The Body Images and Appearance Repair Experiences of the People with Cleft Lip and Palate

• Main Authors: LIN, CHIA-YI, 林佳儀
• Other Authors: CHEN, FEN-LING
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2014
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/29335645894673930644

碩士 === 國立臺北大學 === 社會工作學系 === 102 === The study aims to understand the body images and appearance repair experiences of the people with cleft lip and palate, especially to discuss the influence and difference in gender on cleft lip and palate. This study applied semi-structured interviews with snowball sampling to interview 15 cleft lip and palates in Taipei City and New Taipei City, including 10 females and 5 males. This study takes the view of feminist disability theory and the theory of looking-glass self to analyze the body images of the cleft lip and palate people, and the influence and difference in gender on the cleft lip and palate people, and to discuss the influence of medical appearance repair to cleft lip and palate. The research results are as follows: 1.The body image of the cleft lip and palate people: People born with cleft lips and palates constantly reinterpret the body images of themselves by interpreting social conditions and response of significant others. Cleft lip and palates look forward to a beautiful full external image, and cover appearance by make-up or trim. Most importantly is to get rid of the social identity categories of“disable”, “ugly”, “abnormal.” 2.The social pressure caused by the expectation of sexual roles:The females with cleft lip and palate are obviously affected by the disadvantaged social position, the pressure from the competition of employment market and appearances conditions, humble concessions on gender relations, disadvantage in marriage market, worries about the genetic birth of their next generation. The disadvantaged position might be shown is stronger on the female cleft lips and palates people than the male ones. 3.The sexual differences of cleft lips and palates show the different ways of response from others. Male cleft lip and palate usually fits in with male role and image by working performance and achievement status, actively showing strength, bearing the spirit of family and social responsibility. Female cleft lip and palate usually takes more communication with the medical team, and seeks medical technology to improve the physical appearance of defects by repair technology and related corrective treatment programs to reduce the physiological limitations. 4.Sexual differences affect the motives and actions of appearance repair of cleft lip and palate. Male cleft lip and palate who accepts appearance repair surgery are mostly influenced by others, such as: doctor, parents. Female cleft lip and palate is usually active to appearance repair with expectation. Female cleft lip and palate is better than male in the degree of care of wound and cooperating with doctor. 5.Innate characters and social conditions have a large impact on individual decision in appearance repair. The dissatisfaction on body image of cleft lips and palates patients is the result of interaction with the external environment. The social standards of beauty and proper appearance will be converted into the self-expectations on appearance of cleft lips and palates, and expectation to have appearances repair surgeries.