Nine out of 10 people unwittingly judge those with facial disfigurements negatively in terms of attractiveness, likelihood of success, social skills, and happiness. This prejudice leads to non-inclusive social environments like bullying in school and discrimination in the workplace. Over 1.3 million people in the UK have disfigurements of the face or body, including 542,000 with significant facial disfigurements. People with disfigurements often experience depression, low self-esteem, and social anxiety due to others' negative reactions, though having strong social support can help adjust positively despite a disfigurement.

1. What are public attitudes towards disfigurement?
Does appearance really matter?
Nine out of 10 people unwittingly
judged people with facial disfigure-
ments as less attractive, less likely
to succeed, less socially skilled and
less likely to lead happy lives. These
prejudices result in non-inclusive
social environments, i.e. bullying in school and dis-
crimination in the workplace. We like to think that
appearance does not matter to us, but it still does.
What is a disfigurement?
“the visible appearance of a mark, rash, scar or
skin graft on a person’s skin or an asymmetry or
paralysis to their face or body. Disfigurement can
affect anyone at any time, at any age, from any
ethnic group whether from birth, accident, disease
or the aftermath of surgery.”
 Use matter-of-fact, neutral language
 Say disfigurement or visible difference
 Say “person with disfigurement” in-
stead of “disfigured person”
 Avoid euphemisms or implying a taboo
 Avoid stigmatizing words such as
deformity, abnormality and defect
Is disfigurement considered a disability?
The Equality Act 2010 recognizes severe disfigure-
ment as a disability, because it can have a
“substantial and long-term adverse effect on a per-
son’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activi-
ties.” This does not mean that there is anything a
person with a disfigurement cannot do, but that
other people’s reactions may prevent them from
doing what they can do.
1.3 million people in the UK
have a disfigurement to the
face or body and 542,000
people have a significant dis-
figurement to the face.
How is the person with a disfigurement affected?
She is more likely to experience depression, nega-
tive self-perceptions and social anxiety. However,
those with strong social support are often positive-
ly-adjusted and the severity of a disfigurement
does not predict the level of psychological distress.
The negative reactions of others are psychological-
ly damaging, not the disfigurement itself.
Can teaching Wonder change negative attitudes?
Wonder can be part of the solution, but it can be
part of the problem. Without a basic understanding
of disfigurement and an opportunity to think criti-
cally about Wonder, readers are prone to shallow,
patronising interpretations and to choosing kind
instead of choosing equality and respect. However,
children, if guided by a teacher well-versed in dis-
figurement and disability, can engage in deep con-
versations with peers about the complicated social
issues that Wonder touches upon.
Introduction to Disfigurement
in
in
What language should I use when talking about
disfigurement?
Who is affected by disfigurement?
Over half (78%)
of young people
who have experi-
enced bullying
reported that it
targeted their
appearance