So what is a National Body Image Advisory Group, anyway?

UPDATE: You can now see my interview from yesterday's Today Show here….

Kate Ellis, Minister for Sport and Youth

Glad you asked. It's the idea of Kate Ellis, federal minister for Sport and Youth who is 31 and astonishingly impressive. One day, I hope I can vote for her to become Prime Minister.

Anyway. In her work with her portfolio, Kate travels the country constantly and meets a huge number of people. Many of them young and many of them telling her that negative body image is a serious problem.
This is backed up by a Mission Australia survey last year which showed that among people aged 11-24, body image was one of their top three concerns. I'm not sure what the other two were but given there are a few heavy ones to choose from – global warming, the imploding economy, terrorism – the fact that body image is in the top three? That's big.

So Kate decided to ask Kevin for some money to put together a voluntary code of conduct for the media, advertising and fashion industries. He gave her $125,00. Thanks Kevin.

She wasn't finished. To help her put together this code and to advise the government on a national strategy to improve body image among Young Australians, she appointed a diverse group of 11 people to an advisory board. I was one of those people, chosen (I assume) because I have long been passionately out-spoken on the issue and have a background in magazines and media.

Other members of the group include Sarah Murdoch (model & media personality), Sarah Cornish (editor of Girlfriend who lead the media pack on a responsible approach to body image – more about that in another post), Professor David Forbes and Professor Susan Paxton who are both at the forefront of medical and psychological work on the subject of eating disorders, Belinda Seper (Australia's leading independent fashion retailer and a force to be reckoned with in the industry), Claire Vickery (founder of the Butterfly Foundation), Raina Hunter (YWCA), Kerry Graham (Inspire Foundation), Helen Gazal (fashion industry businesswoman and mother of 4 teenage girls), Chris Warren (MEAA – the union which governs performers and the media) and Amanda Scott (NSW Youth Advisory Council).

To those who have questioned the inclusion of a model and magazine and fashion people in the group? (I'm not being defensive, I've just heard this question asked a few times in the past 24hrs)

Kate firmly believes (and I agree) that the only way to tackle an incredibly complex issue like body image is to do it in partnership with the industries who are involved. We're going to get a lot further a lot faster by working together with media and magazines and the fashion and advertising industries than we will be demonising them or sending anyone to the naughty step.

It's a big job. No question there. As we agreed yesterday, it took years to turn around public attitudes to smoking and sun-baking. We're not going to change things in one meeting or even in ten. This is the beginning of a long process but if we throw up our hands and say 'too hard' and 'too long' then nothing will change. We have to start somewhere.

As a group, what we'll be looking at is this voluntary code of conduct – how it might work and what it might include. We'll also be looking at how we can proactively work to better education kids and parents about body image. It's a multi-pronged approach and it's complicated. But we're a highly motivated group of individuals who are all passionate about trying to make change.

Any questions?

To answer them, I'm going to try something new here. Ask your questions via comments and I'm going to do a vlog to answer them all and post it up here next week. So go for it. Ask away. Even difficult questions. And please make suggestions too. Over to you…….

Article filed under: body image, in the news , & published: Wednesday, March 4th, 2009.

Dad says:

April 17, 2010 at 5:09 pm

The local image here in Albany WA is a loose top over 3/4 black tight pants, black thongs, hair rampant suported by bad attitude.
Simplicity taken to a level becomes elegance. Recently in Perth/ Subiaco I stepped up to a lady in a coffee shop and said “Lady youre a knockout!” She was wearing a black thin not pencil strap dress, the bodice had a band of lace accross it that negated a black/white line accross her bust and the cleavage was slight. A black lace choker was there hair up and controlled and a dash of red lippy. Simple, elegant. My background? I used to do a lot of photography and you never lose the “camera eyes” just as a retired Policeman never loses “street eyes”. She was stunned at my in your face compliment as were her two male associates.
Body image?
Some time back a 15 years old girl wrote probably her first ever letter to the West Australian stating her disgust at stores offering “G-string”underwear for little girls. (6 yo) She also stated her disgust at mothers who would buy them. As a dad and a grandad I agree.
Body image my God does that take the sexualising of babies? Hey mama mia take that one on!
A dad.

