Diversity in OITNB: Counterpoint

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“Time and again, people of color are supposed to be grateful for scraps from the table. There’s this strange implication that we should enjoy certain movies or television shows simply because they exist.” (250)

In “When Less is More,” Roxane Gay takes the opposing viewpoint on Internet sensation, Orange is the New Black. While it has been celebrated for its diversity and for sharing women’s stories that aren’t often heard in the mainstream, it only does so because it centers on the experiences of a white woman. Gay argues this isn’t something to celebrate.

“OITNB is a lovingly crafted monument to White Girl Problems...And still, we cannot ignore how the show’s diverse characters are planets orbiting Piper’s sun. The women of color don’t have the privilege of inhabiting their own solar systems. This is what we consider diversity these days.” (252)

Orange Is the New Black was also a previous RWAC pick - did you watch the show after reading the book it was based on? What do you think: should we celebrate OITNB for making strides in the right direction or should we demand more?