Allyson Edge

Dr. Cuddy

English 102- 28

February 12, 2019

The Lack of Representation of Minorities in Screenwriting and Publishing

With an English major, there are a wide array of topics to learn about and career options

to consider. In particular, this research paper will discuss the lack of minority representation in

fields such as script writing and publishing. As a black woman, this issue is concerning to me

because women of my race are not seen in these roles often. As a result, I am exposed to

misaligned depictions of black women in these forms of media because the characters are written

by people of other backgrounds who cannot fully understand the experiences of being a black

woman in America. In order to delve further into this issue, this paper will convey how

underrepresentation affects our society on a larger scale. In this case, minorities include women

and groups such as African Americans, Hispanics, and Asians who are not frequently seen in this

line of work. Not only are people of these groups not as frequently represented, but they have a

more difficult time obtaining these jobs. While diversity and inclusion initiatives developed by

large corporations are a place to start addressing this issue, they will not fully solve the problem.

To improve the problem of the lack of diversity at its root, the unfair hiring practices, internship

programs and other programs that help to bring up new publishers, editors, screenwriters, literary

agents, etc. need to be critically examined and reassessed.

By having more women and people of color in writing for films, there would also be a

greater representation of minority actors in movies, television shows and other forms of visual
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media. In a 2016 study conducted by ​Forbes,​ they found that “​o​f the 4,500 directors examined,

only 500 were women​” (Forbes Magazine). ​Due to the large financial factor and the historical

discrimination that contributes to the production of a film, it is easier for well-established

scriptwriters to be hired. As a result, the well established, successful script writers are generally

older white males because they received the most opportunities in the past.

Additionally, in book publishing, the same underlying theme prevails; the majority of

publishers are white and there is an underrepresentation of minorities. To address this issue, it is

imperative that successful minority screenwriters and publishers help those who are less

established improve their craft and obtain opportunities to further their careers. To fully grasp

and reflect the experiences of people of different cultures and backgrounds in all literary works,

there must be more diversity in the people who develop these projects.

Overall, in the comparison of films and books that have more diverse creators to those

that do not, it is common that increased diversity yields greater success. Incorporating a diverse

set of ideas and perspectives results in a more accurate and interesting outcome. This concept

should not only be applied to publishing and filmmaking, but also to other aspects of our society

such as politics. A government representative of the many cultures that make up American

citizens as a whole would better meet the needs of the people. More inclusivity and a greater

picture of the citizens of our country will improve our country in every sense.
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Bibliography

Ho, Jean. “Diversity In Book Publishing Isn't Just About Writers - Marketing Matters, Too.”
NPR​, NPR, 9 Aug. 2016,
www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2016/08/09/483875698/diversity-in-book-publishing-isnt-just-
about-writers-marketing-matters-too.

Robehmed, Natalie. “Hollywood's Diversity Problem Begins In The Writing Room, New
Study Shows.” ​Forbes,​ Forbes Magazine, 23 Feb. 2016,
www.forbes.com/sites/natalierobehmed/2016/01/21/hollywoods-diversity-problem-begins-in-the
-writing-room-new-study-shows/#4bb78a3c164f.