It's important that Netflix, as a streaming service industry has continued to greenlight more diverse shows – not just as a token gesture, but as a commitment to real representation across genres and behind the scenes. Rather than just throwing in a few diverse characters to balance out the cast, one Netflix original series that actively touches upon multiple topics and lived experiences of marginalized groups such as class divides, racial issues, and sexuality which would be otherwise considered 'unglamorous' for primetime television is Orange is the New Black.
Kimberle Crenshaw's concept of intersectionality is a multi-axial theory of oppression used as an approach to theorize identity and power relations. Intersectionality is a way of thinking that moves us out of a black-and-white binary. It is a term that was originated in relation to black-feminism but has since inverted to representational objectives.
Intersectionality is a theoretical construct that endeavors to distinguish how interlocking frameworks affect individuals who are most underestimated in the public arena. This is a framework for conceptualizing a person, group of people, or social problem as affected by numerous discriminations and disadvantages including, but not limited to, race/ethnicity, gender, class, sexuality, and disability.
The main character of OITNB is Piper Chapman who is very problematic throughout the series. We see how her character is privileged in multiple ways, and how her traditional role starts to branch out into many different categories, such as her complicity with racism and classism. Through Jenji Kohan's use of a white protagonist view-point to base the show off, we see how Piper has no idea how her privilege operates; even though later in future seasons we see how she not only knows her privilege operates, but how she uses it as manipulation for her own gain. We also see how shocking the realities of racism are even though they are typically overshadowed with ignorance.
What makes OITNB so diverse is the real issues and different stories of these incarcerated woman and how their identities are what play such a big factor within the confinements of the prison. One character that specifically stands out when it comes to unfair treatment from the prison and guards is Sophia, played by Laverne Cox. The two main intersectional categories that she faces include: being transgender and black. Cox's role as Sophia in OITNB led her to becoming the first openly transgender person to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in the acting category.
Intersectional categories being introduced in television also creates a framework of better understanding for other people who do not identify with the same sexuality. Also, looking at these ways of approaching television text exposes the simplified understandings of gender and sexuality that make complex television representations seem to fit conventional notions of what 'straight,' 'gay,' 'lesbian,' 'bi,' or 'trans' identity and behavior entail.
The episode "Toast Can't Be Breaded Again," is one of the most significant in OITNB and speaks volumes. This episode is the aftermath of the death of Poussey by one of the guards. This had the whole prison in shock, specifically effecting the black inmates. This is symbolic of the lack of justice for the inmates of color and how these characters are fundamentally less valued. As Piper's narrative slowly fades into the background, we see how other characters take center stage, in order to let them develop and show the complexities of different identities – while breaking stereotypes.
In the episode, the audience is able to see how the guards are trying to spin the story and falsely claim it was Poussey's fault and a result of her being violent, painting her as the villain rather than victim. They even go as far as to look through her files for a previous health condition that they can exploit or some violent incident from her past.
Orange is the New Black hits real-world issues hard and we see the effects of the prison industrial complex on both the prisoners and guards of the show, however, it is also important to identify how these issues are critical to understand outside of the confinements of the prison. This episode stood as a political statement in Black Lives Matter due to its brutality and unnecessary violence. Black Lives Matter is a political intervention in a world where Black lives are systematically targeted for demise.
When a press announcement came out about the murder of Poussey in the episode, her name was not stated and the guard was painted as the victim. Unfortunately, this is not far stretched from these types of issues in society today. It allows the audience to have a better understanding on the lack of training in a system that places emphasis on acting first and asking questions later.
In conclusion, Netflix both emphasizes stereotypes that the program itself problematizes, while also humanizing the images of groups that face these problems in real-life. Even though television may not be motivated by anything other than entertainment, it is important to not just ignore these messages or see them as irrelevant just because they are meant for entertainment. Introducing and bringing to light underlying issues that may be unfamiliar to the 'typical viewer' is important because television helps to shape our attitudes toward real-life parallels.
Overall, OITNB is progressive in its storytelling; setting the show in a women's prison gives it a canvas to explore questions of gender and sexuality, while its mixed-race cast is a crucial element – among many other intersectional categories introduced throughout. The question is whether or not this is a step towards Netflixs' long-term commitment towards more diverse shows.
