New study to explore impact of domestic abuse on deaf survivors and families
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- Edinburgh-based researchers are set to examine the perspectives of deaf survivors of domestic abuse, focusing on how this trauma affects families.
- Deaf women are up to three times more likely to experience domestic abuse than hearing women.
- News of the project coincides with the opening day of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence campaign.
For the first time, researchers will examine the impact of domestic abuse on families when children of deaf mothers are relied upon to interpret, highlighting the trauma these children may endure as co-victims.
The University of Edinburgh’s Dr Claire Houghton is part of a new project to shed light on the challenges faced by deaf women in reporting or seeking help for domestic abuse.
A lack of available professional interpreters often creates barriers for deaf women wishing to contact the authorities. This may compel them, police or other support services to rely on their children to convey distressing details, imposing severe emotional strain on both the child and parents.
First-of-a-kind study
In this first-of-a-kind study, entitled: Domestic Abuse in Deaf Families: Perspectives on Children as Co-Victims and Language Brokers, researchers will delve into this understudied area. In its initial phase, interviews will be gathered from deaf mothers and practitioners across the UK to document the impact of domestic abuse on the whole family with the goal of involving the children themselves in a future project.
Dr Houghton, an expert in gender-based violence and young victim-survivors, will collaborate with project lead Professor Jemina Napier, Chair of Intercultural Communication at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh.
Dr Houghton, who works in Social Policy at the University of Edinburgh’s School of Social and Political Science, said: “It is time that policymakers responded to the needs and rights of deaf women experiencing domestic abuse.
“Just as urgently, we need to consider the experiences and rights of their children; they are subjected to domestic abuse alongside their mothers and often taking roles as language brokers when the family seeks help.
“This project will break new ground centring perspectives of survivors and experts in the field.”
Professor Napier said: “There has been very little research with deaf women around language access in the domestic abuse context.
“This means they can’t always access information about what domestic abuse is, what consent means or how to access support services and information.
"We want to get a better understanding of these difficulties and understand the potential impact on children who find themselves interpreting on behalf of their mothers."
Deaf women at three times greater risk of domestic abuse
Deaf women are up to three times more likely to experience domestic abuse than hearing women, with abusers frequently exploiting their deafness to exert control. These abuses are more often committed by men and can have far-reaching, devastating consequences for families. Professor Napier highlighted the range of abuse deaf women experience a range of abuse, including coercive control, gaslighting and financial manipulation.
Professor Napier said: “Deaf women may not realise they are victims of these behaviours, especially when denied access to British Sign Language (BSL) resources.
"A controlling partner who can hear may further isolate them by limiting their access to support of the police.”
Professor Napier’s previous research, Justisigns 2 and SILENT HARM, were among the first to explore the experiences of deaf women victim-survivors of domestic abuse in the UK.
This new project builds on that foundation, in collaboration with Dr Houghton.
Lucy Clark is a deaf domestic abuse victim-survivor and long-standing advocate for deaf domestic abuse victims. She will contribute to the study as a deaf survivor researcher and spoke of the challenges she faced in accessing support.
She said: “There was insufficient support for me as a deaf woman who experienced domestic abuse and I came to realise there are not enough resources or information in BSL for deaf women.
“My own journey was affected as I had no access to get the support I needed, especially being deaf and coming from a hearing family who didn’t sign. There was a lack of knowledge of how to book BSL interpreters, and lack of deaf cultural awareness in the front lines of police and support services, and how to progress from there. We have been silent for so long, and we did not have a voice to speak about domestic abuse in deaf communities,
In gathering insights from victim-survivors, alongside input from Police Scotland, Women’s Aid organisations, and deaf charities such as Deaf Links and SignHealth, the project aims to identify and address the communication barriers that are masked when children are involved as interpreters, and how mothers and practitioners perceive the potential impact on children. Importantly, it will propose solutions to minimize the impact on children and ensure they are not forced into roles as interpreters during times of crisis.
The initial 12-month study, set to begin in January 2025, is funded by a British Academy/ Leverhulme Small Grant. The first findings of the study are expected to be published in a position paper in December 2025.