“Representation matters.” This phrase has become widely popular in just about every sector of our culture within the last decade. From movies and television shows to politics and of course, throughout literature; the gospel truth is that representation does matter. It’s this idea that people like to see and hear stories about people who look, sound, and live just like them. To read about someone who is like them and has a similar mindset makes the reader feel seen and heard. Most of the classic literature revolves around straight, white, privileged men and women, this completely rules out the stories, experiences and life journeys of people who don’t belong to this stratum of individuals. Through reading, people can transport themselves into a world they’re already familiar with, it will almost feel as if they’re no longer reading about being in someone else’s shoes, but instead, they are walking in them. This is why readers will often admit that they’ve gotten “lost in a book.” The words coming from the pages completely snatch them up! Representation and inclusiveness matter as they carry personal and cultural meanings and have individual and social effects. Representation organises and influences our views of experiences and ideas. The human population is so diverse, there are many cultures, beliefs, lifestyles, and mindsets. Representation of different gender and sexual identities, races, ethnicities, religions, abilities and disabilities, gives the opportunity to eradicate stereotypes and educate the masses accurately regarding different topics. We live in a world ruled by the media. Seeing characters or people in a similar position or who look, act and think the same way as yourself, anchors your perception of how you fit in society. You feel relieved knowing that there are other people who are like you, somewhere out there. As an individual, you are comfortable knowing that you are not the only one who experiences life the way you do. Books are often much more than just books. They have the ability to shape the way you think and influence your thought process. Underrepresentation of something as important as a person’s ethnicity, gender, or sexuality can impact them immensely, it undervalues their worth and belittles their identity. Without sufficient, or positive coverage of a wide range of cultural backgrounds and beliefs, minority groups are seemingly ostracised from the “normal” way of living. Diversity in literature is, in part, about representation - who is telling the stories and who stories are told about. Without learning about other cultures and the embedded problems of racism that live deep within our society today, we cannot begin to understand the issues people from underrepresented backgrounds face. If we do not understand a problem, we cannot combat it. Literature must be diverse so that we learn not only for ourselves but for others as well.