BEHS 220_ REPRESENTATIONS OF DIVERSITY (2)

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THE 100 REPRESENTATION OF DIVERSITY 1 THE 100 REPRESENTATION OF DIVERSITY STUDENT NAME University of Maryland Global Campus BEHS 220: Diversity Awareness Professor Janel Kollangi October 31, 2023

THE 100 REPRESENTATION OF DIVERSITY 2 THE 100 REPRESENTATION OF DIVERSITY The 100, a CW Television Network series primarily adapted from a collection of young adult novels by Kass Morgan, explores a post-apocalyptic Earth a century after a catastrophic nuclear event decimated humanity. In this CW drama, a group of adolescent offenders is dispatched from a deteriorating space station to assess the safety of the planet's surface. What initially resembles a blend of 'Lord of the Flies with attractive characters quickly evolves into a unique blend reminiscent of 'Battlestar Galactica' and 'Lost,' characterized by intractable moral dilemmas, deeper enigmas, and a captivating array of psychologically complex characters. Notably, the show has faced significant criticism for its portrayal of women, becoming one of its most severe points of contention. This essay aims to assess how the 100 TV series have enhanced the feminist diversity in the series. The series takes place 97 years after a horrific nuclear war wipes out practically all life on Earth. One hundred juvenile delinquents are returned to Earth on a spaceship carrying humanity's last surviving survivors in the hopes of replenishing the planet's population. They conclude that the only known survivors are the occupants of the twelve space stations in Earth's orbit throughout this war period. Over 2,400 people live in "The Ark," a massive space station built from the remnants of the individual space stations. Unless the culprit is under eighteen, all offenses are punished by death. When the Ark's life support systems fail, 100 young criminals are deemed "expendable." When they reach the Earth's surface, they look for signs that human life may return ("The 100: Series Recap (Seasons 1-6)", 2020). Their first footstep on a planet they have only glimpsed through a space shuttle window. They try to form a community in this tough new environment. They are not alone in their struggles. However, they are aware that not all humans have been wiped off. Grounders are World War 2 Allied service members who fought in the Allied forces and are still alive today. The countries

THE 100 REPRESENTATION OF DIVERSITY 3 mentioned previously, Canada, the United States, China, Japan, India, Russia, Venezuela, France, Brazil, the United Kingdom of Uganda, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain, have all had space stations on the Ark in the past ("The 100: Series Recap (Seasons 1-6)", 2020). The CW series "The 100," which premiered in 2014, has been hailed as a feminist show with strong female leads (Taub, 2017). The show fearlessly portrays women in various roles, such as heroes, villains, leaders, and rebels. While it excels in depicting gender dynamics, it also effectively tackles other vital themes. Unlike most primetime TV shows, The 100 shows a remarkable sensitivity to issues related to race, gender, and sexuality, consistently handling these topics with precision. Succeeding in the highly competitive television landscape requires more than just good storytelling; it involves deliberate choices made by the show's creators in shaping their characters and narratives, reflecting their values and ideals (Sweet, 2021). Essentially, it involves consciously deciding which individuals and societal norms the audience should embrace or reject. The unique dystopian setting of The 100 provides the creators with an opportunity to challenge some conventions while disregarding others. In contrast to many other shows in the industry still grappling with diversity issues, The 100 continues to break down barriers with each episode. The 100 has been criticized for promoting white feminist ideology and making it evident which white female characters are portrayed as right or wrong within the show's context. Throughout the film, leaders and upright persons are shown as white ladies (Taub, 2017). It becomes particularly concerning when we observe these women displaying bias against individuals of color, including both men and women from various ethnic backgrounds. They exhibit patronizing and offensive behavior towards non-white characters, which can range from subtle to overt, depending on the situation. Consequently, the show depicts them as exemplars of "strong female characters," and their

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THE 100 REPRESENTATION OF DIVERSITY 4 mistreatment of non-white individuals is never acknowledged as problematic. In other words, it is portrayed as a perceived obligation for these white women to safeguard their ethnicity and culture (Coley, 2020). In the TV series "The 100," I relate to the character Octavia; her demeanor, strength, and resilience are very similar to how I carry myself. Her journey is filled with challenges, both internal and external. Her transformation was the highlight that endeared me to the show, as she transitioned from her rebellious days with the delinquents to a life with Lincoln (portrayed by Ricky Whittle) and the Grounders, marked by her distinctive braided hairstyle. It is crucial to emphasize that diversity in the workplace does not necessarily equate to effective representation. Just as the presence of female characters does not automatically signify feminism, a diverse cast does not guarantee the absence of prejudice. Being a feminist is no longer sufficient; we must also embrace intersectionality and advocate for all marginalized communities, including people of color, in our society. While some may wish to believe that race is no longer a significant factor, similar to eye color, the unfortunate reality remains that racial discrimination persists, particularly in popular culture.

THE 100 REPRESENTATION OF DIVERSITY 5 References Coley, S. (2020). How 'The 100' Waged a War on Women | Tell-Tale TV. Tell-Tale TV. https://telltaletv.com/2020/08/how-the-100-waged-a-war-on-women/ Rothenberg, J., Morgenstein, L., Lee, G., Nalluri, B., Craft, E., Kwok, M., Snyder, K., Fain, S., Shumway, K., Scanlan, T., Marchant, J., & Miller, M. (Producers). (2014-2020). The 100 [Television series]. The CW. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2661044/ Sweet, A. (2021). Reading Volume 2 of 'Fourth Wave Feminism in Science Fiction and Fantasy. MAI: Feminism & Visual Culture. https://maifeminism.com/reading-fourth-wave- feminism-in-science-fiction-and-fantasy/ Taub, G. (2017). The 100 Has a White Feminism Problem - WWAC. Women Write About Comics (WWAC). https://womenwriteaboutcomics.com/2017/03/the-100-has-a-white- feminism-problem/

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