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madison says:

April 24, 2009 at 4:00 pm

Hey Mia,
Im doing a year 12 oral on this subject. My topic is ‘should the voluntary Media Code of Conduct on Body Image be made mandatory and if so what would change?
I was wondering if you could insight me on what would happenen if all advertisements would have to follow the guidelines of the code? This meaning, in relation too eating disorders, depression and the younger generation who are exposed to unrealistic body images and anything else you might think of that would change.
I know its a big ask and if you dont have time thats totally cool.
You are doing such a wonderful job!

Kate says:

April 15, 2009 at 4:41 pm

This discussion seems to have died out, but then I am new to this whole online discussion blog twitter thingamebob so perhaps it is just resting for a while…
I would like to see it continued though and lots of ideas and debate from the generally smart and fiesty people who join in here…
any updates Mia?

Eve says:

April 3, 2009 at 9:19 pm

Mia, did you ever post the vlog?!

April 2, 2009 at 5:07 pm

Mia, could one part of your Advisory Group’s efforts be to find an industry partner who would agree to create an ad campaign using an average sized woman?
Seeing a label’s new line looking great on an average woman would convince me to part with my money far more effectively than the usual strategy of using glossy, retouched images of tall thin models.
Hello – of course they look good in whatever garment you’re trying to sell.That doesn’t mean it will look good on me! But if I saw someone normal all dressed up and looking the goods I’d be in that shop with the phone bill money quicker than you can say you really don’t need another dress….
Good luck with it all, it makes me happy and hopeful for my little girl that there are smart, powerful women out there using their intelligence and energy on trying to deal with this stuff
Kate

Kelly says:

March 12, 2009 at 11:21 pm

Meg, you are exactly why this code needs to be in place.
Do you know what happens to people who live with anorexia and bulimia? Do you know about the depression associated with it and that it can lead to suicide simply because they don’t feel good enough?
I’m a teenager and am researching about this topic for my uni paper and I’m appalled at the statistics. Girls as young as 9 think they are too fat and have started dieting. That’s just wrong.
When you said ” I could stand to lose a few to be a healthier weight, but I would much rather be educated about ways to improve myself and be a healthier (and happier!) person, than to be told that I’m fine the way I am.” I actually laughed. Due to THE MEDIA, you think that you are not healthy or happy enough the way you are. That you need to constantly “improve” yourself. That is unhealthy, and that is why this code is needed.
I’m all in for this code although am slightly concerned about it being voluntary..

Nicole says:

March 12, 2009 at 12:16 pm

Hi Mia,
Will this Advisory Group be working with groups such as the Coalition on Food Advertising to Children,to reduce the amount of junk food marketing targeted at children?
I know the obesity problem is at the opposite end of the spectrum to body image as far as trying to attain impossible magazine perfection, but it is a major concern.
I just wasn’t sure how broad the group will work…

Emma says:

March 8, 2009 at 2:27 pm

I hope I’m not too late to get a question in..
I was wondering what you are doing as a parent (especially to Coco) to raise your children with a positive body image?
And do you struggle with this?
I guess that related to the way the advisory group will “proactively work to better education kids and parents about body image”.

dot says:

March 7, 2009 at 6:45 pm

I would definitely like to see more real women, all shapes and sizes, but not only in ‘all sizes specials’, but in ads, campaigns, in beauty and fashion articles. A month back ,I think, I noticed the photo in the beauty section of either Cosmo or Shop ‘Til You Drop (these are the mags I buy religiously each month), that had a model with a bare make-up free (or at least minimal make-up) face showing off pimples and imperfections here and there.. I thought, hey, this is real, this is how most of us look with no make-up on. I felt it was normal and natural and it made ME feel normal. I think if we keep projecting the message that imperfect is normal and ‘OK’ throughout the media consistently, and not only in special features articles, then we may actually be able to alter the current popular mindset of what we see as ‘perfect’ or desirable. I must say I am very excited about this campaign – go Mia!

