Deaf People and the American Dream

Abstract

Reviews the book, The People of the Eye: Deaf Ethnicity and Ancestry by Harlan L. Lane, Richard C. Pillard, Ulf Hedberg (2010). The book describes deaf people in the United States as a cultural and linguistic minority, which is often opposed by those who support the disability model. What would have been more interesting is a better understanding of the interaction of the two competing models: cultural and disability, especially in terms of deaf people finding their place in the larger society. This book brings to the forefront the notion that hearing people carry deaf genes, which has sociopolitical implications. Perhaps, a sense of mutual interest and commonality between the traditionally distinct groups of deaf and hearing people may develop out of the findings produced in this book. Throughout the book, there were many loose ends that were not addressed. In addition, the topic of bilingualism needs to be addressed with more care and insight than what is offered in the book. Readers will benefit from the data-driven and extensive coverage of hereditary deafness and understanding the roots of ethnic-like qualities concerning deaf people who live in a predominantly speaking society. This book can be used as a testimony to the strife between society and the deaf community, which has become a force of its own. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved)