Isaias 1

Jennifer Isaias

Professor Lawson

English 113B

12, May 2017

Project Text: Rough Draft

Word count: 1,732

Greys Anatomy: Dissecting its Racial Diversity

Greys Anatomy has been a widely popular television series on ABC for many

years and continues to get attention. Greys Anatomy is a television series that focuses on the

lives of doctors, their relationships, and their experience in overcoming challenging surgical

procedures. Many people tune in to watch the drama unfold, watch relationships grow, obstacles

arise, and find a way to relate in one way or another. Throughout the twelve seasons, the

audience has watched racially diverse characters come and go. Some might connect the shows

popularity to its racial diversity, while others might connect it to the entertaining medical drama.

Although Greys Anatomy is a television series that is well-known for being racially diverse

using the blind casting method, it has yet to become more inclusive and fair towards minorities.

Shonda Rhimes is an African American female that is responsible for writing and

producing Greys Anatomy, she is known for her success within the media industry. Shonda

Rhimes (currently the only African American showrunner on television), gives the credit for

her shows diversity to her race blind methods (Long). In the beginning of Rhimes casting

process, agencies were sending her purely blonde hair and blue eyed actors. She had to specify to

them that she wanted to see all the different actors available. Her request was met accordingly, so
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she could apply her blind casting method to pick the right person to play each character. Even

though Rhimes had not written in specific races for each character which has allowed it to be an

open casting, she still had some sort of vision of what certain characters would be like. For

example, the character Miranda Bailey, was originally envisioned as a small Caucasian woman,

but the role ended up being taken by a small African American woman instead, played by

Chandra Wilson. The blind casting process does not often apply to other television shows,

because the writers write down specific races into the scripts. Most writers play it safe and do not

apply the blind casting method, because they think that it will negatively affect the rating of the

show. On the contrary, researchers show that the highest ratings received on cable programs

were seen among casts that incorporated 31 to 40 percent minority (Lee). Despite, writers tend

to write in specific races, leaving a small portion of actors that could be casted for the parts

available. In Acting for film and television, a screen Actors Guild report showed that while

white actors dominated positions, occupying 75 percent of roles, African Americans occupied 14

percent, Latinos 5 percent, and Asian Americans less than 3 percent of roles (Erigha). These

statistics can be seen or proven in the lack diversity through most shows like Pretty Little Liars,

Sex and the City, The Ghost Whisperer, House, or even the client List. According to Warner,

Rhimes method of casting could have the potential to change the visual representation of

minorities that could satisfy racial watch groups from interrupting its promotional views. Not

only does she tend to get feedback and criticism regarding the shows diversity, but she also

acknowledges that she does not have universal power to whom gets casted on the show. It is

understood that even the creator of Greys Anatomy is not satisfied with the diversity portrayed
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through the choice of actors. Even though, the diversity could be further improved, the show is

still considered a diversity icon.

The Greys Anatomy cast has considerable diversity compared to other programs, but it is

not living up to its full potential in racial diversity and in equal pay. The main characters known

for having leading roles of the show consists of Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), Derek Shepherd

(Patrick Dempsey), and Christina yang (Sarah Oh). According to Clarendon, Pompeo and

Dempsey made more money per episode than anyone on cast due to being in lead roles.

Furthermore, there is a considerably noticeable gap difference between the Caucasians, African

Americans, Hispanic, and Asian actors, the wage gap is as diverse as the cast. For example,

according to Clarendon, former lead actress Sandra Oh (Asian) was making 275k, while Ellen

Pompeo (Caucasian) started at 350k per episode. Despite the wage gap, over the years its racial

diversity has decreased. In previous seasons, there were Hispanic and Asian representation as

doctors on the show. For example, Sara Ramirez (Hispanic) and Sara Oh (Asian), were the only

two actors that were once representing Asian and Hispanic minorities on the series. Now, most

of its diverse actors consist of only Caucasian and African American actors, not including the

extras in the background of the series. Despite, an interesting aspect that can be noted in regards

to the diversity is the integrated relationships among one another.

Greys Anatomy provides the viewers with racially integrated relationships along

with good drama within the series. In the series, Dr. Meredith Greys mother, Ellis Grey whom

also was a doctor, had an affair with Dr. Richard Webber, an African American doctor whom she

had completed her internship with. Years after her mother dies from Alzheimer's, she finds out

her mother had a daughter with Dr. Webber whom was put up for adoption. Her half-sister has
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now become a part of her life. Although the television series has found a way to integrate good

drama and racial diversity, it also has found ways to incorporate learning from racial prejudice.