Benita says:

March 7, 2009 at 9:50 am

Mia, this is a fantastic idea! Kudos to Kate Ellis for acknowledging this and wanting to DO SOMETHING about it. I agree with everyone’s comments on photoshopped images, and I think that another step in the right direction from the media’s point of view, is less images of emaciated celebrities and more images of great, healthy, happy, successful women who are living/working their chosen field with passion and conviction; people like Kate Ellis, netballer Liz Ellis (hey – are they related I wonder??), Children’s entertainer Justine Clarke, Cathy Freeman, Singer Katie Noonan…these are just a few examples of people I would rather read about than bloody Paris or Lindsay or Posh. And if my daughter is going to be seeing these magazines, I’d rather her look at photos of these women, who come with a positive message, than “celebrities” whose life revolves around how thin they are, which rehab centre they’re attending and who they’re sleeping with. Maybe if magazines featured more stories on women who radiate health, confidence and success because they love who they are and what they do, their message may rub off on our young, impressionable daughters, sisters etc and they in turn may be more open to the belief that a healthy SELF image is a step in the right direction to achieving a healthy body image. Don’t get me wrong, I know that self image and body image are two different things, and that it’s BODY image we’re focussing on here. But as someone who has struggled with my weight my whole life, body and self images, in my opinion, are not mutually exclusive, that one does impact the other, both positively and negatively.
I’ve rambled on enough and I hope some of this has made sense. As the mother of an almost-3yo girl, her transition from healthy child to healthy teen to healthy woman is the most important gift I can give her, and I welcome any discussion, education process and code of conduct that will help me achieve the best life for my daughter. xxx

vness says:

March 6, 2009 at 10:19 am

I agree that the media does have a significant influence on body image, but there are of course other influences ….
I’m interested to know how the Australian Government will work with State/Territory Governments and other organisations to reconcile the issues on body image with messages about obesity. It seems to me that young people are getting very mixed messages about their health today – being too fat or too skinny is bad … but what is too fat or too skinny, which of course is subjective to an extent. How can we help young people to reach a balance on this?
It would also be interesting to think about how to work with families on these issues. Mothers can be one of the most significant influences on their child’s (especially daughters) body image. How many of us remember our mums constantly being on diets as we were growing up? And not to forget the role of fathers too.

Cheryl says:

March 5, 2009 at 11:58 pm

I am thrilled to see that there are men involved in this Advisory Group. One of the saddest moments I remember was being in hospital with my then-3 year old son who was awaiting surgery and talking to another mother there who was admitted with her 7 year old anorexic son. Yes – 7 years old, and a boy. All he could tell the psychologists was that he just didn’t want to gain weight, he couldn’t verbalise why that was a bad thing to him and he definitely could control his appetite. When I met the mother and son they had been in hospital for over 6 weeks and he was just getting to the point where he would agree to eat more than one meal a day.
There are many different health problems in society today, obesity may be the new fad because it causes many more health and medical issues but anorexia/tanorexia/pregnexia/whateverexia are just as bad and need some form of investigation. A person with poor body image is going to have problems dealing with their life if they can’t “fix” what they believe is wrong with them. Being able to recognise a healthy body is becoming more and more difficult, that is the body issue I think is most relevant. The Kate Winslet boob posts prove that point, most people don’t even recognise a post-pregnancy body that hasn’t been tucked and tightened anymore.

Cerry says:

March 5, 2009 at 11:35 pm

I’m with Suze. I just finished high school, and I have to say, spending the money on education about healthy lifestyle is a good idea, but spending money on convincing girls who are 175cm tall, a size 10 or 12 and weigh like, 65kg, but still insist that they don’t look right (boobs too small, hips too big, skin wrong colour, feet have veins in them [seriously, do they photoshop feet on shoe models? I've never met a person who naturally has feet that nice]) that they DO look right, because they’re healthy, seems to be a better use of the money. No amount of healthy lifestyle is education is going to stop teenage girls from comparing themselves to people who they see as “more beautiful” (because, honestly, we’re stupid, and we’d never compare with someone who would make us feel good about ourselves), and feeling like crap. No amount of healthy lifestyle education is going to stop year 12 girls from getting to the end of the year, going formal dress shopping and feeling really shitty when they realise that courtesy of being chained to their desk studying all year, and eating large amounts of chocolate and other comfort food when the stress got to them, they’ve gained a dress size.
There’s really not much point in trying to convince people to live a healthy life style, when the reality is, a healthy body is portrayed as massive by the media, and being healthy is therefore just going to make people feel miserable. Convince people that healthy is actually healthy, and beautiful, and that’s what people will be aiming for. Once “ideal” becomes a more realistically attainable weight, people will be more willing to try and reach it, and that’s when education about how to do so become a more viable option.
I hope that made sense, it’s late, I really can’t be bothered going through and proof reading.

