I read a very interesting article about the fashion industry earlier on today.
Models are not outspoken... This is a fact. Yes there are the few tantrum, cellphone throwing ones, but the majority of models do not speak up during a bad or illegal situation.
Think about it, if a boss or coworker in a 'normal' working enviroment told anyone to drop their pants, it will end up in a sexual harassment case.
Now in the fashion industry, 14 year old girls are asked to pose naked for some high end photographer who probably has more than a few good shots in mind. (I'm not stating that all photographers are like this, but there are some nasty pieces of work out there)
Most girls are too petrified to say anything, because it will definetely rock the boat (no puns intended) and could possibly be the beginning of the end of their careers.
So now the big question is... Why is this happening?
Is it because no one in the fashion industry have any morals left or is it because most models feel that if you refuse to do shoots that involve nudity you're destined to battle and never get anywhere?
I don't really believe that, because there are some amazing people in the industry and the route to fame doesn't involve showing your bits in public... Unless you're Paris Hilton of course, she doesn't have anything else to use to her advantage.
Why don't models have the same rights? And if we do, then why isn't anyone saying a thing about it?
Not all models party hard and sniff coke.
Some of us actually do have some self respect and hopefully enough courage to voice it.
Hmmm...so many moral dilemmas in those situations that you describe, but mostly I'd say that no-one comes forward and says anything (like in most sexual harassment situations) due to either fear of the end of the career, or for fear of victimisation. Also, it is unlikely that the model's agency will say anything to the photog as it could also mean that the photog will go out and blab some crap story about the model and/or agency.
ReplyDeletePart of it is also the exploitation dilemma...where one person can successfully exploit another and get away with it, the former might just try. If it works once, they might try again, gradually "refining" their "work"...
Human nature can be a beatch...
I think that most agencies introduce their models to specific photographers since the best photogrpahers have the best clients who obviously pay the best...
ReplyDeleteIt's just really sad that the fashion industry is so far behind when it comes to sexual harrasment and the main reason for it is that everyone wants to make it big and sometimes complaining won't help much, even if it's a valid reason...