BAME We're Not the Same: Takeaways

The problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story. It emphasises how we are different, not how we are similar.
— Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Key Takeaways

ONE SIZE DOESN’T FIT ALL

‘BAME’ is complex and there is also diversity within diversity. How we label one another is critical to how we are perceived and viewed in the world. We shouldn’t underestimate the power of language as a tool that can determine who is and isn’t included. While we appreciate there are instances where labels help us organise and summarise information, it is also important for us to drill further at times and be specific, especially when we are trying to understand and represent our audiences more thoroughly.

PORTRAYAL HAS REAL WORLD IMPACT

Race, gender and religion are important to many people’s identities but while these identifiers are affirming in many circumstances, they can also result in negative stereotypes, prejudice and oppression. Stereotypes can lead to a cycle of oppression and when oppression becomes internalised, it can make a person doubt their own abilities and sense of belonging. Through this research, we’ve seen many examples where stereotypes have been reinforced and the real life impact that has been felt. Inclusion normalises all of our identities and positive representation contributes to a sense of feeling included or not feeling like you’re an outcast of society.

NUANCE ISN’T OVERT

Subtle references planted into a character’s persona or narrative gives portrayal its weight. Accurate portrayal is about reflecting the complexity of identities, not playing on heritage. When these details are missed, characters will feel inauthentic. References need to be accurate, attention to detail can make all the difference between something feeling relatable and tokenism or laziness. Characters need depth - which requires an understanding of experience, context and culture.

STEREOTYPES PRESENTS A SINGLE NARRATIVE

Falling into clichés and stereotypes (though this can be unintentional) reduces the complex narrative of identity to a single story as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie said,

“The problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story. It emphasises how we are different, not how we are similar.”

Portrayal is complex but there are many ways to tell a range of diverse and inclusive stories and so a wealth of opportunity awaits. We can still be funny and have fun with storytelling and it can be supercharged by diverse writers and talent. These narratives can be executed creatively and naturally through entertainment e.g. drama, comedy and factual entertainment as well as informational led content. In turn, this also increases natural representation.

“The beauty of The Farewell is that all of this is authentic, down to its tiny details and throwaway lines, from the family’s conversations over dinner, with copious amounts of baijiu (an extremely high- proof Chinese grain liquor) and a Lazy Susan piled with plates of Beijing roast duck, to Nai Nai instructing Billi to greet every wedding guest and warmly address them with the correct titles. The film is very much about identity, but it goes beyond skin deep. I think that’s a very otherizing way of looking at diversity and representation, when it’s skin deep. For me, the film is about identity. But it’s about loss, it’s about regret, it’s about guilt. It’s about gaps in communication, whether that’s geographical, or language, or cultural. It isn’t just about the way we look.”

The BBC's Commitments

The BBC is committed to reaching 20% of off-screen talent coming from under-represented groups (not just ethnically diverse). We have also made the largest financial investment within the creative industry prioritising £100 million and £12 million from our TV and radio commissioning budgets to drive change across our output.

And internally the BBC has set new 50:20:12 diversity targets (fifty:fifty gender split, twenty percent of staff who are black, Asian or minority ethnic, and twelve percent disability). The step-change we want to and need to make is creating an inclusive culture and workforce that enables us to create experiences for different people.

BBC Audiences has already started work on the creative diversity toolkit to address ambitions already agreed as part of the Diversity and Inclusion Strategy announced in December 2020.

We hope this research is useful to other creative partners in the industry who support this move towards a more inclusive industry.