For example, in season twelve Meredith Greys sister-in-law, Dr. Amelia Shepherd (Caucasian)

had worked closely with Dr. Stephanie Edwards (African American) for a long time, enough to

develop a co-worker friendship. Dr. Amelia Shepherd was told by Dr. Owen Hunt (Caucasian)

that Dr. Stephanie Edwards had been lying to her about her health condition as a child enough to

sympathize with the patient she was ordered to push to help recover her motor skills after having

brain surgery. Dr. Stephanie Edwards had explained to Dr. Amelia Shepherd that it was hard for

her to push the patient, because she can relate and finds it difficult to do the same that was done

to her. Immediately after Dr. Owen Hunt told Dr. Shepherd that Dr. Edwards had been lying to

her about her condition as a child to get out of completing the task she had requested, and she did

not hesitate to believe him. Without her realizing she had chosen to believe in Dr. Owen Hunt

whom did not know the whole story, before discussing or giving the benefit of the doubt to her

friend Dr. Stephanie Edwards. Dr. Meredith Greys half-sister Dr. Maggie Pierce gives her

advice to learn from her mistake and to understand her white privilege. Dr. Amelia Shepherd had

apologized to Dr. Stephanie Edwards for not giving her the benefit of the doubt or discussing it

with her before drawing to conclusions. This learning experience of racially integrated

relationships allows the audience to learn from being prejudice and to take factors into

consideration before acting upon them.

In watching Greys Anatomy and Orange is the New Black, you can consider obvious

differences between both shows. One of those differences being that one is clearly about doctors

and saving lives, while the other shares incarcerations stories of the female inmates and their
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daily lives behind bars. In comparison to Greys Anatomy, The Netflix series: Orange is the New

Black provides 100 percent equal racial or ethnic representation, while Greys Anatomy has yet

to improve. Despite Greys Anatomy and Orange is the New Black having completely different

story lines, genres, and settings, they are not as different as they may seem. Both series have

white lead female actresses. Meredith Grey represents Greys Anatomy, While Piper Chapman

represents the female lead in Orange is the New Black. The lead characters of each series can be

easily identified through their pilots. Both series despite having lead characters still equally share

the stories or backgrounds of each character that in one way or another that interact with the

main character. Although they both use the same concept of incorporating the history of its

characters, they both incorporate them differently. For example, In Greys Anatomy, the history

of each doctor is being shared verbally to one another, while in Orange is the New Black, the

history of each female prisoner and how they ended up where they are, is shared by using

flashbacks and some verbal sharing among characters by asking what they are in for. These two

shows can easily attract multi-cultural views due to its overall diversity, which not only includes

racial variety, but also can appeal to the LGBTQ audience. Greys Anatomy includes lesbian

characters like; Dr. Callie Torres, Dr. Arizona Robbins, Dr. Erica Hahn, Dr. Leah Murphy, Dr.

Penny Blake, and Dr. Eliza Minick. While in Orange is the New black, its lesbian characters

consist of Piper Chapman, Alex Vause, Nicky Nichols, Poussey Washington, Lorna Morello,

Suzanne Warren known as crazy Eyes, Stella Carlin, and Carrie black known as big boo. In

Orange is the New Black, there is only one male to female transgender character is included,

while Greys Anatomy does not include any transgender characters. Admittedly, neither show

includes the representation or portrayal of male gay characters. The relationships that unfold
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among both series allows the audience to see what has never been done before. People will

watch stories that are not just centered around straight, white, male anti-heroes stepping over

slightly out of their comfort zones (Matlow). Within future creations, writers could open their

eyes and see beyond the narrow black and white ideas that can also be referred as playing it

safe.

Overall, the portrayal of the racial diversity within the characters in Greys Anatomy

have been well represented with what they were given the chance to show forth. Even though

diverse characters have been excluded from the picture, it continues to provide the viewers with

a good source of entertainment. The viewers have become invested in Meredith Greys story and

the stories of each character that surrounds her. Its minority representation could be further

expanded through the inclusion of new characters, which the viewers have yet to see or to

perhaps even see the return of old main characters. The creator, Rhimes has yet to impress the

shows broad audience through the casting of new and racially representing characters.
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Works Cited:

Clarendon, Dan. "How Much Is Ellen Pompeo Worth: Grey's Anatomy Cast

Salary."Wetpaint, 21 Dec. 2016. Web. 16 Apr. 2017.

Erigha, Maryann. Race, Gender, Hollywood: Representation in cultural productions and

Digital Medias Potential for Change. Sociology Compass 9.1 (2015): 78-89. Web.

Lee, Cynthia. "Study Finds TV Shows with Ethnically Diverse Casts, Writers Have Higher Ratings."

UCLA Newsroom. UCLA Newsroom, 08 Oct. 2013. Web. 20 Apr. 2017.

Long, Amy. "Diagnosing Drama: Grey's Anatomy, Blind Casting, and the Politics

of Representation." Journal of Popular Culture, 44.5 (2011): 1067.

Matlow, Orli. "7 Ways 'Orange Is The New Black' Has Changed Society Since The Season 1

Premiere." Bustle. Bustle, 11 June 2015. Web. 19 Apr. 2017.

Warner, Kristen J. The Racial Logic of Greys Anatomy. Television & New Media, 16.7

(2015): 631-647.