A “face equality” video portraying how jobseekers are treated because of their appearance has gone viral on the Internet, with Sunshine Social Welfare Foundation calling for May 17 to be designated as “face equality day” to combat discrimination against people with facial disfigurements.
According to a survey on the social perception of appearances conducted by the foundation in 2013, one out of five people has suffered from ridicule or criticism because of the way they look, while two-thirds of those mistreated due to their appearancessaid they have low self-esteem and do not want to interact with others, the foundation said.
More than 70 percent of respondents said that they have a negative impression of people with a facial disfigurement according to another survey on the public’s real attitude toward people with disfigurements, the foundation said.
Screen grab from Face Equality’s official Web site
To alter the practice of judging people based on appearance and to raise awareness, UK-based charity Changing Face launched a face-equality campaign in 2010, and the foundation has responded to its call with a corresponding campaign in Taiwan since 2011, the foundation said.
Foundation public relations officer Chang Chia-wen (張家雯) said that every face is unique, and face equality is about an individual’s right to be treated fairly and equally, regardless of their appearance.
An educational event to promote facial equality is to be held at Huashan 1914 Creative Park in Taipei today and tomorrow, while another activity is to take place at the Pier-2 Art Center in Kaohsiung on May 17, she said, adding that attendees can play games and have their faces painted.
An online campaign to collect photographs of smiling faces is to run through June 30, in a bid to encourage the public to show support for people with disfigurements, she said.
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