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{{merge|tokenism}}A '''token character''' is a character in a story, myth, or legend, that only exists to achieve the minimum compliance with assumed normality for the environment described in the story. For example, a ''token wife'' is a wife who has no depth of character, or identity of her own, but only exists because the character, that she is married to, is expected to have a wife. |
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{{merge|tokenism}}A '''token character''' is a member of the religion known as Tokenism. He praises Token Day and night. He sleeps one hour a day. The rest of his time is spent searching for Tokens (coins) with Token's vision printed upon them. |
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A token character can also be used by writers to pay ] to rules or standards, when they otherwise have no intention of doing so, such as by obeying anti-] policies by including a '']'' character, who, despite being present often, nevertheless does nothing, and has no function in the ]. In this situation the creation of such characters is referred to as ]. |
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Token characters may represent various groups, which vary from the norm (usually white/heterosexual/physically attractive, frequently male), and are otherwise excluded from the story. They can be based on ] (], as well as ], ] or ]ish), ] (overweight or otherwise conventionally unattractive), ] (non-heterosexual) or ] (female character in a male-dominated cast). Token characters will either be relegated to the background or exhibit ] behavior, usually to render them inoffensive to readers or viewers. Such a character may also be disposed of relatively early in the story (either by being killed or voted off in a ] show) in order to enhance the drama while "conserving" the normal characters. |
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The "token black" character is ridiculed in the movie ]. In the movie, one character, when asked a question, answered: ''"I'm just the token black guy! I'm just supposed to smile, stay out of the conversation, and say things like 'damn!', 'shit!' and 'that is whack!'"''. Later, he does just that. |
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The television show ] includes a token black character, aptly named ]. |
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