Suze says:

March 5, 2009 at 9:59 pm

I am also teenager, and while I agree with clare I totally disagree with meg. High school is ridiculously hard without also having to worry about body size and weight. And, its not just the two extremes, overly skinny or overweight, we have to look at, but its the average, in proportion, girls who feel bad because they are not the size advertised in magazines.
I really do appreciate the variety body sizes in the real world and would whole-heartedly approve of seeing all different sized and shaped women in magazines and the media.

Meg says:

March 5, 2009 at 8:09 pm

Being a teenager myself, I personally don’t understand what this is such a big issue. Isn’t “negative” body image a positve step towards self-improvement? I’m sure that obesity is a FAR bigger concern than other eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia; shouldn’t we be more worried about childhood obesity than whether how they feel about being overweight.
Perhaps that $125,00 should be going towards educating high school students my age about ways to incorporate a healthy diet to what they usually eat and effective (and fun!) ways to exercise.
I know that my body isn’t perfect, I could stand to lose a few to be a healthier weight, but I would much rather be educated about ways to improve myself and be a healthier (and happier!) person, than to be told that I’m fine the way I am.

kzmet says:

March 5, 2009 at 4:42 pm

Does this mean that Sarah Murdoch is resigning as the new host of ANTM? Cause frankly I don’t see how she can host that show and want to convince ppl she also cares about body image issues.
Ironically, she cannot have her cake and eat it too. In my view, she should not be involved in both if she is genuine in her ideals.

clare says:

March 5, 2009 at 11:15 am

Hi Mia,
I think this is a really great idea, but I most strongly agree with the aim to work with the media industries, and the people who perpetuate these images.
I finished HS 3 years ago, so when I was at school there was a constant barrage of lectures about how the magazines I loved (the high fashion, arty ones in particular) were bad for me and how I must obviously have had bad body image. I’m fortunate in that I feel good enough about myself that I don’t think about body image too much, though my background as a dancer usually means that when I do think about it, its more to do with my fitness and muscle tone than my looks. The problem at school was that teachers and organisations who visited were overly passionate, almost militant, so that naturally, being fifteen, we ignored everything they said. The incident I most strongly remember was being lectured by a heavily overweight woman about body image, which would not have been so bad if she hadn’t criticised any girl who looked a bit skinny as someone who had anorexia or bulimia, who labeled all models as intensely stupid and worthless and implied that if we were interested in fashion at all we obviously had something wrong with us. We, as a result, made her life pretty awful for an hour by calling her out on it. Some of the girls who were really hurt by her comments made complaints.
That was one of the more extreme examples, but there were plenty others like it. The line I think thats very hard to tread is to educate about body image and media photo manip etc. without making young girls feel as if their love of fashion, of beautiful fashion photography, their enjoyment of shows like the OC (which was THE show to watch in my HS years) or Gossip Girl (which I love, despite everything thats not so good about it), their culture, is intrinsically bad for them. That can cause just as many problems.
Which is why I actually am really interested in your aims, because good body image values coming from magazines that I love and respect is going to have a lot more impact on me than being lectured by someone who needs to lecture thin people in order to feel ok about their own bodies.
I’d really like to see, not only declaration of re touched images, but a url or web gallery girls can go to, to see the untouched image. The comparisons between two such images (untouched and retouched) always used to fascinate my friends and I, and we’d spend ages working out exactly what they’d done (much in the way those gossip mag articles on who’s had plastic surgery do the same thing). It was those comparisons that taught me the most about body image and the media.
You know what? I still love fashion and fashion photography, but I see it more as art now, and not so much as reality.

