At the risk of being politically incorrect?

Question

This is not meant to be a racist gibe so if you're easily offended or otherwise just going to kick off, please don't answer!

Why is it that (specifically in the UK), on things like TV shows and publications (government flyers, school brochures etc etc) always feature a shot or two of one member of an ethnic minority, almost as a token gesture to minority communities? Someone once said it was to appeal to the people who belong to these communities, but the way these people are portrayed in the adds is so painful obvious: 'Look! Our organisation isn't discriminatory- here's a shot of a man wearing a turban!'.

Kind of creates a problem where there wasn't one anyway in my opinion...what do you think? Thanks!

Answer 1

Generally speaking, advertisers are keen on trying to display the society behind their product as representative of the cross-section of people to whom the adverts are targeted. Currently, ethnic minorities represent about 14-17% of the population - however, this is a classically misleading figure which people use, mainly because a vast majority of this figure can be referred to as 'non-ethnic looking' (East-Europeans, for example).

Having worked in the industry for many years, I can cite example after example of when I am have been told that some of my stills (shots for leaflet publications, for example) aren't representative enough; my personal favourite, I was doing a piece for a west country Local Authority about a school and, believe it or not, was told to photoshop one of the children to appear black, even though it was a primary school with 22 children, and none of them were!!!

As for creating a problem... hmm, I'm not sure if I agree. If an institution actively promotes discrimination by refusing to include images of minorities in any of their productions, I would think this was far worse. However, the fact remains that so many organisations are so worried about it, they're positively acting on concerns about a backlash and misrepresenting the truth. It's a tough one - my concern would be that people are thinking about it in the first place. Take a photo of a busy London street and there will be more black & Asian people in it than there would be if a street in Guildford, just because of where people choose to live. I'd like it not to be part of modern life and, hopefully, it won't be for much longer, but until we have no discrimination, I'd rather positive discrimination than negative.

Answer 2

Hi

Yeah, I have noticed that and I don't think you're at all racist in any way. The one place it's the most obvious to be was in a BBC1 add thing (you know with the wheelchair basketball guys etc). There's a line of of dancing girls ALL dressed the same, ALL looking the same except for at the back where one is black. What's the point in that if they are all meant to look the same? The same would go if they were all black with one token white. Seems stupid!

Cbeebies is the worst though if you've ever had the misfortune of seeing it. My four year old daughter now points out every non-white person declaring they're not English but Indian. Simply because Cbeebies insists on showing Indian culture in every other program. The intentions are great but it's back firing now and potentially confusing youngsters who live in mainly white areas.

I'm not letting her watch Cbeebies any more and instead explaining about our differences and races myself.

Answer 3

Political correctness and "celebrating diversity" does indeed create prblems, or I should say, accentuate problems that already exist. When you get a bunch of people together who each have a different social upbringing, religion, skin color, and opinion, you are always going to have conflicts.
Why should we point our fingers and yell "Hey, he's different than us"? We could keep our mouths shut and try foster harmony the best we can within the realms of our already-existing disagreements.

Hope this answer makes sense...take care, good questions!

Answer 4

It is a form of token diversity that is not unique to the UK. By watching tv, commericals or shows, I am amazed at the number of properly diverse groups of friends...high school children who just happen to have a black teen, Asian teen, white (maybe 2) teen and a black teen all hanging out together and never, ever encountering friends of their racial or ethnic group criticizing them for acting (fill in the blank with other group).

Answer 5

Britian has alway been an isalnd for immigrants, we are the result of hundreds of years of immigration from europe (first was tudors, Franks, Vikings etc) then later on the Italians the Africans, and finally the Asians. all through history we have berated and slapped around the races we have assimilated into our country but done it to say 'if you want to live here, you must do this'

now we have nearly endured taking in representitives of each creed, color and religion. but after a history of making people fit in with our traditions to live here, we now tip toe around the issue and lose our own charactor. im ranting now so ill stop

viva la revolution!!!

Answer 6

Britain is a multicultural country even thou the "real" English think its not. Its showing a representation of the country as a whole as this country did import allot of people...they are now the core worker here and represent a major part of this country....

Answer 7

Isn't it the same in all the soaps? I REALLY can't imagine any young coloured girl (doesn't matter what she does or where she or her parents are from) finding herself working as a bar maid in a pub in some God-forsaken village like Emmerdale in real life! I won't go into all the other 'token' appearances in similar circumstances - we've all seen them anyway.

Answer 8

I don't mind that as much as affirmitive action.

If I was black, I would be offended by the movement. I would want a job because I am the most qualified, not because I was the second most qualified and got it for the color of my skin.

Answer 9

Hate to break it to you but coloured people are no longer the minority, we are! I went to london for a weekend and a coloured child actually asked her mam what was wrong with my skin cos i was obviously pale in comparison... Now THAT is the problem!

Answer 10

I think you assume a lot, and I think life is much easier when you stop making assumptions. I recommend The Four Agreements - a book by Don Miguel Ruiz.