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Less re-touching. More diversity. What do you think?

(L to R) Girlfriend ed, Sarah Cornish, Minister Kate Ellis, Women’s Weekly ed, Helen McCabe holding the new body-image friendly symbol

Yesterday was a cold day. But a good day. The government announced its formal response to the National Body Image Advisory Group’s report. The one we presented at the end of last year.

So without any official duties, I was free to turn up with MM’s site co-ordinator Nicky and my video camera to cover all the excitement. Before I show you the video, I wanted to make a couple of quick points.

As chair of the National Body Image Advisory Group, I was one of a dozen people from many different fields associated with body image. The Advisory Group consisted of representatives from the health sector, the media and fashion industries, academia, young people and relevant non-government organisations.

My voice has always just been one of many in this debate. I’m not the spokesperson for body image or the government. There will always be people who disagree with what I say on the subject and that’s to be expected. I’m certainly not the last word on body image. Just someone who has been an advocate for it, particularly the area of media’s responsibility, for well over a decade.

Here’s how things went down yesterday at the announcement:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1gZgkU_lCQ&feature=player_embedded

 

VOLUNTARY INDUSTRY CODE OF CONDUCT ON BODY IMAGE

Organisations that sign up to this Code of Conduct will abide by the following principles:

Positive content and messaging

Use positive content and messaging to support the development of a positive body image and realistic and healthy physical goals and aspirations among consumers.

Diversity

Use a diverse range of people that are appropriate to their target audience. When considering diversity, particular focus should be given to including a range of body shapes, sizes and ethnicities.

Fair placement

Use advertising that supports positive and healthy body image behaviour.

Advertising that contradicts positive body image messages will not be used.

Realistic and natural images of people

Should not use digital technology in a way that alters images of people so that their body shape and features are unrealistic or unattainable through healthy practices.

Make consumers aware of the extent to which images of people have been manipulated.

Healthy weight models

Use models that are clearly of a healthy weight.

Appropriate modelling age

Only use people aged 16 years or older to model adult clothes or to work or model in fashion shows targeting an adult audience.

Fashion retailers supporting positive body image

Stock a wide variety of sizes that reflects demand from customers.

For all the details about the Industry Code Of Conduct, there’s a copy of it here: Voluntary code of conduct

And for information about the new Body Image symbol awards program and who gets to use it, go here: Government’s response

For a full rundown of the education initiatives that were also part of this announcement, you can find it here: Education media release

I can sense a change in the air.

SPEAKING OF CHANGE.

Having a chat with a federal minister, I couldn’t help but be cheeky and ask a few questions about our new PM. And our old one. Here’s what Kate Ellis had to say…..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5GuQcN1hZg&feature=player_embedded

Will you support magazines that use the body image friendly symbol? Will it make you buy one magazine over another?