Redhossy says:

March 5, 2009 at 10:12 am

How exciting it is to see this kind of initiative! I am hopeful for the future body image of my two little girls.
I’d love to see some sort of code to cover editorial content and also advertising, particularly in the young women’s (Total Girl/Dolly/Cleo/Cosmo) target audience.
So here’s my question: Is it possible to also develop some voluntary advertising guidelines promoting positive body image in ads targeting girls under, say 21?
I don’t see the point of a ‘no photoshop’ issue of Cosmo if only the editorial is untouched and all the ads (and that grey area of advertorials) are spotlessly retouched. Sure it would show incredible contrast, but good luck getting your advertisers to get excited about it if their ads look ridiculous in that environment. Maybe they would get on board to do the same if given the chance? What do you think?

Jade says:

March 5, 2009 at 9:28 am

How about “this model has fake breasts” or “this model only eats salad” *hahaha*

kateinlondon says:

March 5, 2009 at 9:07 am

Like several others, I think a massive achievement would be to acknowledge photoshopping of images – like some of the mascara ads in the UK where they reference the fact that ‘fake eyelashes are used in this ad’. I don’t know if this is voluntary or not, but even this sort of cigarette style warning on images would be a huge step forward.
My other major issue is with music clips – honestly, if my children were old enough to watch this type of thing, it would be completely banned in our house. I think the treatment of women (not to mention some of the lyrics) in these clips is degrading, offensive and dangerous. And I don’t count myself as any type of prude – it’s the normalisation of the behaviour of both men and women in these clips that is so frightening.
Good luck Mia – it’s a fantastic opportunity and I am sure we all wish you well.

Gertrude says:

March 5, 2009 at 9:00 am

This issue needs to be tackled from lots of different angles but I think the panel is well aware of that.
The first thought to pop in to my head was for retailers to reconsider selling the Bratz dolls and merchandise. Just because it sells it doesn’t make it ethical or right and does not send the right messages to impressionable young girls.
Maybe there should be a Julia Gillard doll, a Kate Ellis doll, a Quentin Bryce doll, etc, etc
On another note, most of you think he is a twat because he said what most men would not admit to out loud (he doesnt like women with big bottoms) this article he wrote last year about the women who get the media attention is very interesting.
http://blogs.theage.com.au/lifestyle/allmenareliars/archives/2008/10/tale_of_two_mcn.html

March 5, 2009 at 8:17 am

If the code includes having to put a thing on images, telling people they’ve been photoshopped, will it just be a thing saying ‘this has been photoshopped’, or will it be a thing saying ‘this has been photoshopped to remove acne, lengthen torso, enhance boobs and shrink waist’? And would it be a tiny little thing, next to the size 2 writing with the photo credits, or would it have to be something that you can actually see without a magnifying glass?

Jess says:

March 5, 2009 at 8:16 am

Hi Mia, i can’t say im too overly affected by what i see in the magazines but what i would like to see is more Australian Girls on the covers. I think we have a much healthier frame than American actresses.
Kate Ritchie is the most popular actress in Australia and ive never seen her on the front of Cosmo etc.

Jo says:

March 5, 2009 at 7:42 am

Hi Mia! This sounds fantastic, and something that is definitly needed in Australia. My question is though, what could the code of conduct do in regards to imported media? How can it regulate images from magazines, advertising, tv, film, the internet, etc from other countries that have no such standards of image? I can hardly see Karl Lagerfield, Anna Wintour, Victoria Beckham and co who are still on the thin is in side of body image to want to participate in what is otherwise a wonderful, socially responsible overhaul.
And will the body also be seeking to control images presented by male-orientated media too? Or is it just targeting what is directly aimed at women? Hopefully it does take that step, as whether we consciously think about it or not, a good deal of women’s self image is about being attractive to the opposite sex. Men’s mags and advertising promote just as impossible standards of ‘beauty’, to men just as much as women, and in order for this body to really be effective in changing ideas of image men have to be reprogrammed just as much as women.

PCV says:

March 5, 2009 at 12:07 am

Will you be taking any steps to educate boys and men about the female body? Their attitudes deeply affect how girls and women feel about their bodies. And with the proliferation of plastic surgery, pornography and airbrushed images, I don’t blame young people for being rather confused.

