What do you think

Tell us what you think about current portrayals of disfigurement on television.

People who contact Changing Faces tell us that there are very few positive role models for people with disfigurements on television.  Current depictions of disfigurement in the media create a distorted, uninformed and negative view of disfigurement. This can influence how people are perceived and result in prejudice and discrimination. 

These views are backed up a major research study from Cardiff University’s School of Journalism on TV Portrayals of Disfigurement and Audience Impact.  It showed that TV rarely featured people with disfigurements in everyday roles and portrayals of disfigurement on TV tended to be based on stereotypes and assumptions.

Some examples of the portrayals of people with disfigurements on television include:

  • It is rare to see people with disfigurements on entertainment shows either as guests or hosts. 
  • No one with a disfigurement has ever read the news.
  • People with facial scarring, burns, birthmarks and other conditions are often presented as nasty, tragic, reclusive or shadowy characters in drama.
  • The acquisition of a disfigurement is a common device used by writers to write characters out of a series.
  • Newsreaders and narrators in documentaries often use negative language and imagery when describing disfigurement.  He was ‘horribly’ disfigured in a car accident; she is ‘hideously’ scarred.  His life has been ‘ruined’ by disfigurement. 
  • The titles of some documentaries are reminiscent of 19th century freak shows and can actually encourage viewers to view people with disfigurements as abnormal e.g. ‘The Boy with a New Head’ or ‘The Woman with Half a Body’.
  • When a character has a disfigurement, the music and lighting is often sombre and dark to create a sinister or tragic mood.

What Changing Faces thinks

Changing Faces believes that television and the media can play a big role in changing attitudes and breaking down prejudice around disfigurement.

Changing Faces wants to increase the visibility of people with disfigurements in everyday and public roles on television.

To do this, broadcasters need to commit to:

  • Including more everyday coverage of people with disfigurements (as extras or characters in soaps, as participants on game-show, commenting on current affairs)
  • Examining whether their current representations of disfigurement are based on stereotypes and assumptions about disfigurement
  • Examining whether the language/tone/imagery regarding the portrayal and coverage of disfigurement is offensive/derogatory or prejudicial in any way
  • Redressing imbalance, stereotyping and offensive coverage.

What can you do

Cardiff’s research confirmed that people with and without disfigurements wanted to see wider, everyday representations of people with disfigurement and felt that TV could play an important educational role.

Would you like to see more people with disfigurements in everyday and public roles on television?

Do you think that current portrayals of people with disfigurements accurately reflect your life (or a friend, family member’s life) or are the storylines often hackneyed and unimaginative showing little understanding of your life?

Do you find the language used by presenters, newsreaders, narrators to describe disfigurement offensive?

Are you tired of the documentaries which encourage people to assume that everyone with a disfigurement is constantly seeking a medical solution to their ‘problem’.

Please share your thoughts below.  Thank you.

Your Comments

If you are struggling to cope and you would like to speak to someone in confidence, please call 0845 4500 275 or email info@changingfaces.org.uk. Please note, we are not able to contact anyone after they have left a message on this board.

Elsa Gonzalez, 39, New York City

Comment I am so proud of James Partridge and the work he has done on the news. He is awesome and looks great to me. I am so thankful to him for raising awareness of the social impact on facial differences. He has inspired me and has given me the strenghth with his story to pursue my dreams at all cost. Being a bit different facially I have faced many stressful and painful moments. But after discovering Changing Faces, I have been developing building blocks of courage to go on happily and fulfilled. It can be done.


Judy, 37, Manchester

I would like you to know that I would be very happy to see a more diverse range of faces on television and that seeing the same types of conventional faces all the thime is boring. I, myself have an unusual face, although I do not have a formal facial disfigurement, and U've had more that my fair share of prejudice in society, especailly from strangers. By seeing a more diverse range of people on television it helps to educate the more ignorant members of soceity that it is ok to be different and that on the inside we have all the same emotions, feelings, and needs as everyone else, and we also have many talents. Keep up the good work!


Markus, parent of a child with Parry-Rom, 55, Germany

Last night (00:30 am) I watched the TV-show "Kerner" in Germany. That's a talk show with fairly high ratings - but in case of Euro-Soccer-Cup the tv-show was very late. Too late, I think. So the public interest unfortunately could not get aroused. I do admire James Partridge's courage to present himself in public TV. The world is needing more of these beautiful, brave heroes. Stand up, all you disfigured guys. Show you in public. But allow the undisfigured people to put questions. That's the way to comprehension and to take part on your destiny.


MR MRS A PEMBROKE, Ag, BRIGHTON

Comment- James Partrige - thank you with all our heart.......many years ago you met our grandaughter and offered to share your cake -that kind gesture will stay in her heart forever. We want to see more of you reading the news - prime time included. Changing Faces is such a fantastic organisation - so wish you had work shops over the country so more people could benefit. Thank you deeply


Pauline, 52, Sussex

Fantastic to see James Partridge Reading news on channel 5. This is what can make a difference in educating the media rather than people with facial disfiguirments being viewed with ignorance and unkindness - this now needs to be extended to prime TV news slots, and to see positive good acting roles in dramas and soaps on television in where acceptance and understanding is needed by society. Well done Changing Faces in making this happen with Channel 5 may the good work continue. Thank you


Louise, 44, London

Comment I want to see more people with facial/body disfigurements and physical/sensory and mental/intellectual disabilities on the TV and not only presenting in programmes on those issues but reading the news or acting in soaps/drama's as characters who do not focus on the difference i.e. the character is a shop keeper/mother who happens to have a difference rather than the difference being the centre of their character


Al, 53, Sheffield

the real disfigurement debate on TV should focus on the plastic versions of female beauty that pass for nomal in a world where ordinary women woud never be allowed before a camera becasue they don't conform to the artificial boundaries put in place by the execs. this is replicated and exaggerated in print media, film and the web where the same Hollywood-itis infects so much of our screen time.


