Diversity and inclusion in images
How to choose images
Background:
Images convey an organization’s values and its intended or desired audience. Because the chemistry community is and should be diverse, images that reflect that diversity are more accurate and will connect more with a chemistry audience. When people don’t see themselves in images, they feel invisible and may even perform worse on tasks (J. Soc. Psychol. 2010, DOI: 10.1080/00224540903366552).
While it is important to consider various aspects of diversity in images, trying to represent all races, gender identities, ethnicities, etc. in every image is impossible and could seem unnatural. A more thoughtful approach will depict more authentic and realistic images.
Recommendation:
When choosing images, look for ones that reflect the diversity of the audience you have or want to have. The images should also match your content. Characteristics to think about varying in images include race and ethnicity, skin tone, gender identity and expression, age, disability status, body size and shape, and hair texture. When searching for stock images, use specific terms and descriptions so that you can find appropriate images. For example, instead of just “scientist,” “lab worker,” and “teacher,” try “scientist in wheelchair,” “Hispanic lab worker,” and “Black female teacher smiling.”
Do not attempt to show every aspect of diversity in every image (see “Performative diversity in images”). Instead, be thoughtful about what makes sense for your content, its purpose, and your audience. For example, in an image of multiple people, consider whether you can include at least some varied characteristics (e.g., race, gender, age), and make sure that when you choose an image of a single person, you’re not always depicting the same attributes in the same combinations. Seek guidance and feedback from others to evaluate whether your images are depicting diversity and are inclusive. In addition, involve a diverse group of people in the process of choosing, creating, and editing images for your content (see “Involve a diverse group of people in the creative process”).
Examples of websites that focus on increasing the representation of marginalized groups in photos and illustrations include the following:
General
- Humaaans: A mix-and-match tool for creating images with different skin tones, hair, clothes, and disabilities (free)
- Thenounproject.com: Icon and stock photos that celebrate diversity (free)
Age
- Centre for Ageing Better’s photo library: Images of people over 50 (free)
- Changing the Narrative and NextFifty Initiative’s image bank: Images of people over 50 (free)
- Getty Images’ Disrupt Aging Collection: Photos intended to combat age stereotypes
- Unsplash’s Reframing Aging Collection: Images of older adults (free)
Body size
- AllGo’s plus-size stock photos: Stock photos of plus-size people (free)
- Body Liberation Stock: Stock images of larger-bodied people
Disability
- Disabled and Here: Photos and illustrations celebrating people of color with disabilities (free)
- Getty Images’ Disability Collection: Images of people with disabilities
- PUSHLiving: Stock images of people with disabilities
- SocietyPix’s disability collection: Photos of people with disabilities (free for editorial purposes)
Gender
- Gender Spectrum Collection: Stock photo library featuring images of trans and nonbinary models (free)
- Getty Images’ Project #ShowUs: Stock images of women and nonbinary people
Race and ethnicity
- Blackillustrations.com: Photo library of illustrations of Black people
- CreateHER: Stock images featuring Black women
- Despora: Images of South Asian people (free)
- Diversify.photo: Photographers of color
- Jopwell Collection: Stock photography featuring Black, Latino, and Native American professionals (free)
- Nappy.co: High-resolution photos of Black and Brown people (free)
- Pocstock: Stock images of people of color
- TONL: Culturally diverse stock photos
Example:
Use:
Illustration for an article on graduate school in the sciences (C&EN, Sept. 9, 2018)
Performative diversity in images
Background:
Superficial displays of diversity and inclusion in images imply a lack of commitment to these ideals and can indicate a desire to deceive the audience or to pursue diversity for only personal or business gain rather than fair representation and true change. For example, having an image of people of color on the cover of a textbook but not inside is a form of bias (J. Chem. Educ. 2007, DOI: 10.1021/ed084p342). And choosing an image showing diversity that does not match the topic or trying to show every type of race in a single image may seem as if diversity and inclusion efforts are just a box-checking activity and not a thoughtful, intentional process. For example, if an article is about Black scientists, an image that shows many different races might not be appropriate. Instead, an image that shows the diversity of Black people would be a better choice.
Recommendation:
Before choosing an image for content, think carefully about what the image should accomplish, the topic covered, and the intended audience. Fully commit to making diversity and inclusion considerations part of the art process rather than thinking of diversity as a stand-alone factor that is taken into consideration only toward the end of content creation. For example, consider reorganizing the art process to think about diversity and inclusion at the beginning of every project, and recruit a diverse team of people to help create and choose images.
Examples:
Use:
In a video aiming to recruit new employees, having the president or CEO acknowledge the current lack of diversity and explain what they are doing to make the environment more welcoming to all employees
Avoid:
Hiring a diverse cast to act as employees because the company doesn’t have a diverse workforce
Use:
Consistently showing Black people in images on all platforms throughout the year
Avoid:
Including images of Black people on social media only during Black History Month
Stereotypes in images
Background:
Just because an image shows diversity or a person from an underrepresented group does not mean that it is respectful or inclusive. Some images perpetuate stereotypes through the subjects’ actions, dress, environment, or positioning. For example, in a science textbook, depicting Black people only as athletes and not as scientists perpetuates stereotypes (J. Chem. Educ. 2007, DOI: 10.1021/ed084p342). Other examples of stereotypes in images include showing photos of transgender people before and after they transition and showing stereotypically gendered imagery of trans people. Publishing these kinds of images reinforces biases and disrespects people. Learning about your audience is one way to recognize and avoid harmful stereotypes in images.
