Launching a new series of {THE AND}: Above the Bias

At The Skin Deep, we’re always asking ourselves: “How can we use {THE AND} as a tool to create more empathy in the world?” 

This question is a compass to guide our direction.

We really liked what Abbott was doing to address diabetes stigma, so we jumped at the chance to collaborate on a series that will spark crucial conversations and foster deeper understanding and empathy. 

Diabetes is often misunderstood and reduced to harmful stereotypes which result in misdirected blame, perpetuated myths and a real impact on health. 

The cost of these misunderstandings also weighs heavily in many relationships. 

Stigma is subtle. How do you deal with it?

Stigma doesn't always cause outrage or grab headlines. It’s subtle. It happens everywhere. It is in the little jokes people think are harmless or the awkward silence when someone doesn’t know what to say. Stigma also hurts. If you’ve ever lived with something that leads to people treating you differently, you know that sometimes the hardest part isn’t what you’re carrying, but the way people treat you because of it.

We wanted to put diabetes stigma into the spotlight in a deeply human way. We wanted to embrace the mess, the emotion and the contradictions that come with real relationships. 

To do that, we extended {THE AND} format in a new way.

{THE AND} as a tool

Usually, our {THE AND} videos are focused on capturing the conversation itself. But in this campaign, we’ve extended the format to put more emphasis on the background of our participants. 

Before stepping into {THE AND} conversation, we sat with each participant and asked them to share more of their story. We listened for the knots in their relationships, the places where diabetes stigma or misunderstanding had created tension, rifts and barriers that could be explored and softened. 

Then came {THE AND} experience itself, where the space for honesty, vulnerability and humanity worked its magic.

Afterwards, we stayed with the participants, giving them time to reflect on what shifted, what felt lighter, and what they wanted to carry forward.

Did it work?

We think so! 

Diabetes stigma is real. It is alive in real relationships, but it can be unlearned. The series illuminates the power (and the relief) that comes when biases are exposed and space is created for understanding.

We feel these videos are also a reminder that change doesn’t always come from constructed speeches or campaigns. Sometimes the most powerful thing is just two people sitting across from each other, being brave, honest, and willing to listen.

Check out the video series for yourself here:

With gratitude

We can’t end this without recognising the people who put themselves forward to be part of this series. We extend our deepest gratitude to the incredible participants who bravely sat across from each other and openly shared their personal stories in this format.

We hope these episodes contribute positively towards making diabetes stigma more visible and a lot less damaging in our society. To dive deeper into diabetes stigma, check out the full series on YouTube here and Abbott's work at AboveBias.com after watching the videos.