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Research on the unique experiences of deaf people is rare, and limited information exists regarding the nature and extent of violence against this population. Existing scholarship highlights the increased vulnerabilities of deaf individuals; however, there remains a paucity of research that examines how deaf and hard of hearing individuals perceive their own victimization. Also lacking is research on the experiences of deaf individuals outside of the United States, where cultural norms and the status of the deaf may be quite different. In this article, we examine the relationship between violence and disability among 60 deaf people from developing countries. Each respondent is seeking legal asylum in the United States, and their asylum depositions provide the data for analysis. Thematic analyses reveal that deaf individuals experience abuse and violence within various social institutions and draw upon social perceptions of disability to explain their negative treatment. Notably, respondents cite their status as "devalued persons" as the driving factor behind institutional and interpersonal experiences of violence and, in some cases, respondents internalize this devalued status. The results suggest social conceptualizations of disability and deafness are important to consider in the context of violence and abuse.

Abstract:In this article, we provide the first empirical analysis of the relationship between multicultural immigration policy and gender inequality within immigrant communities. A fierce sociological debate pits those who identify multiculturalism as a key obstacle to gender equality among immigrant families against those who believe multiculturalism and gender egalitarianism are "dual equality projects." At the core of this debate are differences over the extent to which multiculturalism impedes or promotes the transmission of gender egalitarianism from host societies to immigrant communities. To adjudicate between these two perspectives, we examine whether micro foundations of the household division of labor-relative resources, time availability, and gender ideology-reduce the share of women's labor to a greater or lesser degree in multicultural countries. We find multiculturalism increases the egalitarian effects of micro foundations among immigrant households. Both symbolic and material forms of multiculturalism contribute to its moderating effect, but immigrant women benefit the most in countries with both types of multiculturalist policies. In highly multicultural countries, rising incomes, greater employment, and more egalitarian gender ideologies can produce dramatic reductions in housework for immigrant women. We conclude by specifying the conditions where multiculturalism reduce inequalities between immigrants and natives, and within immigrant communities.

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