Hello :)
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I'm sure a few of you are aware of a tv show which graced your screens tonight, sensitively called Beauty and the Beast : The Ugly Side Of Prejudice.
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The programme focuses on 2 kinds of people, one with a facial disfigurement and one person who is 'normal' and has quite a superficial view on beauty. Cameras will track the pair as they venture around London together.
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So, why am i telling you about this? Well the reason being is that i have a facial disfigurement myself, and to be honest i don't know how i feel about the documentry. For one, the title is quite offensive, 'Beauty and the Beast' seriously?! I know they Channel 4 named it this to gain attention and exposure but i think its very insensitive, what message does that give out to the public about people who look different, that we are 'Beasts' . . . . strange
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On the otherhand i think its good that Channel 4 are exploring the topic of facial disfigurements and bringing quite a shyly talked about subject into the public domain.
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My story . . . .
When i was born i had a birthmark around the size of an orange on the side of my cheek, the doctors removed the birthmark but in the process unfortunately they removed my nerves/muscles in my cheek aswell. Resulting in me not being able to use the muscles on the right side of my face. This means i can't smile properly, raise my right eyebrow or waggle my ear (as if i'd want to ;)) I've had 5 operations trying to move muscles from my legs and arms into my face in an attempt to make the muscles to work again, but unfortunately nothing has worked!
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I've had people say things about my face to me, my personal favourite being 'Have you got a tooth/face absess?' they said this as my face is slightly droopy/swollen on the right.
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So i'm left with a not so symetricall face, some days it gets me down and knocks my confidence but there are always people who are worse off than me, so why should i complain! We're not all perfect, right?!
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Call me cringy but i think beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, and no one is a 'Beast' as Channel4 nicely put it . . .
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I'd love to hear your views on this topic, did you watch Beauty and the Beast? What did you think about it?
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Since i posted a FOTD last month i've had a few Formspring questions/emails about my disfigurement, if you'd like to ask me a question about it then feel free to do so;
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Thanks for reading,
Felicity