Rochelle says:

March 5, 2009 at 12:03 am

The clip is actually on the Today show website homepage if anyone wants to watch it: http://today.ninemsn.com.au/
It’s called ‘Body image dilemma’.

March 4, 2009 at 11:36 pm

I’m with Peron – I would love to see a crackdown on Photoshop. I would buy ANY glossy magazine that published a ‘no Photoshop’ issue.
My question: How are you going to get the major players to commit to a voluntary code? I get that it’s not meant to be a ‘crackdown’, but I just have so little faith in the integrity of the Cosmos, Cleos and Madisons of the world, I’m cynical about whether it will make a difference. As much as I’m hoping that it will.
On a positive note, it’s so great to see you involved in this. No body image initiative has ever touched me like the Body Love Policy you started at Cosmo. Forever grateful to you for that.

Mel says:

March 4, 2009 at 11:14 pm

Although I don’t want to admit it, it seems as though the issue stems right from the runways and designers, not just magazines and other media. While designers continue to use underweight, skinny models as their “muses” to design their clothes for, the rest of the population, especially in that vulnerable and easily influenced age group of 12-18, will continue to feel inadequate. I assume they design their clothes around the fact that skinny women provide more of a “blank canvas” than women with curves, and that they can actually look half decent in most styles of clothing, and fake it when they need curves. But, as mentioned in The Devil Wears Prada, whatever is on the runways and in the big fashion houses ends up whittling their way down to us “real” women. And while we are constantly comparing how these clothes look on us compared to on the runways and in the catalogues and magazines, there will always be a problem.
I think it needs to be addressed at the roots of the problem. Perhaps approach some high profile Australian designers and ask them why their clothes are always modeled on skinny women. Ask them to put more size 10-14 models on the runway. When Sophie Dahl made her debut with the Body Shop in the 90s it was the best thing ever for body image. Then the fashion industry turned her into another skinny woman. That is where all the criticism comes from- just watch America’s/Australia’s Next Top Model, or Make Me A Supermodel. There have been some scathing comments about weight to young women that couldn’t be more than a size 10-12. What’s that about? And it’s on national TV??
Anyway, I could go on forever. I just think that it all stems from designers using skinny women to model their clothes on. If they just stopped doing that the affects would eventually make it’s way down to us.
What was the path of change from the days when curvy women were used as models to the day skinny women took over? What was the reasoning behind that? These basic answers need to be discovered before any real change. You can’t change a disease without knowing how it become what it is in the first place.
Ok, I’ll shut up now

NJ says:

March 4, 2009 at 10:33 pm

I agree with your point Mia about us needing to start somewhere.
But the code being ‘voluntary’ is an issue for me. Once you develop the code, won’t it simply be up to magazines to abide by the code?
Like Paula, I also work with government agencies and am really cynical about what a ‘voluntary’ code can acheive. For example, one of these exists in Qld for gaming venues, who as you might imagine are kings/queens of exploitation. And yet while the state government feels good about developing this code and while venues talk about how great they are at abiding by this code, the day to day reality in most venues is they don’t … and they don’t really get pulled up by anyone if they break the rules.
Personally, it would be wonderful if all press rags had to disclose which images had been electronically tampered with.
Good luck!
NJ

Trish says:

March 4, 2009 at 9:56 pm

Wow Mia this is a big task – I wish you and the group the best of luck
My questions are – Does a peer based voluntary code have any bite/power?
Will it be published on the magazine ie, this is a body friendly magazine.

