Sociological examination of being different on the face: a qualitative study within the framework of David Le Breton's Face Theory

This thesis examines people with facial disabilities' social interactions, institutional experiences, life evaluation strategies, and emotional states in the context of David Le Breton's theories. It focuses on issues involving faces and disabilities. The fieldwork that served as the foundation for the thesis data was conducted between 2020 and 2023, utilizing the netnographic and phenomenological design patterns of qualitative research methods. The research about wearing a disability on the face leads to five important conclusions. Firstly, an individual's face plays a crucial role in building their identity. People perceive a handicap on the face as affecting the entire body. Second, depending on their socioeconomic status, people with facial disabilities face various obstacles when trying to get treatment, work, and education. Third, people with facial defects don't exclusively experience negative emotions like melancholy, pessimism, and discontent. They also feel happier and more upbeat, especially when they are with people who have gone through similar things and engage in solidarity networks. Fourth, people with facial disabilities want to be independent, stand on their own two feet, and actively participate in life. Fifth, individuals with facial disabilities experience discomfort due to social exclusion in public spaces, yet they assert their right to normalcy, as social interactions, institutions, and preferences reproduce both emotions and disabilities.