Take a moment to reflect on the town you grew up in. What did it look like? Were the streets clean? What kind of people did you grow up with? Were your classrooms full of people who looked just like you?
As teenagers, all we knew was where we grew up and who we were surrounded by. Most of us grew up in a bubble that would only break once we saw things outside of what we knew. Often enough, that was done when watching TV.
Film and TV series can give us the prime opportunity to learn about things that weren't included in our “bubble.” Outside of our peripheral vision is a world of people with different cultures, cities with poverty, and unique stories.
Not only does on-screen representation give us the chance to see outside of our bubble, but it also allows others to feel included and seen. Having a cast with a specific cultural background can often break certain stereotypes that come with the culture through character and plot development.
For example, season two of the hit summer series, Never Have I Ever sheds light on the life of an Indian American whose family and friends defy the stereotypes that come with the culture. Contributing to the mental health of teenagers, the series makes Indian Americans watching feel heard and accepted.
The documentary Who’s on Top? provides the perspectives of multiple LGBTQ+ mountaineers as they discuss their life experiences. Challenging stereotypes about gender and sexuality shows the audience an authentic representation of what the LGBTQ+ community faces.
Many teenagers struggle with understanding their sexuality and film makes that experience easier by providing a sense of comfort; it helps them understand that they are not alone in the overwhelming emotions that they are experiencing. Diversity in film proves to be a tremendous help to teens' mental health in recognizing their belonging in the world.
Diversity is critical to teen mental health because it gives them a safe escape outside of their tiny bubble. Without on-screen representation, teenage minorities would be left feeling like they didn’t have a place in this society.
As a teenage minority myself, representation of Indian Americans was rare growing up and it led to me feeling unseen and misrepresented. Stereotypes about my ethnicities were exaggerated for dramatic purposes. More representation in film promotes cultural appreciation and acceptance.
Circling back to the questions asked prior, how is the “bubble” you grew up in different from the representation in the film world? Does the film world have a positive impact on your mental health? Build a library collection that makes your teens feel accepted and seen.
Check out more films that explore mental health