Face equality
Social movement
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]