Folarin-Coker , T. (2019) Unpacking the white savior complex, Affinity Magazine. Available at: https://affinitymagazine.us/2019/04/21/unpacking-the-white-savior-complex/ (Accessed: March 6, 2023).
"The white savior complex refers to the idea in which a white person attempts to “rescue” or help a person of color from their own situation. Though they think that they are doing the right thing, white people going out of their way to insert themselves into the lives of POC is doing more harm than good."
Both the discussion from my mid point tutorial and this article have really changed my perspective on the plot / characters I have outlined to far. The article talks about how white saviorism tends to do more harm than good in the long run, and often ends up with white people inserting themselves into the lives of ethnic minority groups. I think because I am trying to write about class issues and social injustices, this is a really important consideration for how I craft my story.
Currently my main character is the daughter of a high power politician. I have currently outlined that she has broken away from her family but finds herself on a journey to save "the people" as political discourse unravels. However, upon reflection this does feel like a repeat of an existing trope - a privileged girl helping out "the poor" in order to prove herself and claim her position at "the top". I don't feel that it is too late to adjust this part of the story, and I think it's been an important part of the development because I can gain a deeper understanding of the character's motivations.
Rather than being the daughter of a high power politician, perhaps it would be better to make Selene (the main character) a member of the group of people she tries to save. Originally, I had written Selene as an orphan but changed my mind as I thought it might make a more interesting plot. Now I feel it might be better to go back to my original concept and explore that further.
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