Appearance Matters: The Podcast!

Having light-coloured skin has been a key feature of societal appearance ideals for women in many parts of the globe, including Indonesia - the world's fourth most populated country.

On this episode, we hear from CAR-collaborator Dr Ayu Saraswati, Associate Professor of Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies at the University of Hawaii to learn more about the light skin appearance ideal in Indonesia. We discover that the preference for lighter skin predates European(specifically Dutch) colonialism and that, lighter skin is not always considered better if the racialized group is not also positioned as desirable. Ayu also explains why the promotion of skin lightening products and the promotion of skin tanning products are not two sides of the same coin, though both are rooted anti-blackness.

To find out more about CAR, follow us:

On Twitter: twitter.com/CAR_UWE

On Instagram: www.instagram.com/car_uwe/

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/AppearanceResearch

To read more about the work CAR is doing in Indonesia:

https://www.researchprotocols.org/2022/1/e33596

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-021-11770-0

To find out more about Ayu, visit:

https://drsaraswati.com

Please share, subscribe, rate and review. It really does mean a lot.

Thank you! The CAR podcast team xx

Credits:

Music by Sian Evans & John Landau: toplinefilm.com

Episode hosted by Nadia Craddock and Maia Thornton

Episode developed and produced by Nadia Craddock

This month, we welcome a new podcast co-host – Abbi Mathews. Abbi is a Research Associate at CAR, with experience working in the area of CMN.

CMN stands for Congenital Melanocytic Naevi, and is characterised by birthmarks which can in some cases cover large areas of the body.

Bruna and Abbi ask: what’s it like to be a young person with CMN? To help them answer this question, they’re firstly joined by Ella Guest, Jodi Whitehouse, Hannah Cree, and Katy Jackson. Ella is a Research Fellow from the Centre for Appearance Research (CAR) who has been exploring the experiences of young people with CMN. Jodi, Hannah and Katy join us from Caring Matters Now – a UK charity supporting those affected by CMN. Jodi is the founder and CEO, and has personal experience of CMN. Hannah is the support pathway co-ordinator, and has a son who was born with CMN. Finally, Katy, who also has CMN, is the young adults support contact. Last, we hear from three young people with CMN - Becky, Scarlett and Dan – who share with us their personal experiences of the condition.

To find out more about CAR, follow us:

On Twitter: twitter.com/CAR_UWE

On Instagram: www.instagram.com/car_uwe/

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/AppearanceResearch

To find out more about the work of Caring Matters Now, visit:

Their website:  www.caringmattersnow.co.uk

Their socials: Instagram @CaringMattersNow; Twitter @cmnsupportgroup; Facebook.com/CaringMattersNow

To access the teens resource that was referenced in the episode, visit:

https://www.caringmattersnow.co.uk/support/teens-support/online-teens-support-resource/

Illustrations by Celyn Hunt www.celfcelyn.com; Instagram @celf.celyn

Please share, subscribe, rate and review. It really does mean a lot.

Thank you! B & A x

Music by Sian Evans & John Landau: toplinefilm.com

Cover photo by Celyn Hunt

Episode developed & produced by Bruna Costa and Abbi Mathews

This month, the whole podcast team join together (for Jade’s final farewell!) to discuss the important topic of the impact social media has had during COVID-19 on teens. They are joined by Sabrina Meechem, a PhD researcher (and fellow zoo member) at the Centre for Appearance Research, who has been researching how social networking sites influence adolescent body image for her PhD.

~Timestamp~

Sabrina Meechem - 8.25

To find out more about the Centre for Appearance Research, follow us:

• On Twitter: twitter.com/CAR_UWE

• On Instagram: www.instagram.com/car_uwe/

• On Facebook: www.facebook.com/AppearanceResearch

Please share, subscribe, rate and review. It really does mean a lot.

Thank you! Jade, Nadia and Bruna x

Music by Sian Evans & John Landau: toplinefilm.com

Episode developed & produced by Jade Parnell

This month, Bruna and Jade discuss the topic of craniosynostosis, with a focus on the experiences of parents of children with the condition. On the episode, Bruna and Jade are joined by several guests: Nicola Stock, Associate Professor at the Centre for Appearance Research; Karen Wilkinson-Bell, Director of Headlines Craniofacial support; and Lucy, Kris and Michelle, parents of children with craniosynostosis.

To find out more about the Centre for Appearance Research, follow us:

• On Twitter: twitter.com/CAR_UWE

• On Instagram: www.instagram.com/car_uwe/

• On Facebook: www.facebook.com/AppearanceResearch

To find out more about the work of Headlines Craniofacial Support, and to access the parent booklet that was referenced in this episode, visit: www.headlines.org.uk

Please share, subscribe, rate and review. It really does mean a lot.

Thank you! B & J x

Music by Sian Evans & John Landau: toplinefilm.com

Cover photo from Headlines Craniofacial Support (with special thanks to Monty, Lucy and Kris).

Episode developed & produced by Bruna Costa.

Listen in to learn about Topity - a chatbot designed to improve body image among Brazilian adolescents.

