Intercultural deaf gain: Rethinking deaf identity through power, intersectionality and situated knowledge

Abstract This article presents a critical examination of the ways in which deafness has been conceptualised in social, cultural and academic discourses, centring on the notion of Intercultural Deaf Gain. Drawing on an experience situated in the Global South and from the intersectional perspective of its deaf author, the identity tensions faced by those with hearing loss who navigate between the hearing world and Deaf culture are analysed. The proposal seeks to enrich the traditional concept of Deaf Gain, integrating hybrid experiences that have historically been marginalised. It is argued that this approach allows for a questioning of the deficit model, making deaf diversity visible, in order to promote more equitable forms of inclusion.