Deaf Identities

Over the past decade a significant body of work on the topic of deaf identities has emerged. In this volume Leigh and O'Brien bring together scholars from a wide range of disciplines -- anthropology counseling education literary criticism practical religion philosophy psychology sociology and deaf studies -- to examine deaf identity paradigms. <p/>In this book contributing authors describe their perspectives on what deaf identities represent how these identities develop and the ways in which societal influences shape these identities. Intersectionality examination of medical educational and family systems linguistic deprivation the role of oppressive influences the deaf body and positive deaf identity development are among the topics examined in the quest to better understand deaf identities. In reflection contributors have intertwined both scholarly and personal perspectives to animate these academic debates. The result is a book that reinforces the multiple ways in which deaf identities manifest empowering those whose identity formation is influenced by being deaf or hard of hearing.<br>