Autopercepções de "ser surdo" no contexto universitário

Abstract

Historically, the deaf have been a social minority compared to the hearing population, being more vulnerable to the assignment of negative stereotypes with ableist bias, and consequently, facing prejudice and discrimination. These representations influence the formation of the individual's self-concept from the awareness of categorical belonging. The present study aims to analyze through the point of view of deaf people themselves their social identity from self-categorization, as well as to investigate the existing relationships between the identity of the deaf person and the surrounding social structure, which is made up of individuals who have many difficulties to relate to the different and therefore establish physical and social barriers. According to the belief that social interactions construct social identity, five episodic narrative interviews were conducted with deaf people (two men and three women), aiming to map the trajectory and awareness of group belonging and, therefore, the social identity of deaf people. The interviews were conducted online due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, which required social distancing. They were analyzed using the Thematic Analysis Method to observe relevant aspects involved in creating deaf social identity: the contexts in which the person is inserted, the effect of the mostly hearing social structure, and the effects of ableism. Among the main findings, the Brazilian sign language – LIBRAS – was considered a central element for creating deaf social identity. It was also observed that prejudiced and ableist attitudes are associated with a negative social identity, and influence the self-confidence of deaf people, generating concern about their realities and affecting different individual and collective coping strategies.