Marc Jacobs came under fire during the recent New York fashion Week for sending two models old down the runway. Reason, the two were aged 14 years contrary to the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) rules which require fashion designers to employ models aged at least 16 years. The fact that Marc Jacobs is not only an influential fashion designer, but also a member of the CFDA that set the rules, raises management ethics concerns.
Jacobs based his actions on utilitarian system of ethics where resulting outcomes determine the moral worth of an action (Shaw, 1999). A survey conducted by Sodahead Living (2012) after the event, reported that 58 % of respondents were ok with 14-year olds modeling. According to Jacobs, the parents of the models consented to their modeling and they too were willing to model in spite of their young ages. Jacobs also pointed out that other than child fashion models there are child models for catalogs and child actors, yet no age concerns have been raised. He also dressed the two
models heavily and did not expose them indecently. By making sure he adequately covered up the models, Jacobs upheld the decency of his models. This gesture meant that Jacobs stood less chance of being criticized for violating a rule and in its place he would maximize peoples’ overall “happiness”.
Observance of ethics by people in management sets a good example to the stakeholders. Moreover it sets the benchmark to be observed by industry players. In using underage models in spite of a clear age limit, Jacobs violated some aspects of ethical decision making. According to Shaw (1999), legality, fairness (how a decision affects those involved), effectiveness (will the decision achieve set aims), self-respect (does the decision–maker feel satisfied with his decision) and long-term effects are important factors managers should consider when making decisions.
In as much as Jacobs upheld fairness and legality the long term effects of his actions might be detrimental. Though he decently dressed up the young models, this aspect may not necessarily be upheld in future. Moreover, child models might not be prepared for the adult environment in the fashion and may fail to cope with the pressure in their careers. Jacobs is highly influential in the fashion industry and his use of underage models could lead to underage girls demanding to be allowed by their parents onto the runway. Female MPs led by Jo Swinson want young models to enjoy similar rights to young actors and actresses where they chaperons accompany them to shoots and shows.
The Murdoch Phone-Hacking Scandal
The Murdoch Phone hacking scandal is an electronic eavesdropping scandal originally highlighted in Robert Murdoch’s Sunday tabloid-News of the World. The scandal was reported in late 2010, escalated to threaten the British government and Murdoch’s global media empire (Theweek.com, 2011). The scandal bears on unethical management in which several journalists of News of the World intercepted voicemails of politicians and celebrities. Senior staff of the media house knew of the practice invading into people’s privacy through listening to their voice calls. The victims of hacking included families of the 2005 terrorist attack victim, families of soldiers killed in Afghanistan and Iraq, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown among others (Theweek.com, 2011). Murdoch returned to London to address the situation but his “top Priority” was Rebekah Brooks, his wife. This brought about an aspect of negligence on the damages inflicted to the victims of phone hacking. The FBI open an inquiry into the scandal concerning after reports emerged that News of the World had hacked into phones of September 11 victims. Several senior employees resigned from the media house as more scandals were revealed.
References
SodaHead Living (2012) Public Opinion > 14-Year-Old Models Are Acceptable. Retrieved
from: http://www.sodahead.com/living/public-opinion-14-year-old-models-are-
acceptable/question-2463925/
Shaw, W. (1999) Contemporary Ethics: taking account of utilitarianism. Oxford: Blackwell
Publishers Inc., pp. 31-35
The Week (2011) Rupert Murdoch's phone-hacking scandal: A timeline retrieved from:
http://theweek.com/article/index/217378/rupert-murdochs-phone-hacking-scandal-a-
timeline
