The Use of Social Media As a Conduit to Promote Social Justice in the Deaf Community, As a Cultural and Linguistic Minority
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Nova Southeastern University NSUWorks Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses CAHSS Theses and Dissertations and Dissertations 1-1-2017 The seu of social media as a conduit to promote social justice in the Deaf Community, as a cultural and linguistic minority, through the visual language of American Sign Language: A movement against Audism Sarah K. Glenn-Smith Nova Southeastern University, [email protected] This document is a product of extensive research conducted at the Nova Southeastern University College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. For more information on research and degree programs at the NSU College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, please click here. Follow this and additional works at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/shss_dcar_etd Part of the Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons Share Feedback About This Item NSUWorks Citation Sarah K. Glenn-Smith. 2017. The use of social media as a conduit to promote social justice in the Deaf Community, as a cultural and linguistic minority, through the visual language of American Sign Language: A movement against Audism. Doctoral dissertation. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences – Department of Conflict Resolution Studies. (81) https://nsuworks.nova.edu/shss_dcar_etd/81. This Dissertation is brought to you by the CAHSS Theses and Dissertations at NSUWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of NSUWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The use of social media as a conduit to promote social justice in the Deaf Community, as a cultural and linguistic minority, through the visual language of American Sign Language: A movement against Audism. by Sarah Glenn-Smith A Dissertation Presented to the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences of Nova Southeastern University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Nova Southeastern University 2017 Acknowledgments This journey to completing my doctorate has been a dream I have pursued since a young age. What I did not realize at that young age was the number of people that would join me in the process; in many cases quite literally walking by my side along the way. First, I am grateful to the Deaf Community, without their welcoming and teaching, I would not be the person I am. What they have given me has defined me in so many ways. Emily, a mere nod of gratitude in a document does not do justice to the sacrifice, love, time, support, snacks, and amount of water you carried at home to allow me to finish my degree. Thank you for not only walking with me, but for holding my hand. I would not have been able to do it without you as my muse. Alex, with endless patience, you have served as both my sparring partner and life philosopher, thank you for your support and for your belief in me. Laura, you are a living example that truly anything is possible. Isabelle, at such a young age, the gift of your encouragement and sacrifice served as my inspiration, and knowing you were waiting for me was truly the light at the end of my tunnel. Thank you for shining the way that you do. Ruth, thank you for food, shelter and humor during, and in between, my many trips to campus. You kept me sane more often than you could ever know. Mom, your unending faith and love has been a driving force my entire life. Dad, thank you for always standing on the other side of the spectrum, it reminds me of the importance of both fighting for what I believe in, and living out loud. Dr. Stacks, thank you for giving me a wide lens through which to see the world, and for instilling in me a love of knowing things. Michael, you have served as a refuge in any storm; your unconditional friendship, your raw and sincere confidence, your tenacity and commitment to pushing, pulling and meeting me in the middle along this path deserves credit for actually ensuring that I finished. Thank you for being exactly who you are. Thank you for the coffee. Finally, I could not have asked for a Chair more perfectly aligned to who I am as both person and student. Thank you, Dr. Berna for being unapologetically blunt, and inspiring in a way that only you can be. Table of Contents List of Tables ................................................................................................................... v List of Figures ................................................................................................................. vi Abstract .......................................................................................................................... vii Chapter1: Research Premise and Statement of the Problem ............................................ 1 Research Summary ..................................................................................................... 1 Problem Statement ................................................................................................. 1 Research Questions ................................................................................................ 1 Key Terms .............................................................................................................. 2 The Purpose of the Study ....................................................................................... 2 Theoretical Framework and Application ............................................................... 3 Chapter 2: Literature Review ........................................................................................... 4 Chapter Introduction ................................................................................................... 4 Deaf Identity and Culture....................................................................................... 4 Identity ................................................................................................................... 4 Deaf cultural-identity paradigm ........................................................................... 14 Deaf culture .......................................................................................................... 15 Identity as a linguistic minority ........................................................................... 16 Disabling the Deaf ............................................................................................... 16 Subpar Deaf Education ........................................................................................ 20 Audism Explored ................................................................................................. 27 The Right to Language......................................................................................... 31 Social Movement: Deafhood ............................................................................... 34 i Collective action .................................................................................................. 37 Visual Language and Technology ....................................................................... 40 Social Media ........................................................................................................ 43 The deaf and the internet...................................................................................... 46 Chapter 3: Research Methodology................................................................................. 48 Research Focus ......................................................................................................... 48 Qualitative Research Appropriateness ...................................................................... 49 Methodology ............................................................................................................. 49 Case Study ........................................................................................................... 49 Interview as instrument of case study .................................................................. 52 Purposeful Sampling ................................................................................................. 54 Sample Participant Criteria .................................................................................. 55 Sample size .......................................................................................................... 55 Interview Question Development ............................................................................. 56 Data collection procedure: interview questions ................................................... 57 Participant Recruitment Process ............................................................................... 59 Participant Tracking ............................................................................................. 59 Participant Anonymity and Data Safeguards ............................................................ 60 Principal Investigator Qualifications ................................................................... 60 Data Storage & Anonymity Preservation ............................................................ 62 Ethical Considerations .............................................................................................. 63 Researcher Position: why me, why them? ................................................................ 65 Data Analysis ...........................................................................................................