Power & Oppression
This is where I began noticing how power can protect, exclude, and shape who is heard.
I looked back at patterns that Deaf people often move through – othering, gatekeeping, silence, and the quiet expectation to remain grateful for access that should already exist.
These reflections come from lived experience, seen through patterns of power and systems.
This isn’t about blame.
It’s about clarity, so choice can return.
Awareness often unfolds slowly through patterns, reflection, and lived experience.
You are welcome to return whenever you feel ready.
Themes Within This Chapter
Structures of Power
The systems that shape who is heard and who is overlooked.
Deaf & Hearing Dynamics
Whose norms lead, and how language quietly sets the rules.
Exploring how communication, access, and expectation shape Deaf and hearing relationships over time.
Race, Privilege & Culture
How race and class influence access, safety, and belonging.
Whiteness & Power Systems
When “neutral” rules reflect particular norms and quietly distribute advantage.
Global Perspectives
How history, colonisation, and language politics influence Deaf futures.
Intersectional Realities
How layered identities shape visibility, risk, and opportunity.
Tokenism & False Inclusion
Being welcomed in, but not fully allowed to take up space.
Psychological & Social Tools of Oppression
Everyday patterns that limit voice and narrow choice.
Workplace & Organisational Politics
The power dynamics behind policies, praise, and performance.
Exploring how workplace structures can shape voice, safety, belonging, and silence.