Deaf citizens and Equality !Dr. John Bosco Conama!Assistant Professor!Centre for Deaf Studies!University of Dublin, Trinity College!!‘Deaf Citizens in the EU - What are our rights?’!European Union of the Deaf / Irish Deaf Society Seminar!Friday, May 17th, 2013!Crowne Plaza Hotel!Santry!Dublin!

Structure of presentation!

•  What is citizenship?!•  Apply equality ideas to

citizenship!•  EU citizenship!•  What are the ideals of

being a Deaf EU citizen?!

•  Future challenges? !

WHAT IS CITIZENSHIP?!

What is citizenship? !•  First thoughts!

•  Much contested concept!

– Because it is influenced by different ideas, different cultures, politics and languages !

•  Still very important!

•  The most common ground for explaining what citizenship is:!

– form of membership of society where individuals can get involved and give/take !

Why discuss citizenship? !

• A yardstick of how far democracy can serve members of a society !

• Politicians and the media  !

• Full citizenship rights!

•  Individuals can judge how far one get involved in society !

Multicultural citizenship? !• Traditional models use Greco-Roman

traditions!

– Oliver (1996): disabled people in the UK!

– Lister (2003): womenʼs experiences!

– Kymlicka & Patten (2003): overlook languages!

APPLYING EQUALITY FRAMEWORK TO CITIZENSHIP!

Basic Equality! Liberal egalitarianism ! Equality of Condition (EoC)!

•  Basic Respect! •  Universal citizenship!

•  Toleration of differences!

•  Public/private distinctions!

•  Universal citizenship!

•  Acceptance of diversity!

•  Redefined public/ private distinction!

•  Critical dialogue over cultural differences!

Respect and recognition!

Equality framework !according to Equality Studies Centre, UCD!

Baker et al, 2004: 43!

Equality goals for Deaf citizens!

•  SLs recognised as official / legal / national languages!

•  Equitable access to public services !

•  Communities recognised as linguistic minorities!

•  Group rights!

Apply this to citizenship for Deaf people!

Basic Equality! Liberal egalitarianism ! Equality of Condition (EoC)!

•  SLs recognised as official / legal / national languages!

•  Adequate access to public services !

•  Equitable access to public services !

•  Communities recognised as linguistic minorities!

•  Group rights!

EU CITIZENSHIP!

Your rights as an EU citizen!

Citizenship of the Union shall be additional to and not replace national citizenship” (Article 17 Maastricht Treaty ) !•  !Right to residence and free movement !•  Right to vote or stand in local and European elections (not national ones) !•  Right to diplomatic and consular protection in a third country !•  Right to petition European parliament, right to Ombudsman and EU institutions in your own language.!

• (EU Guide on your rights as EU citizens 2010)!

!

Barbier (2013: 106) reminds us that these rights can be only used by ʻthose who are able to moveʼ !

Different models of citizenship across Europe!

Citizenship debates in Europe:!

!

For example: !

!Germany: blood descent!

!France: citizenship by birth!

!UK: No citizenship until 1981 (subjects)!

(Wallace 2010)!

Irish citizenship: birth and descent, naturalisation and marriage (CIB, 2013)!

Current ideas of citizenship!

•  Remains firmly at the national level!

•  Neo-liberal challenge!

•  Promotion of competition and individual choice in social policy (education, health, housing etc)!

•  Focus on responsibilities rather than rights (active citizenship)!

•  The use of financial markets (i.e. credit-rating agencies) to regulate the conduct of states !

•  (Barbier 2013 / Hindess 2002 / Wallace 2010)!

DEAF CITIZENS!

So now what can Deaf citizens expect now? !

•  While Emery (2010) reports there were several localised and specific studies into citizenship rights for Deaf people, there was no major study until his doctorate!

•  Emery (2010): UK Deaf people clearly recognised issues preventing them enjoying full citizenship rights: !!

– Phono-centrism!– Individualistic!– ʻCardoning offʼ!

The ideals of being a Deaf citizen!

•  Emery (2010) outlines the possibilities:!

–  Re-designate Deaf communities as linguistic minorities!

–  Renegotiate social contract with governments!

–  Recognise group rights!

–  Recognise signed languages!

Issues for Deaf citizens in Europe!

•  National level - holds the sway of how citizenship is shaped!

•  Is it likely to get a re-designation from governments? !

•  Is it possible to negotiate for a separate social contract for Deaf communities? !

•  Neoliberal regimes would not permit this? !

•  Is it possible to achieve equality of condition under these regimes? !

•  Any comment or questions!

Selected References!

•  Baker J. et al (2004) Equality: From Theory to Action. London, Palgrave.!•  Barbier, Jean-Claude (2013) To what extent can the European Union deliver ‘Social Citizenship’ to its citizens in Adalbert Evers and Ann-Marie Guillemard (eds) Social Policy and Citizenship: the Changing Landscape. Oxford, Oxofrd University Press. !

•  Emery, S. (2011) Citizenship and the Deaf Community. Nijmegen, the Netherlands, Ishara Press. !

•  Hindess, B (2002) Neoliberal citizenship. Citizenship Studies, 6:2, 127-143.!•  Lister, R. (1997) Citizenship: Feminist Perspectives London: MacMillan.!•  Kymlicka W & A.Patten (2003) Language Rights and Political Theory. Oxford:

Oxford University Press.!•  Oliver, M. (1996) Understanding Disability: From Theory to Practice.

Basingstoke: MacMillan!•  Wallace, C (2010) European Citizenship. European Societies - PowerPoint

PPT Presentation -http://www.powershow.com/view/3c7540-YTVkZ/European_Citizenship_Claire_Wallace_European_Societie_powerpoint_ppt_presentation (accessed May 2013) !