Why Representation Matters for Mental Health

Representation is defined as “the way someone or something is described.”

• Representation allows individuals from minority groups to be able to express themselves openly and create a diverse community

• A lack of representation has an effect on mental health

• Individuals feel that the lack of representation makes them feel alienated and reduces their levels of self esteem

How representation can help: 

• Representation serves as opportunities for people to find a community where they feel support and validation

• Representation can also help reduce negative stereotypes about other groups 

• Intergroup Contact Theory: more exposure or contact that people had with groups who were different than them, less likely they would maintain prejudice

• In workplace: 

• When individuals of minority groups do not see representation in executive committees or etc, this hurts their self esteem as they feel that the promotion they have been working towards is unattainable

• When a company has a diverse and inclusive team they are better at decision making processes and outperform their competitors

• Politics:

• A government without diversity lacks to represent the demography of the country

• Underrepresented governments cannot connect with all the people it represents and creates a lack of participation

How negative representation impacts:

• Mass media plays a big role in how we perceive the world around us

• Misrepresentation or production of stereotypes through media or lack of representation due to socio-political factors 

• Ex: post 9/11 coverage would produce negative attributes and characteristics of all Muslims
  

Representation should be intentional and impactful in a positive way. Representation plays a big role in how we perceive ourselves, contributing to our self esteem. If we do not see people who are like us, we feel that we do not belong, which shuts us down from opportunities. 

Learning about the importance of representation and what positive representation can do, opens us to opportunities of speaking out and creating those opportunities.