Default narrative

[[deleted user]]

Im just curious, as a person who loves seeing diversity, and will see it even when it's not there, what makes readers so quick to default a person as white, abled, straight and the like, even when a character isnt explicitly written so?

[Thelonious]

Because a white, able, straight person is the default setting for America. It's ingrained in our psyche. Growing up it's all we saw on TV (with few exceptions) and it's all we saw in comic-books. An author usually has to explicitly state if the protagonist is other. Be it by hair texture, skin tone or some other feature. And I don't even think readers do it consciously. I know I don't, but it's an assumption I make unless the writer makes an effort to tell me different.

[R.A.]

I think because white/straight/abled is the majority. I'm sure that in India readers assume that the characters are Indian unless otherwise specified, and the same for China, etc. As the American 'face' becomes more...colorful?...over time, I think the default won't be a default anymore. I really think for most people it isn't a matter of racism or any kind of ism. It's just numbers and percentages.
Oh, and hi to everyone, by the way. I just sort of jumped into the conversation without introducing myself. I'm R.A. It's nice to meet you all.