Benevolent Paternalism and Eugenics: A Historical Analysis of its Impact on the Deaf Community in 19th and 20th Century America

A Brief Introduction

Because RIT offers an immersion in American Sign Language (ASL) & Deaf Culture Studies, I have had the amazing opportunity to learn the rich history an underdog community has to offer. I have always been fascinated with ASL since my first class introductory class in sixth grade.

And with the facilitation from professors like Corinna Hill, I have been able to gather information on the background and history of the Deaf Community that we see today. She is an outstanding person with a healthy teaching style that firmly encourages discussion that ensures all of her students understand events and concepts throughout the Deaf timeline. I appreciate her time and knowledge in which she shared with us, allowing myself and others to expand our perspective on Deafness.

Growing up in Rochester, NY, Deafness was not a unfamiliar concept. With the highest per capita of Deaf people, this city has exposed by to ASL and Deaf Culture for my entire life. But this was not always the case in many parts of the United States.. Ultimately, prior to modern times, Deaf individuals were perceived in an skewed lens. And focusing on specific phenomenons, I researched and analyzed how they were treated for hundreds of years.

Please feel free to take a look and leave a comment if you wish!