~Timestamps~

Dr Juliana Meireles & Professor Ana Carolina Soares Amaral - 5.22

Gabriela Mora (UNICEF Brazil) - 18.55

Lucila Suarez Battan (Talk 2 U) - 26.54

Dr Emily Matheson - 43.22

Topity Protocol Paper: https://bit.ly/3GBszwO

Let us know what you think: https://twitter.com/car_UWE   

To find out more about CAR: www.uwe.ac.uk/car   

Episode developed and produced by Dr Nadia Craddock.

If you found this episode useful, please rate us on Apple Podcasts – it really DOES help.

65: Appearance Matters 9 Keynote: Professor Esther Rothblum by The Centre for Appearance Research

This month, Bruna and Jade discuss the topic of facial palsy. The episode features several guests - Charles Nduka (founder of the charity Facial Palsy UK (FPUK) and plastic and reconstructive surgeon), Karen Johnson (deputy CEO of FP UK), Elizabeth Robinson (patient advocate from Australia), Matthew Hotton (Clinical Psychologist), Claire Hamlet (Health Psychologist), and Kathleen Bogart (Associate Professor at Oregon State University) – all coming together to provide important insights into this topic.

We hope you'll enjoy listening to this episode!

To find out more about the Centre for Appearance Research, follow us on:

• Twitter: twitter.com/CAR_UWE

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/car_uwe/

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/AppearanceResearch

To find out more about the work of FPUK, visit: https://www.facialpalsy.org.uk/

To read the guidelines developed for mental health professionals about how to work alongside physical health practitioners to assess and meet the psychological needs of people with facial palsy, visit: https://www.facialpalsy.org.uk/support/treatments-therapies/recommendations-for-supporting-the-psychological-well-being-of-children-and-adults-with-facial-palsy/

For more on Kathleen Bogart, visit:

• Kathleen’s Disability and Social Interaction Lab website: https://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/sps/dsil

• Kathleen’s Psychology Today blog, Disability is Diversity, where she posts about facial difference and disability issues for general audiences: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/disability-is-diversity

• The Moebius Syndrome Foundation: https://moebiussyndrome.org/

For more on Elizabeth Robinson, visit:

• Elizabeth’s Bell’s Palsy and Facial Paralysis Facebook support group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1897077217284762/

• Instagram: @facial_paralysis_aus

Please share, subscribe, rate and review. It really does mean a lot :)

Thank you! B & J x

Music by Sian Evans & John Landau (toplinefilm.com)

Cover photo provided by Kathleen Bogart

Episode developed & produced by Bruna Costa

Ramadan - one of the five pillars of Islam - is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is characterised by a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. The fasting (and feasting) can be triggering for people struggling with disordered eating and eating disorders for obvious reasons. In contrast, the focus on spirituality and community can be healing.

CAR's Farheen Hasan and eating disorder advocate and founder of Islam and Eating Disorders Maha Khan tell us more.

Tune in to hear to Appearance Matters 9 Conference Panel Discussion: ‘is a body confident society possible amidst the ‘ob*sity epidemic’?

With esteemed panellists:

Stuart Flint - Associate Professor of the Psychology of Obesity at the University of Leeds and Director of the charity Obesity UK. https://medicinehealth.leeds.ac.uk/psychology/staff/4782/dr-stuart-w-flint

Sarah Le Brocq - public speaker and strategic council member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on obesity. https://slebrocq.com

Marquisele Mercedes - fat liberationist writer, creator, and Presidential Fellow at the Brown University School of Public Health https://www.marquiselemercedes.com/about

Nia Patterson - eating disorder recovery and mental health advocate. https://www.instagram.com/thefriendineverwanted/

Esther Rothblum - Professor and Chair of Women’s Studies at San Diego State University. https://womensstudies.sdsu.edu/people/rothblum

Moderator: Caryn Franklin – fashion commentator and former editor.

https://franklinonfashion.com/biography/

Panel Organising Committee: Grace Biddulph, Sharon Haywood, Georgina Pegram, and Nick Sharratt

This month, Bruna and Nadia discuss the issue of medical tattooing. Guests Nicola Stock (Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Appearance Research), Amy Johnson (Operations Manager from the charity Alopecia UK), and Rae Denman (a medical tattooist), all come together to provide various perspectives on the matter.

To find out more about the Centre for Appearance Research, follow us: 

On Twitter: twitter.com/CAR_UWE 

On Instagram: www.instagram.com/car_uwe/ 

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/AppearanceResearch 

To find out more about Rae and her medical tattooing work:

[email protected]

www.raedenman.co.uk

To find out more about the work of Alopecia UK:

www.alopecia.org.uk

Information from Alopecia UK about medical tattooing: https://www.alopecia.org.uk/permanent-make-up

To read the (freely-available) published research article that was discussed during the episode:

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13548506.2021.1883688?scroll=top&needAccess=true

You can also read a blog published by Alopecia UK about the study:

https://www.alopecia.org.uk/blog/putting-your-face-in-someone-elses-hands

Note from Nicola: Thank you to everyone who gave their time to participate in this study and to the charities, including Alopecia UK, who helped with recruitment. This study was funded by the VTCT Foundation (registered charity #1155360; http://www.vtctfoundation.org.uk). If you have any questions or comments about this study, please contact [email protected] or visit: www.uwe.ac.uk/car.

Please share, subscribe, rate and review. It really does mean a lot. 

Thank you! B & N x 

Music by Sian Evans & John Landau: toplinefilm.com 

Cover photo by X from X 

Episode developed & produced by Bruna Costa