Token team members

2011-10-02T07:10:00Z

MacyWales:

'''[[Tokenism]]''' may be particularly evident in works featuring a team, such as superhero teams or small crews going adventuring.

A token team member may be recognized by:
* the usual signs of [[tokenism]], such as:
** a character with an identity (racial, gender, etc.) that is relatively unique on the team and is underrepresented relative to the populace;
** a character with an identity that is largely unexplored -- the identity is skin-deep, but there is little exploration of the worldbuilding into which that identity might figure;
** a token exploration of the identity of a <span class="plainlinks">[http://thebeginnerslens.com/<span style="color:black;font-weight:normal; text-decoration:none!important; background:none!important; text-decoration:none;">iphone photography</span>] character who is otherwise unexplored, or who lives in a world with little attention to these facets of identity, as in, a "[[very special episode]]" type exploration, or a plot-twist premised on a character's identity. For example, a minor female character who is raped as a plot-twist; a gay character who is bashed; an African-American character who experiences racism. It's nice to deal with it but the episodic nature of handling the issue makes the failure to realistically worldbuild and characterize more apparent.
* Minor or underutilized skills or powers
* An evident function in characterization, plotting, or worldbuilding that comes out of the character's identity rather than other qualities unique to the character

For instance, [[Teela Brown]] in the [[Ringworld series]] by [[Larry Niven]] is a token female on the team; her "skill", such as it is, is her ''possible'' inborn trait of luckines; her role within characterization is to serve as love interest for the main character, reinforcing his heterosexuality and attractiveness.

[[Category:Characterization tropes]]

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Token team members