Deafness is a much more severe barrier to a professional career than is being a woman. Everything I do is “wonderful, considering.” It is hard to develop mature and responsible habits when nothing is expected of you.
Deaf people are often treated like children, incapable of responsibility for their own affairs. Women are supposed to be passive, not too competent or independent. I don’t fit…. It has taken time for people to get used to me. As a professional woman who is deaf, I represent a study in contrasts.
I have never made any secret of my deafness. On the other hand, I have always stressed the fact that I do have job skills to
offer my prospective employer in exchange for any inconvenience my deafness may cause. If asked point blank, I explain my limitations matter-of-factly and mention how I cope with them. Otherwise, I do not dwell on the subject of deafness.
My first career, that of medical technology, is one that is traditionally a woman’s job. And my second career, that of biochemistry, is the “feminine” area of chemistry . . . being a woman has influenced my career choices.
From my experience, I think scientific research is a practical, rewarding profession for a deaf woman, and I would hope to see more deaf people enter it in time.