SIG Event: Deaf Women of Ireland

ASLD, ANTH, LING, & WGSS invite you to join us on Friday May 3, at 2pm in COB 140 for our Scholarly Intersections Symposium “Deaf Women of Ireland”.  Our Irish deaf guests, Anne Coogan and Josephine O’Leary will share pre-COVID research findings of Irish Deaf women from the ages of 18 to 90. A study of 301 women across the Republic of Ireland and into Northern Ireland examined the extent of inclusion of these women in the economic, cultural and social fabric of Irish society. A 2024 survey was also conducted among 41 Deaf Irish women to consider any changes that may have happened since the original survey. We find that there is still “emotional, physical and intellectual struggles of Deaf Irish women, revealing the traumas of institutionalized historical infringements of dignity and respect against ISL users,” (especially against female ISL users) as demonstrated in a recent Irish Deaf drama performed in our national theatre, called “Possession”. Only women’s signing was used in this drama to underscore the continued patriarchy practiced within the Irish Deaf community. Come and learn how our Deaf Irish cultural differences are treated by society, and how women’s use of female ISL continues to be challenged within the Irish Deaf community since the passing of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 (ISL) into law in the Republic of Ireland.

Seating is limited please RSVP at Deaf Women of Ireland SI 2024

This presentation will be in English, ASL, and ISL (Irish Sign Language)

Light refreshments will be provided