March is known as Women’s History Month, dedicated to celebrating the achievements of women throughout history and their continued impact on society today. The Buff and Blue is proud to take this opportunity to shine a spotlight on the phenomenal contributions of Deaf and hard-of-hearing women, highlighting their accomplishments across diverse fields.
Samantha Baines was a comedian, actress, broadcaster, and writer. She is a hearing aid user and has always included hearing aid representation in her stories. Baines’ book “Harriet Versus the Galaxy” features a young girl wearing her hearing aids, which helped her understand aliens. Hearing loss representation isn’t often shown in children’s literature, and Baines’ writing normalized hearing aids. “Harriet Versus the Galaxy” was listed in the Independent’s Best Children’s Books of the Year 2019 and the Book Trust’s Great Book Guide 2020.
Baines was also a campaigner for awareness of Deaf issues. She served as an ambassador for the Royal National Institute for Deaf People and the British Tinnitus Association, and she has spoken to MPs in the House of Commons about hearing issues. Samantha led the RNID cinema subtitles campaign. The campaign focuses on advocating for more open captions to make films more inclusive and accessible for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing audience.
Justina Miles was the first Black Deaf woman to perform the ASL version of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” known as the Black national anthem, at the Super Bowl. “I value the opportunity to make it possible for all deaf people to enjoy these songs, and not have them miss out on the full Super Bowl experience,” Miles stated in an interview. She also went viral in 2020 for her TikTok #crushonyouchallenge. In the video, Miles signs a verse and pays homage to rapper Lil’ Kim’s colorful 1997 “Crush on You” music video. Miles hoped her performance would inspire others not to let any obstacles get in the way of achieving their dreams, and to always believe in themselves to go beyond (Liu, Jennifer, “Meet Justina Miles, Rihanna’s Super Bowl halftime show ASL performer,” CNBC, 13 February 2023).
Chrissy Marshall is a Los Angeles-based filmmaker whose work often centers on vulnerable human experiences, existential humor, and dynamic, character-driven storytelling. Her independent works include a variety of ASL-signed music videos. Marshall’s award-winning short films, such as “I.L.Y.,” are celebrated for their powerful awareness campaigns that showcase disabled talent both in front of and behind the camera. Her most recent film, “Hardly What You Want to Hear,” is a gripping sci-fi thriller about a newly engaged hard-of-hearing woman whose hearing aid is hacked. The movie has garnered attention, featuring in the annual IndieX and Film Independent festival lineup.
Marshall is a Queer Deaf woman, and her experiences and unique perspective have shaped her storytelling talent. Raised in a hearing family that doesn’t use sign language, Marshall’s perspective has become invaluable in crafting her language and understanding of the world. She has amplified the voices of underrepresented people and advocated for equity in the entertainment industry.
Mojo Mathers was the first Deaf New Zealand Parliament Member. She lost her hearing due to complications during her difficult birth. When she was two, after being diagnosed with hearing loss, Mathers wore a cumbersome listening device consisting of a large box with a harness. She fought for and won funding for electronic note-takers she needed to work in Parliament. She used a laptop in the debating chamber while people in another room transcribed what was said. Then the device converted the transcription into captions. Mathers was also an advocate for employment and accessibility for disabled people, including providing captioning for 200,000 deaf and hard-of-hearing New Zealanders.
Amy Wenchuan Wong was born deaf in Jakarta, Indonesia, into a close and loving hearing family, and had a sophisticated upbringing, attending schools in Indonesia, Québec, Canada, and California. She attended California State University, Northridge, and majored in Fine Arts and Animation. In 1998, Wong became the first Asian American to win Miss Deaf America. Then she began her career in computer animation while majoring in Fine Arts and Animation at CSUN. After graduating in 1999, Wong interned at Disney Feature Animation and worked as a compositor and visual effects artist at The World of Tomorrow, Inc., specializing in computer-generated imagery for feature films. Her work has been featured in numerous CGI movies, including “Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow”, “Fever Pitch”, and “Monster House”.
The remarkable achievements of Deaf and hard-of-hearing women highlight their resilience, creativity, and determination across a range of fields. From the arts to politics, these women have made significant contributions that inspire future generations and advocate for greater awareness and representation. Celebrating their stories not only honors their impact but also encourages a more inclusive society where all voices are heard.