Thank you for writing this so succinctly and so well. You're right that just because someone's intentions to write a character outside their own experience are good, doesn't mean that character and their context won't cause harm. I see this all the time in publishing!
Thank YOU, Emily! It's a tough topic to teach, but without someone to explain it, authors won't know why/how and where to go for help! Thanks for reading and for the supportive comment!! :)
Thanks for this, there can never be enough advice on the subject.
I have described my straight, caucasian female main character as having “almond-shaped eyes”. She has no Asian decent nor is it ever implied. That’s just the shape of her eyes as I imagined her. Would you say this is okay or should I revise it? She also happens to wear Doc Martens ;)
I'm so happy to help! I think the description has been so overused to specifically reinforce Asian stereotypes that I personally would look for more original/underused ways to describe the eyes. It's always a challenge when we write to balance original but not too unusual descriptions, but I think if you can steer clear of those descriptions that are overused and have been overused to stereotype people, all the better! But again, writing with intention and clarity is fine, as long as you're informed and feel confident that what you're doing won't reinforce or cause harm. And hahahah, Doc Martens!! Love! <3
Thank you! I’ll think about changing it, just to be on the safe side. Plus, if it’s an overused phrase anyway (I’m a newish writer so still discovering what’s overdone and what not!), I’d rather come up with something more original.
Thank you for writing this so succinctly and so well. You're right that just because someone's intentions to write a character outside their own experience are good, doesn't mean that character and their context won't cause harm. I see this all the time in publishing!
Thank YOU, Emily! It's a tough topic to teach, but without someone to explain it, authors won't know why/how and where to go for help! Thanks for reading and for the supportive comment!! :)
Thanks for this, there can never be enough advice on the subject.
I have described my straight, caucasian female main character as having “almond-shaped eyes”. She has no Asian decent nor is it ever implied. That’s just the shape of her eyes as I imagined her. Would you say this is okay or should I revise it? She also happens to wear Doc Martens ;)
I'm so happy to help! I think the description has been so overused to specifically reinforce Asian stereotypes that I personally would look for more original/underused ways to describe the eyes. It's always a challenge when we write to balance original but not too unusual descriptions, but I think if you can steer clear of those descriptions that are overused and have been overused to stereotype people, all the better! But again, writing with intention and clarity is fine, as long as you're informed and feel confident that what you're doing won't reinforce or cause harm. And hahahah, Doc Martens!! Love! <3
Thank you! I’ll think about changing it, just to be on the safe side. Plus, if it’s an overused phrase anyway (I’m a newish writer so still discovering what’s overdone and what not!), I’d rather come up with something more original.