Vulnerable but strong: Deaf people challenge established understandings of deafness
Autor: | Jan-Kåre Breivik |
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Rok vydání: | 2005 |
Předmět: |
Adult
Male media_common.quotation_subject Self-concept Deafness Sign language Paternalism Sign Language 03 medical and health sciences 0302 clinical medicine Adaptation Psychological otorhinolaryngologic diseases Humans Narrative 030212 general & internal medicine Sociology Empowerment media_common Medical model Narration 030505 public health Social Identification Communication Public Health Environmental and Occupational Health Pity Gender studies General Medicine Self Concept Persons With Hearing Impairments Sociolinguistics of sign languages 0305 other medical science Attitude to Health |
Zdroj: | Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. 33:18-23 |
ISSN: | 1651-1905 1403-4948 |
Popis: | Background: In the last 35 years, hearing majorities have, in variable degree, gradually recognized that deaf people can be strong and able and a common knowledge of deaf people as linguistic minorities is partly embraced in public life. This is by and large a result of a long-time deaf struggle for the recognition of sign language and against paternalistic policies of pity. Aim: This article aims at showing how contemporary deaf identities are crafted by balancing vulnerability and empowering forces. Methods: In the presentation of life narratives from one deaf Norwegian and one deaf American, different aspects of being deaf are explored. These two stories have emerged from two related deaf research projects. They are deliberately chosen because they illustrate central insights gained within this research. Results: The empowering aspects of being sign language users are in focus, as well as the joys of being connected to a global deaf movement. Difficulties and hardship are also part and parcel of the deaf lives displayed, and strong arguments are put forward against the medical model of deafness in particular. Conclusion: One conclusion is that deaf identities are vulnerable but at the same time can be strongly rewarding. |
Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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