Exploring Intersectional Identity in Black Deaf Women: The Complexity of the Lived Experience in College

Reshawna L. Chapple, Binnae A. Bridwell, Kishonna L. Gray

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Although the concept of intersectionality has gained widespread attention in social science research, there remains a significant gap related to the impact of intersectionality on identity formation for persons negotiating multiple marginalized social identities. This gap is especially significant among Black women who are Deaf—two groups who face significant education disparities and are largely absent in the research literature. In response to these gaps, we conducted a qualitative study with Black Deaf women (n = 25) on a college campus to better understand the lived experiences of this population and its impact on their intersectional identity. Many of the participants expressed, despite problems related to gender, race, and disability, the number of Black Deaf women on campus made them feel that they had a support network of allies. Implications for future research and social work practice are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)571-592
Number of pages22
JournalAffilia - Journal of Women and Social Work
Volume36
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support forthe research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Partial Funding support received through graduate student fellowships from American Educational Research Association (AERA) and Arizona State University.

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2021.

Keywords

  • Black feminist theory/womanism
  • Deaf
  • intersectionality
  • women in higher education
  • women with disabilities

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Gender Studies
  • Social Sciences (miscellaneous)

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