Rethinking the concept of 'subaltern-researcher

Different D/deaf identities and communicative modalities as conflict factors in in-depth interviews

Bibliographic Data

ID2404209
AuthorsNomy Bitman (0000-0001-8325-0459, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, corresponding author)
Year2022
Volume22
Issue4
Pages542-558
Publication date2022-08-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueQualitative Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1468-7941 • E-ISSN: 1741-3109
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1468794121994461
OpenAlexW3135370298
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited31

This article focuses on the communicative, cultural, and practical aspects of being a hard-of-hearing (HH) researcher who studies D/deaf people's smartphone use through 20 in-depth interviews. This context presents the conflict between seeing deafness as a disability and seeing Deaf people as members of a cultural minority. This complexity of 'subaltern-researcher' concept combines with the limitations caused by conducting research as a marginal member of the academy, which in turn prompts the researcher's conflict between the commitment to marginalized research participants and the able-bodied academic obligation to act according to able-bodied research, analysis, and standards for publication of findings. This paper suggests a reflexive description of identity, culture, senses, and communication, which interacts with the social responsibility of the disabled researcher, and the interviewees' expressed agency. As such, this article contributes methodological and communicative insights on inclusive qualitative methods regarding both disabled participants and researchers

Aesthetics · Obligation · Qualitative research · Reflexivity · Social science · Sociology · Disability Rights and Representation · Hearing Impairment and Communication · Inclusion and Disability in Education and Sport · Psychology · Social Psychology

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