Type a summary for each of the 4 readings that are assigned this wk - Article Example

Summaries of Articles on Deaf People and Deaf Studies Summary of Kelly’s “Where is Deaf HERstory?” Kelly (2008) explored the feminist standpoint, epistemology, and methodology of Deaf Studies in “Where is Deaf HERstory?” She defined a feminist standpoint as a self-conscious thinking about the female self and her position in relation to other groups and systems in society. She stressed that self-consciousness enables women to examine and challenge their oppressed situations. Kelly (2008) asserted that women and Deaf people both experience duality because of their closer connection with their gender and because of their shared experiences of discrimination.

Furthermore, Kelly (2008) noted the importance of epistemology and methodology in determining a Deaf standpoint. She stressed that Deaf Studies has to answer questions regarding epistemology and methodology before proceeding to determining a Deaf standpoint. Moreover, Kelly (2008) argued that Deaf women are marginalized because they are rarely found in history books, an absence that disables them from learning more about their gender and Deaf identities. As a teacher of Deaf Women’s Studies, she noticed the glaring absence of books on and by Deaf women.

She stressed that few books are by, for, and done with Deaf women. Kelly (2008) concluded that Deaf women scholars should encourage Deaf women to share their writings and other works with them and the public in order to encourage interest in and research on Deaf women.Summary of Holcomb’s (2013), “Chapter 13: Diversity in the Deaf Community”Holcomb (2013) explored how the Deaf community embraces diversity using two perspectives in “Chapter 13: Diversity in the Deaf Community.” One perspective asserts that the Deaf community embraces differences, while the second believes that due to limited access to multicultural resources, the Deaf community is as conservative as mainstream non-Deaf society and that Deaf people also show discrimination against minority groups within it.

He stressed that the Deaf community exhibits both these types of communities. In addition, Holcomb (2013) described that the Deaf community is actually composed of Deaf communities because it represents diverse Deaf groups, such as the hard-of-hearing Deaf, Deaf people from the mainstream, the elite Deaf, the grassroots Deaf, and the regional Deaf. He further explored how diversity in the Deaf community results to division within it. Furthermore, Holcomb (2013) identified Deaf individuals of color with notable accomplishments in different fields.

He also stressed the challenges of Deaf people in accessing programs that have holistic components to development and the issues involved in dealing with ignorance about and discrimination against Deaf people. Holcomb (2013) concluded that the Deaf community is a heterogeneous community with diverse identities. Summary of Bienvenu’s (2008) “Chapter 16: Queer as Deaf: Intersections” Bienvenu (2008) discussed the marginalization of Deaf lesbian women in the Deaf community in “Chapter 16: Queer as Deaf: Intersections.

” She showed from her personal experience that Deaf lesbians and gays have a hard time finding acceptance in the Deaf community because the mainstream Deaf find it hard to accept gender differences as part of the Deaf identity. She questioned why she cannot be both Deaf and a lesbian. In addition, Bienvenu (2008) showed that the Deaf community and LGBT community live in parallel worlds where prejudice and discrimination against them co-exist. She also depicted differences in sign language that stand for “lesbian” and “gay” where negative “signs” exist, and she called for more politically-correct signs that do not denigrate the Deaf L/G community.

Moreover, she noticed the dearth of research on Deaf gays and lesbians. Bienvenu (2008) concluded that the LGBT and the Deaf L/G community have similarities in their experiences of oppression and that they should share stories and promote more awareness about their existence and humanness to deal with hate against their gender and deafness.Summary of Dunn’s (2008) “Chapter 14: The Burden of Racism and Audism”Dunn’s (2008) “Chapter 14: The Burden of Racism and Audism” explored the challenges of racism and audism for Deaf people who belong to minority groups.

He used a conversation with a white, male antagonist to show how Eurocentric white ideology belittles and marginalizes minority Deaf people. Dunn (2008) argued that the Deaf community had to go through great lengths to prove to the rest of the white mainstream society that they also have a vibrant and equally-valid language, culture, and community. She drew parallels between the black and the Deaf communities because of similarities in their experiences of oppression and disempowerment. Furthermore, Dunn (2008) talked about identity development.

She recognized the importance of internalizing an identity that is not defined and controlled by the dominant group. Dunn (2008) called for an activist approach in identifying, challenging, and eliminating all forms of –isms that affront human dignity.ReferencesBienvenu, M.J. (2008). Chapter 16: Queer as Deaf: Intersections. In H. Bauman (Ed.), Open your eyes: Deaf studies talking (pp. 264-276). Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. Dunn, L. (2008). Chapter 14: The burden of racism and audism. In H. Bauman (Ed.), Open your eyes: Deaf studies talking (pp. 235-250). Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.

Holcomb, T.K. (2013). Chapter 13: Diversity in the Deaf community. In Introduction to American Deaf culture (pp. 267-280). New York: Oxford University Press. Kelly, A.B. (2008). Where is Deaf herstory? In H. Bauman (Ed.), Open your eyes: Deaf studies talking (pp. 251-263). Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.