Is there such a thing as "too much diversity"?

[Okie_D0kie_Y0]

Hello everyone! So this is a question that has popped up in my mind lately, since my story contains a lot of diverse characters of different races. But I want to ask you guys, the community, this question:

Is there such a thing as too much diversity in a story? If so, how much diversity do you feel is enough for the story?

Have you ever written a story that includes a lot of diverse characters?

Have you ever read a story that has a lot of diverse characters?

Overall, what do you think about diversity in general?

Yours truly, Okie_D0kie_Y0

[lexiplaysepisode]

Is there such a thing as too much diversity in a story? If so, how much diversity do you feel is enough for the story?
Maybe, like if it’s to the point where it’s forced and unrealistic. Or probably where the writer focuses on making a character so ‘diverse’ that the character is poorly developed, so the story reflects what they are more than who they are (their actual personality).

Have you ever written a story that includes a lot of diverse characters?
I’ve only had one story published on this platform but I’d say it’s pretty diverse when it comes to things such as ethnicity and nationality. Stories I’ve written outside of episode were fairly diverse too

Have you ever read a story that has a lot of diverse characters?
Barely see them but yes

Overall, what do you think about diversity in general?
It shouldn’t be limited to basic things like religion, race ect. I think characters should also be diverse when it comes to simple things too, such as personality, preferences, and even fashion choice. I think that’s something lots of us fail to remember when trying to make diverse characters

[lanafrazer_episode]

I love your answer.

[itsjenn_a]

Is there such a thing as too much diversity in a story? If so, how much diversity do you feel is enough for the story?

Honestly, no. The idea of “too much diversity” doesn’t make sense to me because it’s basically saying “there’s too many [insert minority group here]” which is problematic itself. It’s sad that we have to have “reasons” for diversity - people existing should be enough.

Have you ever written a story that includes a lot of diverse characters?

The episode story I’m currently working on has a diverse cast. I’ve also had a scrapped story from ages ago with a diverse cast too but I gave up it mainly due to a lack of motivation.

Have you ever read a story that has a lot of diverse characters?

Yup. In terms of Episode: Instant Princess, Wentworth, The Infected and Detenu to name a few. In terms of physical books then Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman (Which I HUGELY recommend!)

Overall, what do you think about diversity in general?

Imo, there’s nothing to think about. People exist irl so they exist in fiction. Case closed.

[Scarlet_Sapphire]

Is there such a thing as too much diversity in a story? If so, how much diversity do you feel is enough for the story?
Diversity can be done poorly, but never “too much”. If all of the inconsequential characters are minorities and all of the main characters are white (and hetero and whatnot), it’s like “dude, seriously?” but in principle, no, no such thing as too much. Even if it was in an unrealistic location (eg. a story set in a tiny, frigid town in northern Canada having the same racial diversity as NYC), I’d just kinda smile and say “seems better this way haha” and continue on.
TL;DR I like it realistic, but even if it’s more diverse than is realistic, I wouldn’t mind at all.

Have you ever written a story that includes a lot of diverse characters?
I’ve been getting steadily better at this as I get older. Honestly, I find it more difficult—but a lot more enlightening—to include cultural diversity, having to research things like the Chinese custom of taking an English name for acquaintances/colleagues. I feel more experienced as a writer the more I learn about the humans of the world.

Have you ever read a story that has a lot of diverse characters?
Nothing that stands out as ‘that story with the diversity’ comes immediately to mind. But, to paraphrase a wise person I once saw around here, “Diversity doesn’t necessarily mean the story will be good, but someone who can write diversity well is probably good at other aspects of writing too.”

Overall, what do you think about diversity in general?
This circles back to what I said about reality in the first question. And itsjenn_a put it more simply and eloquently than I could haha.

[line123462]

edit I answered the wrong comment

Have you ever written a story that includes a lot of diverse characters?
Yes but not in the adding too many different characters. but in adding them over the sake fo reality. ot just for more diviersity. trying to add to many can make the story seem weird if it doesn’t make sense. so dont put diviserity over realsime of the plot. like let’s say you wanted to write a British country story. making most of the cast POC would be choosing diversity over realistic. over makeing a viking sotry but adding muslims would also. be choosing diversity over realism.

