Special issue: Diversity and Inclusion in Advertising
Call for papers for a special issue on Diversity and Inclusion in Advertising: A Non-Western Perspective, edited by EAA president Sara Rosengren, past president Martin Eisend, Sophia Mueller-Bryson and Cristian Buzeta.
Diversity and Inclusion in Advertising: A Non-Western Perspective
In recent years, the advertising industry has witnessed a growing emphasis on diversity and inclusion. In turn, this has led to increased interest in the topic among advertising researchers (for a recent review, see Eisend, Muldrow, & Rosengren 2023). Scholars from Western regions, including Australia, Canada, the U.S., and Western Europe, often study diversity and inclusion through the lens of Western consumers considered to be a part of either a majority group or specific minority groups (i.e., LGBTQ+ identifying individuals, women, and racial minorities). Diversity and inclusion have become synonymous with the “Western” understanding, seeking to achieve greater diversity and inclusion in advertising and society at large. This has resulted in a relatively narrow understanding of diversity and inclusion, as non-Western perspectives have been largely muted.
There is an apparent need to explore and understand diversity and inclusion in advertising from a non-Western point of view. This special issue aims to shed light on the unique challenges, opportunities, and cultural nuances associated with diversity and inclusion in advertising either within non-Western countries (i.e., Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and South America), or contexts in which the predominant perspective does not necessarily strive for “more” diversity and inclusion. In doing so, this special issue hopes to contribute to more diverse and inclusive research on diversity and inclusion in advertising.
We invite scholars to contribute their original and innovative research to this special issue of the International Journal of Advertising, and we are keen to hear from diverse voices. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Consumer perceptions and responses to diversity and inclusion in advertising in non-Western cultures and developing countries.
- Minority group representations and stereotypes in non-Western advertising.
- Differences in the use and effectiveness of diversity and inclusion in advertising between Western and non-Western countries and/or developed and developing economies.
- Ethical considerations in representing diversity in advertising in non-Western contexts.
- Challenges and opportunities for minority groups in non-Western advertising industries.
