Mirror mirror on the wall

Nadia and Jade are the co-hosts of the Centre for Appearance Research official monthly podcast, ‘Appearance Matters: The Podcast!’. On their talk they will bring to you an engaging, thought-provoking talk on weight-based stereotypes and bias. Mirroring their chatty podcast style, they will examine the standards and attitudes society holds regarding size and weight and how this fosters weight-based stereotypes and bias. Then, drawing on cutting-edge science, they will explore the implications these stereotypes and bias have, both on individuals and society more broadly.

Our society is filled with messages linking physical attractiveness to success and happiness! Record levels of dissatisfaction with appearance are not benign, people of all ages experience negative impacts on their wellbeing and physical health. This talk introduces the work of the Centre for Appearance Research at the University of the West of England. We examine the experiences of those living with ‘disfigurement’ or ‘visible difference’ and explore psychological research that can help people manage the challenges they face in a society focused on idealised images of beauty.