They Told Me My Name: Developing a Deaf Identity

This article examines the process of deaf people coming to identify as culturally Deaf-a distinction typically made in the literature as an identity belonging to those who use sign language to communicate-and how this identity process co-occurs with other social identities, namely sexuality and race. Through pairing Goffman's work with perspectives from Feminist Disability Studies, we extend the sociological literature on both identity and disability. To do so, we analyze qualitative data collected through narrative interviews with five Deaf, gay and lesbian individuals with different racial backgrounds. Our analysis surfaces deaf people's encounters with one another and how, relatedly, becoming Deaf is shaped by Goffman's concepts of affiliation and obtrusiveness. For example, we show how shifting affiliations occur when transitioning into a minority (e.g., Deaf) culture, through interactions that demand managing the obtrusiveness of multiple intersecting, potentially discrediting, statuses. Our article also reveals a bidirectional relationship between affiliation and obtrusiveness.

Automated summary

This article examines the process of deaf individuals identifying as culturally Deaf and how this process interacts with other social identities such as sexuality and race. Through analyzing qualitative data from five Deaf, gay, and lesbian individuals with diverse racial backgrounds, the study reveals the impact of Goffman's concepts on shaping Deaf identity formation. The research also uncovers a bidirectional relationship between affiliation and obtrusiveness in the context of becoming Deaf within a minority culture.