Face equality

Face equality is a social movement that seeks to normalize and de-stigmatize facial disfigurement (FD), and, by extent, lessen prejudice towards individuals with facial disfigurements.[1] The term and corresponding movement was founded in 2008 by UK-based charity Changing Faces.[2][3]

Awareness dates

Face Equality Week, which Changing Faces also launched, is held annually in May.[2] Themes for the week have included "Stop the Stare" (2022),[4] and "We Will Not Hide" (2023). Face Equality Week was recognized by South Carolina In 2024.[5]

The Sunshine Social Welfare Foundation in Taiwan also holds a Facial Equality Day in May.[3][6]

Goals

Goals of face equality include:

  • Normalizing and de-stigmatizing FD, therefore lessening societal pressure to hide FD[7]
  • Addressing discrimination based on FD in employment and the workplace[7]
  • Addressing stereotypes that conflate FD with villainy[7]
  • Improving representation of individuals with FD in television and film[7]
  • Addressing and preventing the censorship of individuals with FD when posting photos and videos online[7]
  • Addressing how facial recognition technology has excluded people with FD[8][9]

Organizations

Face Equality International (FEI), founded in 2018 by James Partridge, is a coalition of "NGOs, charities, and support groups," which promote face equality.[10][11] Groups which have joined FEI include Changing Faces (UK), the European Cleft Organisation, FACES (US), the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors (US), the Smile Foundation (South Africa), and Smile Train.[12]

References

  1. ^ Javed, Saman (2021-05-21). "Is it time to talk about face equality?". The Independent. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  2. ^ a b "Face Equality". FACES. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  3. ^ a b Steinberg, Neil (2015-06-23). "Facial discrimination: Living with a disfigured face". CNN. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  4. ^ "Stop The Stare: How you can support people with visible difference for Face Equality Week 2022". Glamour UK. 2022-05-20. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  5. ^ "Governor Proclaims International Face Equality Week 2024 | NC Governor". governor.nc.gov. 2024-05-06. Retrieved 2026-02-28.
  6. ^ Ho, Shih-chang; Chen, Wei-han (2015-05-09). "Group campaigns for facial equality". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  7. ^ a b c d e Alexiou, Gus. "Face Equality International Wants Disfigurement Recognized As A 'True Disability'". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  8. ^ Burgess, Matt. "When Face Recognition Doesn't Know Your Face Is a Face". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2026-02-28.
  9. ^ Alexiou, Gus (2025-02-27). "Disfigurement Charity Exposes Rampant Exclusion By AI Facial Recognition Tools". Forbes. Retrieved 2026-02-28.
  10. ^ Swift, Phyllida; Bogart, Kathleen (2021). "A hidden community: Facial disfigurement as a globally neglected human rights issue". Journal of Oral Biology and Craniofacial Research. 11 (4): 652–657. doi:10.1016/j.jobcr.2021.09.011. ISSN 2212-4268. PMC 8476770. PMID 34611510.
  11. ^ "About FEI". Face Equality International. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  12. ^ Whitman, Jenny (2019-05-17). "Campaign for face equality 'becomes a global movement' with the first International Face Equality Week". Moebius Syndrome Foundation. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
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