International Journal of Advertising

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.

Manuscripts can be conceptual or empirical (based on qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods). If the work is empirical, data should be collected in a non-Western and/or developing country, either exclusively or in comparison with data from Western and developed countries. Exceptions can be made for manuscripts working exclusively with datasets from Western regions as long as they provide a novel, non-Western perspective on diversity and inclusion in advertising. For example, a study that assesses under-researched non-Western groups in advertising, including immigrants or refugees, in a Western country.

Manuscripts must be prepared according to the journal’s formatting style. All submissions will undergo a rigorous peer-review process. Please select “Diversity and Inclusion in Advertising: A Non-Western Perspective,” to be found under the Special Issue tab, when submitting your paper to ScholarOne.

Please direct any inquiries related to this special issue to the guest editors (see emails). We look forward to receiving your contributions exploring diversity and inclusion in advertising from non-Western perspectives.

Instructions for AuthorsSubmit an Article