Deaf women’s lived experiences of their constitutional rights in South Africa

Abstract

abstractAlthough the rights of women and people living with disabilities are constitutionally protected, Deaf women continue to experience discrimination due to their double stigmatisation as women and as Deaf. Their lack of substantive citizenship is evident in their lived experiences, the inaccessibility of services due to both inadequate sign language interpretation and bilingual education. The research draws on a theoretical framework drawn from feminism, Deaf studies and disability studies in order to understand South African Deaf women’s experience of human rights and how the situation in relation to human rights violations can be improved. The methodology used in the study is Participatory Action Research, and included weekly group discussions over a period of two months. The underlying issue that emerged as preventing Deaf, Black, unemployed women reliant on state health care from accessing their rights and participating as substantive citizens in an inclusive South African society is their lack of linguistic rights. Skilled South African Sign Language (SASL) interpreters are needed in order to access both the justice system and the health care sector in terms of their particular needs as women, in relation to domestic abuse and obstetric health care.