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Towards an understanding of the experiences of deaf gay men: an interpretative phenomenological analysis to an intersectional view

Beese, L.E. and Tasker, Fiona (2022) Towards an understanding of the experiences of deaf gay men: an interpretative phenomenological analysis to an intersectional view. Journal of Homosexuality 69 (14), pp. 2412-2438. ISSN 0091-8369.

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Abstract

Similarities between developing a deaf identity and a sexual minority identity have been postulated upon the parallel experience of oppressed minority positions. Sign language interviews with eight deaf gay British men explored their intersectional understanding of deaf-gay lived experiences, analyzed through Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. During their adolescence deaf gay men sometimes experienced being in a position where they were trying hard to be something they were not: oral and heterosexual for hearing non-signing others (including heterosexual members of their family of origin). Participants spoke of increasingly being drawn towards a welcoming signing cultural world that supported them against deaf minority stress. Coming out as gay presented not only potential family of origin difficulties, but also threatened connection with the deaf community, leaving participants intensely fearful of gay visibility and stigma. Self-fulfillment and community building was sought through positions that ranged from oralist-heteronormativity through to the deaf-gay community. Along the way these journeys included experiences of pride and success alongside those of struggle. Our findings extend research on intersectionality by presenting a distinct set of obstacles, caveats, and nuances to identity conjunction.

Metadata

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis, available online at the link above.
Keyword(s) / Subject(s): Deaf culture, gay men, identity, interpretative phenomenological analysis, intersectionality, qualitative, sign language
School: Birkbeck Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Science > School of Psychological Sciences
Research Centres and Institutes: Gender and Sexuality, Birkbeck (BiGS)
Depositing User: Fiona Tasker
Date Deposited: 04 Jun 2021 12:27
Last Modified: 27 Feb 2025 13:38
URI: https://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/id/eprint/44498

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