Recommendation:
Examine how people are shown in images, and evaluate whether the images reinforce harmful stereotypes. Some aspects to think about when reviewing images include people’s positioning, such as who is above or supported by others; people’s actions, including whether people are portrayed as actors or bystanders; and people’s clothing. Do not choose images that perpetuate stereotypes or that have potentially demeaning portrayals of specific groups.
Have a range of people review images for signs of bias, especially if the image is related to a cultural group outside your own (see “Involve a diverse group of people in the creative process”). When searching for images that are inclusive and respectful, look for databases by organizations committed to respectful portrayals of people. For example, several organizations have image banks that avoid stigma around body size.
Example:
Use:
In an article on body size, an image that shows a full person (not just their stomach) doing an everyday activity
Avoid:
An image that shows just a stomach or a person eating messily
Accuracy in images
Background:
Images send powerful messages. Images that contain inaccuracies can do harm, especially when the images are of people or related to people marginalized because of an aspect of their identity. Beyond the content in an image, an image’s placement in relation to text may create an error if it incorrectly connects text to an image.
Recommendation:
Ensure images are accurate in terms of their content and placement in relation to other images and text. For example, if depicting a specific culture, consider whether the image is culturally accurate.
Example:
Use:
Pairing an image of an individual with a quote by that person
Avoid:
Pairing a quote from someone with a stock image of a different person
Editing photos
Background:
How photographs are edited can greatly affect how the audience perceives them. In addition, editors that have to crop photos may decide who gets to be seen by a wide audience. Photo illustrations—images that include altered photos or photos combined with illustrations—are also prone to bias and can perpetuate stereotypes, especially if a photo’s manipulation is not readily perceivable or disclosed to the audience. Editing photos to artificially show more diversity (such as by using Photoshop to include more people of color in a photo) can also be inauthentic and treat diversity like a marketing tactic instead of a true value and is not condoned by the American Chemical Society.
An additional consideration is using color and brightness correction for people with different skin tones. Sarah Lewis explains in a 2019 New York Times article, “Light skin became the chemical baseline for film technology.” Properly adjusting images for different skin tones conveys respect for people and ensures fair and accurate representation in images.
Recommendation:
Follow your organization’s ethical principles on editing photographs. ACS doesn’t manipulate images in a way that will mislead or misrepresent people. Carefully consider how to crop images—who is being made visible, and who remains invisible? And when making photo illustrations, ensure that the way photos are edited do not perpetuate stereotypes (see “Stereotypes in images”) or commodify diversity by exploiting marginalized identities for gain. In addition, editors should take special care to accurately depict darker skin tones in photographs.
Skin tones in illustrations
Background:
All In, a toolkit by Google, says, “Across the board, people find illustrations with orange or yellow skin tones to represent white users.” For example, Lego has gotten pushback for saying yellow is a skin color that could represent anyone. “LEGO figurines reflect the norms of a dominant culture under the guise of neutrality,” Samantha Allen writes in the Daily Beast.
Recommendation:
When possible, choose human skin tones for human figures in illustrations. If it is important to use nonhuman skin tones, show a variety of shades of color to simulate the variety of skin tones in real life.
Resources on inclusive images
- Apple. “Inclusion.” Apple Developer.
- Betancourt, Acacia. “How to Choose Diverse and Inclusive Photos.” Forum One, 2019, revised Oct. 20, 2021.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Ethical Photography and Videography.” Global Public Health Equity Guiding Principles for Communication. Last reviewed Aug. 8, 2022.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Guiding Principles for Visual Products.” Global Public Health Equity Guiding Principles for Communication. Last reviewed Aug. 8, 2022.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Inclusive Images.” Gateway to Health Communication. Last reviewed Aug. 2, 2022.
- FrameWorks Institute and AARP. Reframing Aging through Images: Recommendations from Research. Washington, DC: FrameWorks Institute and AARP, 2022.
- Google. “Building Inclusion into the Creative Process.” All In.
- Hsu, Tiffany. “Older People Are Ignored and Distorted in Ageist Marketing, Report Finds.” New York Times, Sept. 23, 2019.
- Ma, Christine. “Picture Book Images and Unconscious Bias,” Conscious Style Guide, April 13, 2022.
- Pearson Employee Resource Groups: People Representing the Interests of Multiple Ethnicities (PRIME) UK Commercial Products and Services Committee and Pearson Bold (North America). Pearson Race and Ethnicity Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Guidelines (Products). Pearson: 2017.
- PhotoShelter and Authority Collective. The Photographer’s Guide to Inclusive Photography. PhotoShelter: 2020.
- Shutterstock and American Society on Aging. Telling Age-Inclusive Stories. 2022.
- Warrington, Siobhan, and Wouter Fransen. Ethical Content Guidelines: Upholding the Rights of the People in the Pictures in Content Gathering, Management and Use. Oxfam International, January 2020.
- Will UK Commercial Products and Services Committee. Pearson Gender Equality Guidelines. Pearson: 2017.