Paula says:

March 4, 2009 at 9:36 pm

Hi Mia, my question is – what does this group realistically hope for as an outcome with a voluntary code? (And in saying that, I realise that making this kind of thing compulsory raises all other kinds of issues.)
It’s just I have experience in government and know that there’s a hell of a lot of voluntary codes and guidelines out there just sitting on shelves!
That said, I do think this sounds like a good initiative and I wish you luck.

carley says:

March 4, 2009 at 9:30 pm

Can you please post the interview from the Today Show… I was switching between Today and ABC Kids! I can’t seem to play it from their website.
Congratulations on the Advisory Group I think it is a wonderful idea and something that my little girl will benefit from in the future. Thankyou

sneakysparkle says:

March 4, 2009 at 9:02 pm

I’m with alix – I think over-sexualisation of our young girls plays a massive part in this whole negative body-image thing…
Wow this is such a mammoth task – Mia – you go girl

Courtney L says:

March 4, 2009 at 8:36 pm

I know what’s like to have body image issues. They need real people – people who have body image issues and people who have overcome them.
You’ve got a tough job, Mia. The whole world suffers from these problems and its not just not liking what you see in the mirror – some of the other commenters have suggested the sexualisation of children. I think thats just the tip of the iceberg.
But I believe. You’ve got some really fantastic women in the Group. I believe that you can make a difference. I believe that if one person, or a group of people, can change maybe a few people’s self image, than there’s hope.
Good luck.

March 4, 2009 at 8:17 pm

Gee I’m so brainwashed already I don’t know what to say, doesn’t the world economy rely on women’s insecurity about their weight/wrinkles/cellulite etc? Ahhh I don’t know if this is a big waste of money or not, I’m feeling cynical sorry Mia.

alix says:

March 4, 2009 at 6:59 pm

I really like the comparison you made with sunbaking and smoking: both used to be seen to be cool. This gives me a lot of hope that in the future young girls won’t just look in the mirror to assess their self-worth but into their minds and hearts too.
As a mother of a young girl I am really, really bothered by the blatant sexualisation of pre-pubescent girls. It is so damaging on so many levels, and to so many people. And the point of it, I can only assume, is to sell products (whose function in our lives may be questionable).
How can we dissuade marketers and advertisers and company executives from using – preying on? – pretty young girls in an overtly sexualised / adult way in campaigns to make a product seem appealing and sellable?
What disturbs me most is not that adults sit around and decide to do this, when they should know better. It is the impact it has on the mindset of young girls of 7 or 8 or 9 who WANT to sound and look like they are sexually aware women. It’s sad. And it’s rampant.
Am I on track here? Is this the kind of question you want?
I think this is a really valiant cause. Thank you Mia and co. for being willing to tackle it.

Peron says:

March 4, 2009 at 6:44 pm

I know I’d love to see one of the glossies – Cleo, Cosmo, Madison etc – devote an entire issue to non-photoshopped fashion and beauty spreads.
The occasional flash of freckle, realistic torso length and curves would be refreshing.All of these girls are still gorgeous pre-retouching … they are models for goodness sake! Now that we have become so used to overly plasticised ‘mannequin’ imagery surely a little raw beauty would be chic and modern.
And let’s face it … as consumers we all know very well that all the fashion images we see these days are so heavily interfered with they bear little relevance to our everyday lives. ‘Aspirational’ imagery is one thing – complete irrelevance another.
Please – bring back the skin pores, occasional mole and flyaway hairs that have been MIA for the last decade!

5ft0 says:

March 4, 2009 at 6:32 pm

I saw you on the Today show this morning and I thought it was great that you’re in this campaign alongside Sarah Murdoch and Kate Ellis.
I do believe the media has a role in making young men and women feel inadequate about themselves-but I think it’s also our fault as well. We scrutinise celebrities if they’re overweight or underweight-expecting them to be perfect as well.
We definitely have to change our attitudes towards what a good-looking body is before we can move any further in this campaign.

JLo says:

March 4, 2009 at 6:21 pm

This is a great start. Here’s a few questions I have:
“Is the $125,00 from KRudd a ‘one off’ or is he committed to this for the long haul?”
“Re:educating young people and their families,
1. will you work in collaboration with community based agencies that already work with young people? and use resources already developed by local non-government orgs?
2. perhaps a literature review on programs that alreedy tackle body image issues with young people in schools rolled out by non-school staff could be helpful eg. youthworkers in schools (YSCs in qld http://www.qyhc.org.au/ysc), school based nurses etc.
“if the guidelines don’t have any legal implications how can/will the board influence the money driven worlds of the media, fashion and advertising?”
“How can we get involved???!!!”
thanks Mia, still very excited
xx

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