The RESPECT Program: Models Lead the Fight Against Sexual Harassment
How the fashion industry’s RESPECT Program empowers models to combat harassment and demand accountability
Introduction: The Need for Change in Fashion
The fashion industry, often glamorized in the media, has long faced systemic issues with sexual harassment, abuse, and exploitation—especially for models who frequently lack legal safeguards and industry-wide protections. In response, the Model Alliance launched the RESPECT Program, a comprehensive, model-led initiative designed to prevent sexual harassment and create a culture of accountability and safety for all workers in fashion.
What Is the RESPECT Program?
The RESPECT Program is a set of enforceable, industry-wide standards developed by the Model Alliance to combat sexual harassment and abuse in the modeling profession. Unlike voluntary guidelines, RESPECT establishes legally binding commitments, requiring participants—including brands, agencies, and publishers—to adhere to a rigorous Code of Conduct and face real consequences for violations.
- Created by Models, for Models: The program is rooted in the lived experiences of models, who are uniquely positioned to identify vulnerabilities and propose effective solutions.
- Beyond Voluntary Policies: RESPECT goes further than corporate policies by mandating accountability through enforceable agreements.
- Global Industry Standard: It aims to set a new benchmark for workplace safety and professionalism in fashion worldwide.
Why Was the RESPECT Program Created?
Models often face precarious working conditions: irregular pay, little job security, and significant power imbalances with photographers, designers, and agency representatives. These factors increase their risk of sexual harassment, discrimination, and abuse. The #MeToo movement highlighted numerous stories from models, but meaningful, structural change has been slow. The RESPECT Program was born from a recognition that voluntary measures are insufficient and that lasting change requires enforceable standards.
How the RESPECT Program Works
The RESPECT Program is built on several key pillars designed to empower models and hold employers accountable:
- Code of Dignity and Respect: A comprehensive Code of Conduct outlines acceptable behavior and explicitly prohibits sexual harassment, abuse, and discrimination in all modeling-related work environments.
- Education and Training: All participants—models, agencies, brands, and staff—receive mandatory training on their rights, responsibilities, and reporting procedures.
- Enforceable Commitments: Companies sign binding agreements to uphold the Code. Violators, including photographers or other contractors, can be barred from working with signatory brands and agencies.
- Transparent Enforcement: An independent, impartial body reviews complaints and ensures accountability without fear of retaliation.
- Economic Protections: The program requires timely payment, transparency around wage deductions, and protection from unreasonable fees, reducing models’ economic vulnerability to exploitation and coercion.
Impact and Reception
The RESPECT Program has received widespread attention as a potential model for other industries. It has been praised by the United Nations as a “powerful example” of applying the Protect, Respect, and Remedy pillars of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Media outlets like The New York Times and Harvard Business Review have recognized it as one of the most ambitious and important social-impact initiatives of recent years.
| Aspect | RESPECT Program | Traditional Policies |
|---|---|---|
| Accountability | Legally binding, with real consequences | Voluntary, often unenforced |
| Developed By | Models and their advocates | Corporations or agencies |
| Scope | Industry-wide, global | Company-specific |
| Enforcement | Independent oversight | Internal HR, if any |
Challenges and Criticisms
While the RESPECT Program represents a major step forward, challenges remain. Industry adoption is still uneven, and some brands and agencies have been slow to sign on. There are concerns about how smaller, less visible workplaces will be monitored and how the program will be enforced globally. However, the program’s supporters argue that its strength lies in its model-driven design and enforceable structure.
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Comparison with Other Industry Initiatives
The RESPECT Program is not the only initiative targeting workplace harassment. Similar programs, such as RISE’s Respect program in global supply chains, focus on preventing violence and harassment, with measured improvements in workers’ understanding and confidence to report abuse. However, the RESPECT Program is unique in its focus on the fashion industry and its creation by the very individuals most affected—models themselves.
What Can Readers Do?
- Support Brands That Participate: Consumers can choose to support fashion brands and publishers that have signed the RESPECT Program.
- Spread Awareness: Share information about the program and its goals on social media and in personal networks.
- Advocate for Change: Encourage local agencies, brands, and policymakers to adopt similar enforceable standards.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Who created the RESPECT Program?
A: The RESPECT Program was developed by the Model Alliance, a nonprofit advocacy group founded by models to improve working conditions in the fashion industry.
Q: How is the RESPECT Program different from other anti-harassment policies?
A: Unlike voluntary corporate policies, the RESPECT Program requires brands, agencies, and publishers to sign legally binding agreements to uphold a Code of Conduct, with independent oversight and real consequences for violations.
Q: What happens if a company violates the RESPECT Program?
A: Violators can be barred from working with other signatory companies, and models have access to a confidential complaint mechanism without fear of retaliation.
Q: How can models join or benefit from the RESPECT Program?
A: Models working with signatory brands or agencies are covered by the program’s protections. They receive education on their rights and have access to reporting and enforcement mechanisms.
Q: Is the RESPECT Program effective?
A: Early indicators and expert reviews suggest it is one of the most ambitious solutions to date, though widespread industry adoption and enforcement remain ongoing challenges.
Conclusion: A New Standard for Fashion
The RESPECT Program is a landmark initiative that places power and protection directly into the hands of models. By demanding accountability and establishing enforceable standards, it offers a blueprint for transformational change in the fashion industry—and potentially beyond. As more brands and agencies commit to RESPECT, the hope is that a safer, more equitable workplace will become the norm, not the exception.
References
- https://www.modelalliance.org/respect
- https://riseequal.org/our-work/respect/
- https://www.ny.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/SexualHarassmentDRAFTModelTraining.pdf
- https://dhr.illinois.gov/training/state-of-illinois-sexual-harassment-prevention-training-model.html
- https://cultureofrespect.org/programs-and-tools/matrix/index.html
- https://www.eeoc.gov/training-institute/harassment-prevention-and-respectful-workplaces-training
- https://sexualmisconduct.umich.edu/training/
- https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/respect-works-prevent-sexual-violence-our-workplaces
- https://www.usu.edu/sexual-respect/education/prevention-strategy
- https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/building-on-civility-to-prevent-sexual-harassment
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