Checklist representation
Analyze representation
It matters who gets to appear in books, magazines or films. Use our checklist and get started and analyze representation. We cover eight areas, feel free to add more!
How many are there?
1. Gender and pronouns
Her as the main character?
Her as a supporting role?
Her as the main character?
Her as a supporting role?
Him as the main character?
Him as a supporting role?
2. Gender identity and expression
Cis people?
Trans people?
People in dresses or skirts?
People with earrings or jewelry?
People with great body language?
People with dark voices?
3. Skin color
Protagonist with dark skin?
Supporting role with dark skin?
Protagonist with light skin?
Light-skinned supporting cast?
4. Holidays
How many different holidays are celebrated?
How many holidays do you recognize?
5. Language
People who speak a language?
People who speak several different languages?
People who speak sign language?
6. Religion and faith
Religious or cultural items of clothing and symbols?
Religious or cultural traditions and holidays?
7. Functional variation
Protagonist with invisible functional variation?
Supporting roles with invisible functional variation?
Protagonist with visible functional variation?
Supporting roles with invisible functional variation?
8. Sexuality
Homosexuals?
Bisexual?
Pansexual?
Heterosexual?
Three strategies for change
1. Remove
Remove stories and examples that are stereotypical, homophobic,
transphobic, racist, sexist, funkophobic. Nobody gets happy or feels good about seeing and hearing abuse. It's just boring.
2. Redo
Change male to female or vice versa. Try using the word hen. What then?
3. Add
Make conscious choices and purchases when choosing books or films and other material. Add the missing stories and pictures. Write new stories together with the students to include more different stories and histories!
Discussion questions
1. How does it look the way it does?
2. What does it lead to? How are we affected by the fact that it looks the way it does?
3. In what way? How can we change so that more people are included and seen?
