Understanding The Concept Of Intersectionality
Defined over and over, intersectionality is ultimately stripped down to layers of uniqueness with which we identify ourselves with. Initially this word was utilized to describe an individual’s lifetime experiences, such as oppression and privilege. Taken at face value, Deaf and/or Hard of Hearing (HoH) communities may unify over the similar hardships encountered throughout their existence. People still perceive Deafness as a disability and act accordingly to match this ideology. For instance, the act of refusing to communicate with a Deaf individual as it is too “inconvenient” or assuming that those with hearing loss cannot perform daily tasks are just a few examples of the obstacles Deaf/HoH communities must maneuver through on a daily basis.
However, when taking into account intersectionality, individuals of contrasting backgrounds may experience more intense or severe levels of this oppression. Adding more layers such as race, gender and/or values can cause confusion to one’s identity as well as how to rank the importance of each tier. For instance, in the feature, “Why Intersectionality Matters” Figueroa-Ruiz and Holcomb discuss how a white Deaf man may face audism in his workplace but then may later attend a Deaf community event and discriminate a Deaf Person of Color. This ultimately showcases that intersectionality can be used to help us understand how our actions shift dependent upon the context of where we are in a current time. The concept of intersectionality embraces each layer as equally influential so one does not have to identify themselves as their race or gender first before later admitting to their other layers. Intersectionality relates to another reminds me of another theory recently brought to light, “single stories”.
Author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie introduced the phrase “simple stories” to describe the overly simplistic and false perceptions we form about individuals, groups, or countries. Although
Connecting this concept, I have come to realize that intersectionality resonates deeply within myself and can be applied directly to my personal life. Growing up as a Child of Deaf Adults, (CODA) I have always felt mentally disoriented due to attempting to reduce myself to only belong to one world, hearing or the Deaf world. However, intersectionality helps me recall that lives and experiences are never “neat” and easily categorized then eventually ranked. This concept encourages me to embody both worlds as my own rather than defining myself as one or the other.
