Forced diversity/Inclusion, why it is detrimental

What do the remakes of Sex in the City, The Little Mermaid and Cleopatra have in
common? The "inclusion" of ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious minorities. The term
inclusion was first used in the financial sector. However, it is now defined from an all-
encompassing social margin and "seeks to ensure that all people, without distinction, can
exercise their rights and guarantees, make use of their capacities and benefit from the
opportunities found in their environment" (ECLAC, 2018, para. 1). This inclusion has been
extended to all areas, including the seventh art. However, for those of us who belong to a
minority that is the focus of this critique, a big issue arises: does this "inclusion" really
include minorities for the sole purpose of capturing a new sales niche, displaying a false
ethic of diversity and favoring covert discrimination.

We can start with the big training emporiums, whose search for new customers to
make them richer every day is unscrupulous and never hidden. This constant search for
new consumers is the reason why they highlight minority labels. In most productions that
modify or include a minority character, there is no education on the subject. Companies
simply show the character with ambiguous backstories or without any transformative
explanation of their socio-cultural situation. The problem is that they are not doing
inclusion, they are doing forced diversity/inclusion. This only encourages resistance to the
character and what he or she represents by typifying a stereotype. And as Holland (2020)
mentions in his critique in paragraph 3, this only proves that their aim is to capture a niche
for the sale of their final product and marketing and not the fundamental aim of inclusion:
to demonstrate their value in the social environment.

The second point is that inclusion can be seen as a kind of unwritten rule to
compensate for the social marginalization of minorities (León, 2022 para. 5). In the
entertainment industry, however, it is mostly seen as an unnecessary imposition. And it is
perceived as a quota that is met for the sole purpose of appearing to have liberal principles
and beliefs. These principles seem to be aimed at balancing situations such as inequality,
but only discursively, in the most superficial way (Leon 2022 para. 9). Again, a detrimental
forced inclusion, as they do not present socially relevant plots, characters, or end results
without defending minorities.
 The third and last point is that true inclusion seeks to create an environment of
equality, sisterhood, appreciation, and mutual respect, among other things. However, this
is not fully achieved in certain plots or artistic adaptations, which have the opposite effect.
This is due to the fact that covert discrimination is created by subjecting the character to
unequal treatment specific to the group to which he or she has been assigned. This
creates a sense of inauthenticity and disconnection between the seventh art and the
ultimate spectator. By forcing inclusion, there is a risk of failing to recognize and value the
individual contribution of each minority to society, as it focuses solely on their membership
of a particular group (Orduña Saide, 2023 paragraphs 8-12). This runs counter to the true
spirit of inclusion, which seeks equality and equity.

Finally, we can understand that forced inclusion goes against the basic principles of
inclusion and diversity. Furthermore, we can define it as the practice of including minorities
in certain groups or communities without taking into account their will, preferences or
individual characteristics (Networks, 2023 para. 1). It is important to take the step towards
authentic and effective inclusion in cultural media by promoting equality and social justice.
Therefore, forced inclusion is not the answer. Minorities should not be superficially
included in the seventh art or in popular culture in general. It is crucial to delve into their
stories and challenges, but above all to treat them authentically, which also means to
respect them (Nieves 2023, para. 7). In this way, a truly inclusive and diverse environment
can be created, where everyone feels represented, valued, and respected.
 References

Holland. (2020, December 27). Opiniones Mensas💙 - Inclusión forzada ☺👊 - Wattpad.

Www.wattpad.com, 7. https://www.wattpad.com/1001301820-opiniones-mensas
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CEPAL. (2018, December 12). Inclusión social, económica y política de las personas
mayores. Www.cepal.org; ECLAC - UNITED NATIONS.
https://www.cepal.org/es/enfoques/inclusion-social-economica-politica-personas-
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León, M. (2022, August 29). Qué es la inclusión forzada y por qué se ha vuelto polémica
en la industria del entretenimiento. PIJAMASURF.COM, 9.
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de-lo-que-crees/
Nieves R., J. M. (2023, April 28). La inclusión no puede ser forzada. Diario La República,
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Orduña Saide, Y. (2023, July 6). Superando los retos de la Inclusión Forzada.
Es.linkedin.com. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/superando-los-retos-de-la-inclusi
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