Disfigurement: A Visibly Different Approach to Equality?

The paper analyzed the Equality Act 2010, which treated severe disfigurement as a disability, highlighting the lack of clear statutory guidance and case law on the definition of 'disfigurement.' It argued for a broader interpretation of disfigurement to include a wider range of appearance-altering conditions beyond scarring, suggesting that protection should extend to other visible differences. The study examined the relationship between disfigurement, appearance, and disability, identifying shortcomings in the current statutory provision and proposing a new definition to address these weaknesses.