Have you ever read a story that has a lot of diverse characters?
I live in a country where a black character in a movie is a diverse movie. but yes a lot of the stories here on episode put a lot of afford into diversity.

Overall, what do you think about diversity in general?

Usually, diversity is race. religion country. but I once read ten white men in a room can still be diverse. sound stupid but true. because white people can look in many different ways and there is the LGBT community. and mental health problems. and different diagnoses like autism down syndrome and so on.

[itsjenn_a]

like let’s say you wanted to write a British country story. making most of the cast POC would be choosing diversity over realistic.

I understand what you’re saying but a mostly POC British story would still be realistic. London is considered extremely diverse and “traditional British things” are actually a mix of Viking, Norman, Saxon, Roman etc.

[line123462]

I did not say London. but country . like a small village.

[itsjenn_a]

But the villages are diverse too? They can be mostly white but only because the village has a really small population.

[Lilly145]

Cant be too much diversity

[N_Epi]

Is there such a thing as too much diversity in a story? If so, how much diversity do you feel is enough for the story?
There is never enough diversity, since the world itself is so diverse. Different types of people make up different parts of the world and the cultures within, so there can never be too much. Try not to look at diversity as something that you can measure, but more of something that is naturally there. Like don’t count how many poc’s you have in a story, just write them in as much as you feel like it fits.

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

[N_Epi]

This is awesome!! I agree

[SenchaStories]

I think this question kinda seems like people think white and straight is the default. Like, how can there be too many minority people unless you think they should be sprinkled on the top? We’re people!

[MarsX]

1. i dont think theres any such thing. people who think think there is such a thing need to ask themselves why too many people different from them makes them uncomfortable. if an author focuses so much on diversity to where they dont develop the story as much, i can see an issue, but thats an issue with story telling and not with diversity itself.

2. yes. i try to include a variety of experiences and looks.

3. yes! not as often as id like.

4. i think its important to show different experiences and perspectives in story telling. if we tell the stories of the same people over and over, its dull and not everyone gets to see themselves represented. showing diverse characters can also result in a reader being more educated, for example someone unfamiliar with muslim people may learn something new from a muslim character. there is only benefits to diversity, but a lack of diversity in too many stories can be harmful.

[Alissonian]

Is there such a thing as too much diversity in a story? If so, how much diversity do you feel is enough for the story?

Yes. I think diversity has to be done carefully and with the setting and characters in mind. If, in 2019, a small rural town in Colombia has all of its characters with different nationalities who are open about their non-heterosexual sexualities, non-catholic religions, and non-conforming gender identities… Then I say yes. Could it be possible, in 2019, in that small rural town in Colombia, to have people with different races, sexualities, religions and gender identities? Of course, as long as it doesn’t ruin the setting the author has created.
However since most stories I’ve seen lately seem to be set in either LA, NYC, or London, it is absolutely ridiculous when they don’t include any diversity whatsoever. It’s weird when, in settings like that, all of the characters of a story have non-heterosexual sexualities and none of them are white (without an explanation as to why, like cause they are all part of the LGBTQ+ group at school and that’s how they met, or they are friends precisely because they’re the only minorities in a certain place and thus they grouped together because they can understand each other better, etc.)… But it’s even more weird when, in a setting like that, all of the story’s characters are white, heterosexual, and gender conforming.

Have you ever written a story that includes a lot of diverse characters?

Yes, of course. I’ve never published anything, but all of the stories that I’ve started creating include characters of different races and sexualities. (Starting also by the fact that in my stories the “default” is Latino instead of white)

Have you ever read a story that has a lot of diverse characters?

Yes.

Overall, what do you think about diversity in general?

I think it’s great, and people should actually try to explore what it means instead of just ticking off boxes. (“Do you have a black person? Check! A Latino? Check! A gay person? Check! Wow! Look at how diverse my cast is!” )