Politician criticises beauty industry for appearance-related discrimination

A conservative politician has criticised the beauty industry for promoting an “obsession with perfection” that leads to discrimination against people with disigurements.

Commenting on data collected by Changing Faces, a charity which supports people with a mark, scar or condition that alters their appearance, Minister for Equalities Baroness Williams of Traford said the beauty industry promoted a distorted perception of beauty that fuels social media abuse.

During a discussion with the Telegraph, Baroness Williams said: “There’s an obsession in the beauty industry with perfection and many girls have got such a distorted perception of what beauty and perfection looks like.”

The Changing Faces report, My Visible Diference, surveyed 1,000 people with a “visible diference” and found that almost a quarter said they felt self-conscious or embarrassed going out in public. 58% said they had experienced hostile behaviour from strangers as a result of their diference, and 29% said they felt depressed or anxious because of it.

Changing Faces is calling for employers, schools, police forces and other agencies to raise awareness of appearance-related discrimination, with improved reporting procedures for victims. The charity’s Pledge To Be Seen campaign is asking brands to sign up and commit to beter representation of people with a visible diference. Philanthropist and burns victim Katie Piper (pictured above) is supporting the campaign.