Happy Late Halloween

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On the subject of white coding in fandom creations

It’s no secret that whitewashing and white coding is a huge issue in reader insert fic and art. It feels like it’s actually gotten worse lately to the point where I’ll save 10 fics in my drafts but only reblog 2 cause the rest are white coded. And almost all art uses a white and thin girl as “reader.” No matter how much poc in fandom shout for y’all to be inclusive it feels like it falls on deaf ears. And it feels like the white people in fandom just don’t care. It’s hurtful and upsetting and poc are getting frustrated and fed up with this.

I feel like we’re not asking for much. And it’s really not that hard to be inclusive with your reader insert. Just literally take out any skin/hair/language/relation descriptors. That’s it. Background is something you have a little more flexibility on because yes it is fiction but at the bare minimum just don’t use descriptors for your reader character. Yet it feels like whenever I (or others) bring it up, we’re met with defensiveness and abrasiveness or we’re told we’re overrating or being too mean or nit-picky. Or there’s one excuse or another why it’s too much of an ask. We’re not asking for the moon here, just think about who else may be reading/seeing your art that doesn’t look like you.

Yes I understand mistakes happen, we’re human, no one is perfect. It’s impossible to include every single person who could possibly read/see your art. People are just too diverse and too different. It’s impossible to be aware of every single nuance out there. But all we’re asking is to try. Take a look over of your work and really look for things and think from another perspective.

I’ve also heard the complaint that poc are too harsh with criticism of whitewashing. Perhaps it was your personal first time making a mistake like that but I guarantee it isn’t the poc’s first time coming across it. But you also have to understand that at least 90% of fic and art is white coded. It’s frustrating to see over and over and over again that you aren’t thought about and that you aren’t welcome here. So it’s not a personal attack on you at all.

Yes this is all meant to be self indulgent. But when all you think about is your own whiteness, poc fans can’t have that indulgence either. Poc deserve to have that level of indulgence too. Poc deserve to have that level of escape too. We belong here too.

Yes fandom is very white but that is part because so many poc are bullied and pushed out of the fandom or made to feel unwelcome. Poc creatives are ignored in favors of white ones. Imagine how disheartening it feels to come into a fandom space expecting to be invited and accepted only to be pushed out. It sucks.

Especially in the fandoms of a poc too like Pedro and Oscar. (This post includes all fandoms but I mention these in specific cause I see it a LOT here and they are men or color themselves so it’s extra important)

So please, try to be better. Listen to poc. Boost our voices, don’t ignore us or push us out. Think about being more inclusive in your work. Imagine how upset you would be if it were the other way around. So please try. Try to include others who don’t look like you. Try to think outside your box. Try to make others actually feel welcome in fandom spaces, since fandom constantly preaches love and acceptance.

To the write creatives who read this whole post and to the ones who do try: thank you. We appreciate your thought and effort.

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atlaswalker

2 years ago