Survey of adults who self-identify as having a visible difference
Overall, the picture for those with a visible difference is positive, although a subsection of between a quarter and a third are having negative experiences in employment, health and well-being and relationships. This subsection is particularly likely to consist of younger age groups, those who are currently undergoing treatment, and those who have experienced hostile behaviour before, this is likely because younger people are more likely to report experiencing hostile behaviour before, and that they are currently undergoing treatment.
- A third (36%) say that they have been discriminated against in job applications because of their appearance.
- A third of those who have had a job think that their employer(s) have not been effective in preventing discrimination against them in the workplace, and that they do not feel like they could approach manager(s) or senior colleague(s) with concerns about discrimination against them in the workplace (both 34%).
- Two in five (43%) agree that they are more likely to spend their money on a brand that shows someone with a visible difference in an advert.
- A fifth or more say that:
- They feel isolated from friends or family because of their visible difference (23%)
- That their family or friends misunderstand the nature of the visible difference or its impact on them (29%)
- That they often worry about how friends or family react to, or behave around, their visible difference (28%)
- That they do not feel like they can talk openly to their family about issues related to their visible difference (35%)
Date Published: 22/05/2019
Categories: Health | Public and communities | Social | UK
Client: Changing Faces
Methodology
ComRes interviewed 1,037 people with a mark, scar or condition that makes them look different online between 7th and 16th March 2019. Data were weighted to be representative of those with a mark, scar or condition that makes them look different by age, gender and region. This weighting scheme was sourced from a nationally representative public omnibus survey run between the 22nd and 24th March 2019. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.