How does diversifying the publishing industry affect readers? I am writing about this topic because I am an avid reader and I have a small platform online. Not only does the topic of diversifying the book industry interest me, but I also want to be well-versed about it so I can accurately speak on issues. Diversity is an issue in media in general, however I want to tackle the book side because people who read are often seen as intellectuals, when in reality, many people read for fun or escapism, ignoring or not noticing problematic themes.
Through Booktok, a side of Tiktok for readers, I have heard of numerous instances where people are negatively affected by problematic books. Cultures are tokenized, sexualities are fetishized, religions are stereotyped. Seeing other people so deeply passionate about diversifying media led me to try books by diverse authors. I have been exposed to viewpoints from other religions, sexualities, cultures, and races than my own. Expanding what I read led me to see the world differently and understand it better.
I was never a diverse reader. I did not seek out books written by and about people of color or queer people. I read what was popular and put in front of me. My Booktok mutuals, people who I follow that follow me back, were recommending books advertised as “Own Voices” and “Queer BIPOC. Since they looked like these really cool people and had these great nuanced ideas about literature, I started reading the books they recommended. Not only did I love them, I learned a lot from them.
It is completely up to the reader to decide whether they read problematic books or not. A few months ago, if enough people were talking about a book that I knew was problematic, I would purchase it second-hand or borrow it from the library and read it. Even if I had no interest in the plot or concept, I was so desperate to be included. Now, if I hear a book widely criticized for harmful content, I lose interest in reading it. However, there is nothing wrong with reading problematic books as long as the reader acknowledges and understands why the book is damaging.
Reading diversely is when someone primarily reads works by marginalized groups such as people of color, people who are disabled, and LGBTQ authors. The first step is purchasing books which shows the publisher that people are interested in diverse books; it helps uplift the authors' voices. Expanding the media you consume improves empathy, abolishes stereotypes, and increases cultural sensitivity. There are hashtags such as #OwnVoices to help readers find and review diverse books on Twitter, Tiktok, and Instagram. Websites such as Goodreads and StoryGraph have pages dedicated to diverse books. Reading diversely is not a challenge.
#OwnVoices is a term coined by the writer Corinne Duyvis is 2015, referring to an author from an under-represented community writing about their own experiences. By reading Own Voices, we can establish that the story is not problematic. We can be exposed to different groups than our own and relate to them. Without reading Own Voices, we may perpetuate underlying themes of White Supremacy, homophobia, transphobia, and ableism. It is also crucial that the publishers send advanced readers copies to Own Voices reviewers, who are a crucial way to giving Own Voices books the best possible chance of success. To dive deeper, I would like to compare Own Voice reviews and Non-Own Voice reviews.
From merely glancing at graphs of white, cis, and able bodies authors who were published versus LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Ace) and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of color) authors who were published, there were significantly fewer LGBTQ+ and BIPOC. I want to learn more about how the publishing industry works and why it is considerably easier for a cis white person to be published. I want to know how the publishing industry is changing, and by looking at data, observe publishing in the last ten years and see if the growth is exponential or linear.
To begin answering this question, I plan on interviewing LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and disabled reviewers. I want to discuss how everyone can do their own part to make reading more inclusive to everyone. I would like to hear marginalized voices and their opinions on problematic books, problematic authors, tokenism, and Own Voices. I also want to interview white, cis, straight, able-bodied who have diversified their reading to see how it has changed them as readers and as people. Finally, I want to take time to read through publisher’s websites to see requirements and which groups they prioritize.
I want readers to be aware of and discuss problems in writing, why they might have occurred, and how we can prevent them in the future. I hope to be able to confidently speak about problematic texts, problematic authors, and diversity. It is crucial that we are aware of what we consume and I want to be able to explain how to do this. The book industry can make a huge difference by regulating which voices are heard. How can marginalized voices be heard if the people who work in publishing are not a diverse group?
Word count: 915
Error count: 31
Error density: 4%