Elisandra Santos Mendes Garcia
EVOXIA – INTERNACIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION, Blumenau, SC, v. 1, n.1, dez. 2025.
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Abstract
This integrative review brings together studies from the last ten years that examine how the
representation of deafness is constructed, perceived, and claimed, especially from the perspective of
deaf people. Through 11 articles found in Brazilian and international databases, three major recurring
themes were identified: (a) social representations—how deafness is seen/felt by deaf and hearing
people; (b) deaf cultural identity—how deaf people construct their identity within medical, social, or
bicultural models; and (c) cultural and educational practices as spaces for affirming representation
(deaf literature, sign language, cultural movements, and media). In many studies, there is tension
between viewing deafness as a disability (clinical/pathological model) and as a cultural or linguistic
difference—many deaf people reject the former and claim the latter. The role of public policies, the
law (such as the recognition of Libras), bilingual education, and social spaces (social media, literature,
media) in providing visibility or fostering representation is also highlighted. Limitations: Many studies
are qualitative, located in specific contexts (Brazil, global South); few with large samples or longitudinal
studies; a lack of studies focused on single-sided or marginal deafness. Contributions: Recent mapping,
articulation between identity, representation, and education, and indication of paths for practical
representation (literary, cultural, and political). Further comparative studies, further development of
quantitative research, and exploration of perceptions of oral deaf individuals versus deaf users of
Libras are suggested.
Keywords: deafness; deaf representation, and identity construction.
1 INTRODUÇÃO
A luta por reconhecimento e visibilidade das pessoas surdas transcende o campo da
acessibilidade e da inclusão: trata-se de uma disputa simbólica e política por
representatividade, identidade e pertencimento (FRASER, 2001a,b; HALL, 2006). Apesar de
avanços legislativos importantes, como o reconhecimento oficial da Língua Brasileira de Sinais
(Libras) pela Lei nº 10.436/2002 (BRASIL, 2002) e iniciativas internacionais que buscam
garantir direitos linguísticos e culturais das comunidades surdas (SKLIAR, 1998a,b; WFD,
2023a,b), a surdez ainda é, em muitos contextos, interpretada e tratada a partir de um modelo
clínico-patológico, centrado na deficiência e na normalização auditiva (LANE, 1992; PERLIN,
2003a,b).
Esse modelo, enraizado em tradições biomédicas e reforçado por políticas
assistencialistas, contribui para a invisibilidade social e cultural das pessoas surdas, apagando
suas formas próprias de existência, linguagem e cultura (SKLIAR, 1997; FERNANDES, 2007a,b).
Em contraponto, o modelo sociocultural e linguístico da surdez reconhece os surdos como
sujeitos pertencentes a uma minoria linguística, com identidade cultural distinta, práticas