In October last year the Federal Government was presented with a proposed
National Strategy on Body Image with the aim of looking at ways to adress the growing number of reported body image concerns in Australia, particularly amongst young people. It was my great professional privelege to contribute to the committee that made these recommendations to the Minister for Youth Kate Ellis who has released her initial response to the proposed strategy today. The full proposed strategy document can be viewed
here. One of the many things the national strategy proposed was a way of rewarding and promoting positive body image practices instead of just banning, removing and blocking particular behaviours and undertakings that were seen as potentially contributing to people developing negative body image. To this end,
Minister Ellis has unveiled a new body-image tick of approval to be awarded to magazines, modelling agencies and fashion labels that meet the following criteria. ...
Disclose when images have been retouched and refrain from enhancing photographs in a way that changes a person's body shape, for example, lengthening their legs or trimming their waist, or removing freckles, lines and other distinguishing marks. This is something that the community have been asking to take place for many years. I believe it will contribute positively to the development of better media literacy and also - a very large peeve of mine - dramatically altering people's body shapes - particularly the practice of making them thinner - will hopefully cease.
Only use models aged 16 or older to model adult clothes - both on catwalks and in print. The early sexualisation of children and young people and it's connection to the development of body image concerns, and even eating disorders, is supported by research. Examples where underage girls appear in magazines like this must stop, and impressionable young girls should not be given access to the very adult and fast paced world of catwalk modelling. Even older, experienced models agree with this .
Refrain from using models who are very thin - or male models who are excessively muscular. This has the potential to be more contentious in my mind as who will get to decide what is too thin and what is too muscular? While I understand the sentiment behind it and not wanting to glamourise thinness, we must also remember that there are some women who are naturally slender and if we are aiming for the representation of diversity in the fashion and modelling worlds - this surely must include thin people as well.
Using a broad range of body shapes, sizes and ethnicities in editorial and advertising. Yes! And can we make it consistently please. I would hate to see this body image tick of approval being given to a magazine or designer who did one token campaign that showed diversity and then reverted back to their usually preferred aesthetic. Consistency is required.
Not promoting rapid weight loss, cosmetic surgery, excessive exercising or any advertisements or editorial content that may promote a negative body image. While this can never be fully stopped, I think it a positive move, particularly for magazines that are targeted at young people. NO magazine that has a youth market should contain advertisements for diet paraphenalia or cosmetic surgery.
There are many other parts of the proposed strategy that have not been responded to, but I certainly hope will be in the coming days. There were proposals put forward regarding ways that workplaces, sporting clubs and schools could also be supported to promote a more positive body image culture. It will be a great loss if more initiatives are not instigated in these areas and only the more public issues of media, fashion and modelling are acted upon. The issue of body image is much broader and complex than that. Just ask any child being ridiculed, bullied and teased by their peers at school due to something related to their appearance. While it is positive that
funding has been given to expert organisations to support schools with this issue , more is required, including I hope the adoption of the proposed
Body Image Friendly Checklist for Schools.
Your thoughts Beautiful You? Do you think these positive steps forward by the Australian government in trying to respond to a community and health issue where people clearly want to see change? Do you think it will make a difference? Would you be more likely to support a company, business or product that had met standards to clearly show it was engaging in positive body image practices and culture?
One of the many things the national strategy proposed was a way of rewarding and promoting positive body image practices instead of just banning, removing and blocking particular behaviours and undertakings that were seen as potentially contributing to people developing negative body image. To this end, Minister Ellis has unveiled a new body-image tick of approval to be awarded to magazines, modelling agencies and fashion labels that meet the following criteria. ...