Dialogue within the Deaf community points to a culture that has developed from a history of exclusion regarding everyday access. This culture, which is strongly associated with efforts to preserve both language and culture, has a history of activism and political engagement aimed at addressing issues of access through community and the promotion of Deaf equitable spaces. Using theoretical frameworks involving group consciousness and intergroup social contact, this research seeks to understand the point of entry into the realm of Deaf politics and what causes individuals to be more or less likely to engage in its political sphere. Initial findings through a Mechanical Turk survey have led credence to the notion that culture matters and that the formation of strong connections and socialization within the Deaf community can serve as an indicator of increased likelihood to be involved in the discourse surrounding issues of Deaf/HOH accessibility. However, questions remain regarding the effects of living in Deaf prominent spaces as well as positive or negative perceptions of Deaf people in media consumption on the overall decision to be involved in Deaf issues.
Extant literature has established a relationship between being a member of a minority group and higher levels of support for women’s rights. This relationship can be seen as a strong example of intersectionality and cross-identity support among groups because there is the potential for increased awareness and empathy expressed toward groups experiencing similar patterns of discrimination and societal oppression. However, among the existing literature, the socializing effects of family dynamics, specifically growing up in a single-mother environment, has not yet been examined. This research seeks to understand whether growing up in a single-mother household has the potential to increase one’s support for women’s rights and whether this could be assessed as a potential factor for increased support within minority communities. Preliminary findings suggest that this link exists and shed light on the causal dynamic between support for women’s rights through familial socialization within minority communities.