Graduation Year

2018

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Ph.D.

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Degree Granting Department

Special Education

Major Professor

Phyllis Jones, Ph.D.

Co-Major Professor

James R. King, Ed.D.

Committee Member

Daphne Thomas, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Jennifer Wolgemuth, Ph.D.

Keywords

Deaf Identity, Deaf Lesbian Identity, Crip Theory, Lesbian Identity, Queer Theory

Abstract

Deaf lesbians are a population that is underrepresented in the academic literature. Through the use of narrative inquiry, the researcher conducted in-depth interviews with a woman who self-identified as Deaf and lesbian. She shared her experiences growing up as a woman who is Deaf and later in her life, realized she is lesbian. The researcher juxtaposed her experiences as a hearing, lesbian woman and an ally to the Deaf community to better illuminate the Deaf lesbian experiences. The research delved into how these dual minority identities have affected the Deaf lesbian participant as she makes her way in the world of the dual majority cultures of hearing and heteronormative.

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