Hello! Welcome to the new website, Deafhood and Genetics.
The website is part of a research project funded by the Leverhulme Trust and run by the Centre for Deaf Studies, at the University of Bristol. We believe the project to be the UK’s first ever Deaf-designed and led social science research.
The research will look at Deaf people’s concerns about developments in genetic technology and society. We will investigate Deaf and hearing peoples’ fears that, if left unchecked, genetic technology could encourage the development of eugenicist social policies.
For example the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill (2008) means that couples who wish to try and ensure deaf genes are not passed on when they want a family, now have the support of law for this. There are real fears that laws like these will be extended as genetic technology develops.