Illusions of Equality

Robert Buchanan

Hardcover

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Yes!

From the mid-1850s to the post-World War II era, Deaf Americans typically sought to deemphasize their identity as sign language users to be integrated better into the workforce. But in his absorbing book Illusions of Equality, Robert Buchanan shows that events during this period would thwart these efforts. The residential schools for deaf students in the 19th century stressed the use of American Sign Language while also recognizing the value of learning English. But the success of this system was disrupted by the rise of oralism, with its commitment to teaching deaf children speech and its ban of sign language. Buchanan depicts the consequences in sobering terms: most deaf students left school with limited educations and abilities that qualified them only for marginal jobs. He also describes the Deaf community's male hierarchy insistence through the end of World War II on individual responsibility, tactics that continually failed to earn job security for deaf workers. Illusions of Equality is an original, edifying work that will be appreciated for years to come.

Book Details

Publisher: Gallaudet University Press
Publish Date: Feb 29th, 2000
Pages: 214
Language: English
Edition: undefined - undefined
Dimensions: 9.36in - 6.42in - 0.93in - 1.28lb
EAN: 9781563680847
Categories: • People with Disabilities• Special Education - Physical Disabilities• History

Praise for this book

Illusions of Equality is important for opening up a new line of historical inquiry on a neglected topic.