Deaf women are twice as likely to experience domestic violence—how perpetrators weaponize disability

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Deaf women are twice as likely to experience domestic *********—how perpetrators weaponize disability

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The alarming rise in reports of

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and intimate-partner homicides has led to increased media attention and heightened awareness in our communities.

We know perpetrators have

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, adapting their abusive methods to be more

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. Signs that people with disability may be experiencing domestic ********* can be even more challenging to detect, which is especially concerning given the recent findings from the

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.

The royal commission

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40% of *********** women with a disability have experienced physical ********* after the age of 15 (compared with 26% of women without a disability). However, the risk of domestic ********* for people with disabilities varies greatly depending on the type of disability they have.

Research shows Deaf women are

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to experience domestic ********* than hearing women. And reports of physical and ******* ****** are up to

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in Deaf compared to hearing people. As we examine the reasons Deaf victims face a significantly greater risk of domestic *********, criminologists are realizing the unique ways it happens.

Three ways deafness is used as a *******

The dark reality is perpetrators are

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to:

• enhance their vulnerability
• increase barriers to reporting, and
• diminish their credibility.

By exploiting their victim’s disability, perpetrators increase their power and coercive control. The power dynamic between perpetrator and their Deaf victim is intensified when the perpetrator has the ability to hear. This imbalance of power is described as

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.

So, how are they doing it?

Perpetrators of domestic ********* against Deaf women may

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such as cochlear implant magnets, hearing aids, and Bluetooth systems to further isolate and control Deaf victims.

By

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with others (especially those who are hearing and may not know sign language) this significantly increases the victim’s isolation.

Devices can cost thousands of dollars and custom-made equipment can take weeks or even months to be replaced. Therefore, this often results in a prolonged communication barrier.

Given most police are not proficient in *********** Sign Language (Auslan), victims may

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until they can communicate their story on their own terms.

And the loss of their communication equipment may affect a victim’s ability to work and fulfill their job responsibilities. Income loss increases financial dependence on their perpetrator. This

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is compounded by the limited employment opportunities available to the Deaf community.

Physical ******

Research indicates there is a distinct difference in the way perpetrators inflict physical ****** depending on whether the victim is Deaf or hearing.

For hearing victim-survivors, perpetrators often target areas of the body that can be easily covered by clothing to conceal the domestic *********. Perpetrators who ****** Deaf victims are more likely to

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towards the fingers, hands, wrists and arms. This prevents victims from using sign language, which for many Deaf people is their first and primary language.

This characteristic, however, offers an opportunity to observe the signs of domestic ********* against Deaf people, given injuries to the fingers, hands, and wrists are highly visible.

The power of misinterpretation

People who notice these signs of domestic ********* can offer support and raise the alarm (if safe to do so for both reporter and victim). But the police have an enormous role to play and must equally be aware of the manipulation tactics perpetrators of ****** againsgt Deaf victims use.

When police respond to a suspected domestic ********* incident, they question all parties involved. Research from the ******* States shows

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for a Deaf victim.

Perversely, this allows the perpetrator to inaccurately interpret the Deaf victim’s statements and reframe the narrative to portray themselves as the victim or claim the incident was an accident.

Similarly, perpetrators can misinterpret the information police are conveying to a Deaf victim. They may even falsely label a Deaf victim as intellectually disabled based on their vocalizations or speech, aiming to undermine their credibility and dissuade

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This underscores the importance of police separating parties and interviewing the Deaf victim with the help of a suitably qualified interpreter.

However, even when best practices are followed, there remain significant challenges in accessing qualified interpreters on short notice. According to the

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, 77% of respondents reported difficulties in securing qualified interpreters promptly. These experiences have prompted the Deaf community to advocate for addressing the

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of Auslan interpreters nationwide.

Recognize the signs

Disability can be exploited against victims of domestic ********* in powerful and disturbing ways. And domestic ********* can manifest in unique ways for Deaf victims.

There needs to be greater public awareness and empowerment to support victims. Police protocols for handling domestic ********* incidents involving Deaf people should also be thoroughly and regularly reviewed to address issues of hearing privilege and its implications for victim credibility.

Provided by
The Conversation

This article is republished from

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under a Creative Commons license. Read the

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Citation:
Deaf women are twice as likely to experience domestic *********—how perpetrators weaponize disability (2024, July 11)
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