The rhetoric of inclusion and multiculturalism: Hyperreality and tokenism.

Abstract

This article analyzes the rhetoric of inclusion and multiculturalism within the framework of neoliberalism, highlighting how these narratives, promoted by the cultural industry and digital capitalism, function as simulacra that mask structures of power and inequality. Through concepts such as hyperreality, tokenism, and cultural homogenization, the author critiques the false diversity that legitimizes empty discourses, perpetuating colonialism and Eurocentrism. The article examines the role of streaming platforms and social media in content standardization, as well as the exploitation of data as a form of social control. Finally, it questions the real emancipation of marginalized groups, pointing out that their inclusion in media and labor markets remains superficial and tokenistic, thus reinforcing existing hierarchies.