real, positive impacts on marginalized readers and communities. Supporting diverse authors by reading and buying their books helps to make sure these stories continue to be told.
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Molly Tyler
Molly received her B.A. in English in 2016, and her M.F.A. in Creative Writing in 2019. She now works full time as a digital content marketer.