Assuming Quote by Roxane Gay
“We assume whiteness is the default because whiteness, historically, has been the default. This is one of the many reasons diverse representation matters so much. We need to change the default.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: 2021, "Bad Feminist" collection
Whiteness is treated as the norm, making diverse representation essential to challenge that default and create equity.
In simple terms: Whiteness is seen as normal; we must change that.
Key Takeaway
Promote inclusive standards.
Themes
race
representation
culture
social justice
identity
Mood
inspirational
motivational
Type
social
educational
When to use this quote
- Education curricula
- media casting
- corporate hiring
Key Concepts
Critical race theory
Default bias
Equity initiatives
Questions to Reflect On
- How can institutions reset default assumptions?
- What role does individual action play?
A Different Perspective
Changing defaults requires systemic effort, not just tokenism.
![“Most of my favorite tweets go completely ignored but most of my favorite tweets are probably really lame or inside jokes between me and my [redacted]. See what I did there?” quote by Roxane Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8b6/roxane-gay-520_ignored_most-of-my-favorite-tweets-go-completely_106926.jpg)