Charlotte, 27, E. Midlands

I came to this website via James Partridge's broadcasting on C5, have to say I am incredibly impressed by the site and the positivity of all on here.....generally speaking I'm concerned about the emphasis much of the media seems to place upon the 'perfect' appearance and yes I do think individuals with facial disfigurements should be given much more opportunity within the media - TV, magazines etc....afterall its the talent, skill and voice which is vital and which James has in abundance....Thanks Changing Faces for all the great work you do..


Paul, 28, Kirkcaldy

I would just like to say that personally, I see people for who they are and not what they look like. I would like to see more people on tv and in magazines etc. with facial differences or any differences as there is no reason why they shouldn't be!!!!!


Linzie, 37, Kirkcaldy, Fife

I just want to say I don't see why there shouldn't be people on tv who have facial differences or any differences for that matter. As someone who has a bilateral cleft lip and palate I'm aware of what its like to be stared and treated as if I'm a freak or second class citizen. l believe its the person/people who are creating the problems that have the bigger issue as I can't help having the conditions I have, they can help being ignorant. I also want to say your presentation of the news was fantastic James. Not sure if I'd be able to do it. Well done. x


CB, 44, Australia

This is fantastic work by Changing Faces. In Australia people with facial disfigurements are presumed not to exist except on TV, as subjects for medical entertainment documentaries, where they go into hospital to be 'fixed' (and of course the result is always perfect for the cameras unlike real surgery where things can and do go wrong) This leads to a situation where a person who actually does have a disfigurement feeling like a total failure and an outsider. I wish you every success and know it will work if enough people get on board - congrats.


michelle, 33, blackpool

I think it would be great to see different faces on tv and in magazines especially for younger people who have the idea that you should look a particular way. I was recently assulted on a bus by 5 boys just because i have my hair different...would they have done this if my face was different? I think it is fantastic and will be watching.


Trish Kirby, 64, Leicester

I have seen James Partridge before on TV and would be quite happy to watch him read the news every night. His face looks fine to me.


Christine, 39, Derby

Excellent idea! Wish seeing everyday people in the media was the norm at not 'news' - this is definately a step towards that. Everyone deserves to feel happy and comfortable in their own body regardless of the shape, size etc.. Fantastic - keep up the good work!


simonvigarfan33, 33, bournemouth

i think this is a really good idea. people with facial disfigurement can make some people feel uncomfortable as a lot of people don't know how to express themseves verbally toward them. helen fospero is a real beauty but look forward to james partridge's input but am concerned that 7 days is not long enough, and also he is not fronting the main news programme so people being at work will miss it, and consequently it will be harder to gain a cross-section of opinion.


Brenda, --, Somerset

What a wonderful Idea. I'm sick of seeing airbrushed images and supposedly perfect looking celebrites.Lets see some real and incredibley brave people for once.


Julie, 27, London

I'm here due to the Channel Five news feature. It's an excellent idea for our newsreaders to reflect all elements of society.


Steph Kelly, 47, Hampshire

I think its a great idea and hopefully stop this obsession with image and let people "see" the person inside. The world has come too superficial and its so wrong!


Mick, 58, Hull

Comment I'm part of the problem. I'd rather be part of the solution. Thanks for getting my attention on this. Your point is taken. Please keep up the good work. Thanks again, sincerely.


W, Ag, Location

Having seen both James Partridge and Victoria White on programmes about 'looking different' I would make a conscious effort to swith ON the news read by them. Newsreaders are figures that should be respected and James and Victoria ( among many others ) have earned their respect through what could be seen as adversity. Personally I really do not like the 'perfect' and 'normal' in people. They usually have very little experience of life. Good on ya Channel 5 for getting James on our screens again :-)


Deb, !!, Reading

Have just read about your CEO James Partridge reading the news on Channel 5. This step is long overdue and I hope that it is the beginning of a change in attitude amongst the various news and programme providers about showing us all as we really are. Well done Changing Faces!


Miten, 44, London

Excellent initiative regarding the news reader. The sooner we all see daily life everywhere the sooner we will accept diversity including fiacial differences.


Anonymous Girl, 31, London

A lot of prejudices are passed down from the parents, so a lot of adults, not just children, need to be educated about unacceptable behaviour towards people who have facial differences. It reminds of racism which I and many others have suffered from in the past. Now it doesn't bother me, it really is down to people's stupidity that people who look different get treated a certain way. I think the TV presentation is a great idea, I would much rather watch a different face than an average, geometrically-balanced "beautiful" face, there are too many of them around it gets a bit boring after a while.


Jax, 44, Skegness Lincolnshire

Changing faces helped me enormously many years ago. I had a large Port wine birthmark on my face. James gave me the courage to deal with all the issues and stigma I had, (mostly through other peoples ignorance). So, here's to more public "Faces" being seen.... Jx


Mark, 39, Yorkshire

Dear Changing Faces I have found myself at your website purely because of the 5 News article. I am humbled by all I have read, thank you all - for being courageous, for being true to yourselves. I am a typically vain european; worried about going grey, being bald...is my nose too big... I absolutely do want to see more people with disfigurements in everyday and public roles; perhaps we will all become more confident and happier in our own appearances. Best wishes


Paula, 33, Surrey

I would just like to say that I would be thrilled to see more people with different faces on television. I myself would be considered to have a "normal" face but have suffered from skin conditions throughout the years.


Your Views