Deaf women in India and participation in society.
Project period
October 2018 – 2026
Background
Women occupy essential roles in society, executing crucial contributions in families and the labor market. The contributions occur in formal and informal work sector, in organizations and local communities, to mention a few. Their diverse roles span from being a mother, daughter, grandparent, partner, to being a colleague and friend and more. However, research on the challenges encountered by women with disabilities, especially in the Global South, seems to be limited (Ghai 2002, Grech 2016, Addlakha 2008, World Health Organization and The World Bank 2011). Deaf women experience as both deaf and woman multiple barriers, and the understandings of what disability means influence research focus and the implications to participation in society. My research is based on a minority perspective with an understanding of being deaf as a being part of a cultural and linguistic group with sign language.
Aims and research questions
The aim of the project is to explore the societal participation of deaf Indian women. The main research questions are:
- What factors may influence deaf women’s participation in society?
- How might these affect their opportunities and access to societal inclusion?
Methodology
The project adopts a qualitative approach. Fieldwork was conducted in India in 2020, and questionnaires were used to gather insights from deaf Indian women.
Publication
The article “A deaf researcher in an Indian and Norwegian context – an autoethnographic journey” has been published in Disability and Society https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09687599.2024.2355541
Planned publications
The second article will explore deaf Indian Womanhood and intersectionality. The third article will focus on deaf clubs in an urban Indian setting, analyzing the strategies deaf persons employ in a predominantly hearing society.
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