How Do They Identify?: Personal Identity vs Group Identity

“How Do They Identify?: Personal Identity vs Group Identity.” “Personal Identity vs Group Identity” is on a blue banner with pink swiggly lines below the text and on the left side of the image.

In my last blog post, I was explaining the importance of asking, especially when considering needs and identity. With that, I know that addressing a diverse group of people with different communities within can be confusing to many people. So, I am going to give an overview of what you can do when you are trying to address someone and their identity. 

First step. Do not assume. 

I cannot emphasize this enough. Body language, choice of tools, and apparent access to resources does not show the full picture. Feel free to read “If You Can Only Do One Action For Accessibility, Here is The Tip.” to gain understanding on how assumption can cause harm.

There are also two different situations with identity to consider, personal identity and group identity.

Personal Identity

If it is someone’s identity, always ask. There are many factors to their decision and they do not need to explain their reasoning. For example, my personal identity associated with my disabilities is that I am deaf and disabled. I do not consider myself culturally Deaf due to being raised by my hearing family and living my life mostly as oral deaf through my cochlear implant and hearing aid. I do sign but not all the time due to my chronic pain. 

My disabled identity stems from my chronic pain. It is empowering to me to reclaim the disabled identity and it gives me more freedom to accept my reality. I do not need to explain this but I choose to because I like talking about it. 

Lived experience shapes personal identity. It is one that definitely cannot be assumed. So just ask, most people rather provide their identity so they feel heard and respected then react when you assume their identity. 

Group identity

Group identity can be easier to find on your own but can be difficult to confirm. The internet has many voices giving you the answers if you listen to them. But, there are so many voices that it is difficult to determine the group consensus unless you are looking at the right place. 

Do your research. Be mindful of the different organizations that may be pushing a conflicting agenda. Many individuals who are living with their disability will call out the organizations for not meeting their needs and experiences due to their harmful narrative. 

The easiest way to do this is to reach out to the communities and learn from them. Most of the time, they are already giving out the information freely for advocating on their behalf that you can probably find in research but can confirm with the group. If you come from a place of learning and understanding, most people respond well to it. 

There are different perspective to the similar disabilities and conversations. Many of the reasons for these perspectives are coming from the place of being marginalized for so long and only really being heard from parents, medical professionals, and organizations, not from the individuals themselves. I am still trying to get people to stop saying hearing impaired and shift to either hearing loss or Deaf and hard of hearing.

That is why it is not good to assume. Individuals have been talking for so long and are only really getting the opportunity now to be heard. Some may react kindly and some are sick and tired of saying the same thing and going nowhere. 

Asking can allow people to express how they want if they consent to it. It gives them a choice in a society that may not give that freely. Listening can really open doors to greater and meaningful conversations for access and inclusion.

Amanda