Representation Matters

Happy Saturday! Last week, I was in Las Vegas with my family, and my sister wanted to go to the Barbie exhibit. Initially, I had no desire to go, but I am so glad I did. One of my biggest takeaways was Representation Matters! As you go through the exhibition, you notice that Barbie is monolithic. She only represented a certain race, gender, and size. Yet, she was a household item for many young girls worldwide. During the Brown v. Broad case, they used the Phipps’s Clark doll test (1974) to highlight the effects of segregation in the school systems. Unfortunately, this study's results indicated that most African American children preferred dolls with white skin instead of Black ones based on their environment and perceptions.

Clark’s study observed children’s attitudes toward race and their self-image. You may think the study was so long ago, but this study does apply to today’s circumstances. This study has been duplicated countless times and still yields the same results. Although Barbie was introduced in 1959 and diversified its collection, it was not until the 1980s that they released the first Black and Hispanic dolls named Barbie. Now, the Barbie line has over thirty-five skin tones, 94 hairstyles, and nine body types, which sounds more realistic.

Barbie has a new line of hairstyles, including a bald doll. I remember the first time I wore braids at work, and I was forty when I felt comfortable enough to have my hair braided in a professional headshot. I called my mother the day of the appointment and said, “Monday is headshot day; should I take my braids out and straighten my hair”? She replied, “Absolutely not! Your hair is gorgeous, and so are you!” Then she sent me several pictures of Black professionals with braids in various social statues. Those pictures and what they represented for me mattered.

Can you imagine having to worry about your hair in its natural state? Guess what? Many minorities actually consider their hair daily (Sounds pretty exhausting, right?). As a result of hair discrimination that many people face, legal guidance was implemented called Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act, aka the CROWN Act. The CROWN Act places guardrails around Black women’s hair discrimination in the workplace. Yes, it is still being passed in certain areas, and the research highlights the effects of lack of representation in hairstyles and lived experiences.

The best news is the evolution of Barbie; as I got through several decades, I was so pleased to see many dolls of various nationalities, careers, and sizes. There is diversity and representation for many walks of life; that is how the world should adapt. Kudos to the company for recognizing the need to adjust and adapt, refusing to allow old traditions to dictate future performance. We all have the same opportunity to look at our schools, Churches, friend circles, and workplaces and see what the dominant groups are.

Rome was not built in one day; change takes time, but you must see an opportunity for the desired change to make a change. Let me put it in perspective for you, sometimes seeing is believing; check out the following article: These photos are meant to turn our racial assumptions on their head; the article intends to challenge your assumptions or experiences regarding representation and assumptions.

According to Psychology Today, seeing someone like yourself can increase your self-esteem and boost your confidence. Representation includes minorities, women, LBGTQ+, and more. Really in any situation where a dominant group exists. Representation allows individuals to feel validated and will enable us to express our opinions comfortably. For many people, seeing is believing. If you see someone with several commonalities as you achieve goals in areas you wish to, you may have more certainty to press forward toward the desired goals.

Ways to assist in making room for people from all walks of life:

·????????Like the old New York saying, “If you see something, say something,” especially if you are a decision-maker. Use the three P’s - your power, privilege, and platform to elevate underrepresented people.

·????????If you see someone not speaking up or not being included, ask for their input in a meeting. Please make an effort to show others they can be safe to be who they are and share their experiences.

·????????Encourage healthy dialogues and lead by example; people watch actions more than they believe spoken words. Your positive efforts will influence others over time and be the change you wish to see.

Replace the word underrepresented with underestimated, when possible. Think about someone that you have stereotyped before. I will provide a couple of examples; the older employee you assumed did not know excel well, a young manager not being able to lead due to lack of experience, a mother of three being able to have a healthy work-life balance, and more. We have all made assumptions based on what we see. Often, we underestimate people based on these assumptions, and the result is underrepresentation in many areas. Now is a beautiful time to allow people to start with a clean slate.

Imagine a world where you are judged by your skills, abilities, and character. It reminds me of a quote by the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." Dr. King’s famous I Have a Dream speech was given close to sixty years ago, and it is still a challenge today to be judged on character alone.

The world will never be fifty-fifty in all arenas, but disparaging gaps can be narrowed, and opportunities can arise. I challenge you to increase representation in your life. Some of my best friends are opposite me and have inspired my thoughts, exposed me to adventure, and changed me for the better. Remember, the basic concept is understanding that when people can identify themselves in some form with others, they can relate and feel a sense of belonging. We all matter, we all belong, and we represent and influence one another—cheers to making the world a better place, one step at a time.