Diversity is an integral part of the cultural fabric of Australia however, the absence of connection, identity, and belonging continues to pervade various sectors through lack of representation. The fashion and modelling industry has long been resistant to inclusivity with adverse effects to individuals (Home Affairs 2024). According to the The Racial Discrimination Act (1975) if you unlawfully discriminate through the underrepresentation of race, colour, ethnic origin – read – cast according to Eurocentric beauty standards, you act in a discriminatory manner. As an age positive model within this traditionally exclusionary field, I am lucky to be a part of the movement that is actively challenging these historic patterns and all diversity.
To combat stereotypes and accurately reflect the diversity of Australia’s multicultural society we require inclusive representation in media, from TV commercials and magazines through to online platforms (Moran 2017). Some agencies (Silverfox, Icon, Zebedeehave) have made the shift to more inclusive practices by casting age, size and disability diverse models. One inclusion seemingly mobilises many. Cultural initatives such as Fashion Spot run diversity reports to offer creative solutions that drive social change by promoting ethnically diverse and culturally inclusive modelling. We may not all play sport or play a musical instrument, we may not all dance or paint, but we all wear clothes. Representation matters.
A whole of government approach is an essential way forward for greater multicultural representation. More strategic leadership and collaboration between the federal, state, territory and local governments, along with interagency cooperation with clear policy direction will ensure contemporary harmonisation of policy, alleviating inefficiencies and fragmented outcomes (Moran 2017).
Outside of the initiatives that the Australian Fashion Council (2022) have, there is no single overarching policy for the fashion and modelling industry that focuses on inclusivity and diversity for representation. Currently we are piggy backing on Screen Australia’s (2024) media guidelines that promote diversity and representation in front of the camera, and riding the coat tails of the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance’s Equity and Diversity Committee (2023), in order to mitigate any risk.
Artificial Intelligence is of growing concern in the industry with 10s of billions of AI generated images in circulation. We are seeing perfect images of perfect people who do not exist or stolen images altered (Bonner, 2024). Aside from implications of body dysmorphia, lost jobs, misrepresentation of product endorsement, AI generated images can be embedded post production to compensate for failures in casting and can be a cultural misrepresentation. Although there are petitions trying to protect and regulate AI and its misuse, there is no actual legislation in place to encourage diversity and prohibit discriminatory practices in terms of race, ethnicity, and gender biases.
We have an opportunity to create policy that explicitly calls for greater representation of diverse ethnicities and cultural identities including digital well-being AI use. A challenge is the risk of tokenism, superficial inclusion (including AI) featuring diverse faces without authentic representation and without truly addressing the underlying need for systemic change still remains.
There has been progress towards inclusive media, but more is needed and diversity cannot thrive without an inclusive culture (Home Affairs 2024) so to promote connection, identity and belonging through representation, and truly reflect Australia’s multicultural reality, prioritisation of multicultural values across Government is needed to create the systemic change required.
Attorney-General’s Department 2015. The Racial Discrimination Act 1975. Accessed 20 September 2024https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2004A00274/2015-12-10/text
Australian Fashion Council. 2022. Industry Report. Accessed 22 September. https://ausfashioncouncil.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/2022-Industry-Modelling-Report.pdf
Bonner, C. 2024. Change. Accessed 23 September. https://www.change.org/p/%EF%B8%8F-urgent-action-against-ai-misuse-of-images-and-videos?recruiter=906157203&recruited_by_id=92658df0-d1cd-11e8-9517-11f3453dd161&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_content=cl_sharecopy_37791602_en-AU%3A0
Department of Home Affairs (2024) Towards Fairness A multicultural Australia for All. Chapter 4. Australian Government. Accessed 21 Sep 2024 https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/multicultural-framework-review/Documents/report-summary/multicultural-framework-review-report-english.pdf
Heiser, C. 2021. Fashion Spot. Report Spring 2022. Accessed 23 September 2024. https://www.thefashionspot.com/runway-news/866530-diversity-report-fashion-month-spring-2022/
Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance. 2024. Accessed 22 2024 https://www.meaa.org/download/meaa-annual-report-2022-23/
Moran, A. 2017. The Public Life of Australian Multiculturalism: Building a Diverse Nation. La Trobe University, Bundora. Palgrave Macmillan
Screen Australia 2024. Corporate Plan 2024 – 2028 Accessed 21 September. https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/getmedia/78ab580a-684c-4b61-a585-7b2f0493a0ca/Corporate-Plan-2024.pdf
