Who Can Write Whom? Who Can't Write Whom?

Who can write whom? Who can’t write whom? When writing about a different culture, or your own, are there certain things you should write about or shouldn’t write about?

Certainly, there are aspects of different cultures it would be inappropriate to write about. Well, not inappropriate per say, but more, it wouldn’t feel right to be a first-world white woman, writing about the stolen generation from the point of view of an indigenous person. I wouldn’t feel comfortable attempting to put myself in that position when I’ve not even the slightest inkling of what it would be like. Sure, it could be written about from an outsider’s viewpoint, but there are things to consider there as well. Would you want to take the view of that time? Or would it be more appropriate to look at it with the knowledge we have today? Personally, I would find it very awkward to write personally about a culture or experience that I’ve never been a part of. For instance, I have visited Indonesia, so I would be comfortable writing about the culture as a visitor, but not as a resident. In the same way, I would not feel comfortable creating a character who is a person of colour and attempting to write about segregation in America. Interestingly though, if it were a situation of writing about war, or high school (something where differences in culture are not as obvious), I think I’d be more comfortable in that scenario, as it is a situation that most everyone, even if they haven’t experienced it, will have a decent amount of knowledge on the subject, even if their opinions are different. It’s a complicated thing to think about though, because it’s not something I’d ever thought about doing. Not just because I’d feel uncomfortable even attempting to write about other cultures, but more because that’s not the sort of thing I do. I could write about a personal experience with something, but not about the thing itself. Not without worrying that I myself might misinterpret the meaning of something and then that would lead to spreading false information. There is also the issue of accidental racism. I would never seek to write something inappropriate, but I would constantly be worrying that something I wouldn’t have done enough research into a piece, and then find that I’ve said something wrong and potentially offensive. In short, writing about different cultures from the outside would feel a lot more comfortable than attempting to write them from the perspective of a person of that culture.

o   You can write whatever you want to write, as long as there’s no malicious intent behind it.

o   For me, it’s not a matter of write what you know, it’s more a matter of write what you’re comfortable with. I’m not uncomfortable writing things I don’t know, I write about lots of things I don’t know about. In all honesty, I’m more afraid because I don’t want to risk offending anyone. I’d never mean to, but I worry that I don’t have enough knowledge of other cultures to be able to write about them.

o   If ‘the other’ wishes to speak, then you can’t do anything but listen. It’s fair enough to want to write about other cultures, so long as your voice doesn’t overpower those who’ve actually experienced that story. I myself wouldn’t write about other cultures from their point of view, only my own. But I have respect for those who do.

o   We are currently living in a world where political correctness is a major issue, and that promotes fear in people to say anything different from what they know.

o   Write about other cultures, yes, but write respectfully and do the research.