A Different Kind of Imposter Syndrome: The Appropriation of American Sign Language and Deaf Culture

This chapter explores the ongoing, growing issue of hearing people using their social media accounts to teach American Sign Language (ASL) and promote Deaf culture/ASL related merchandise, often for profit. This chapter presents an overview of American Deaf culture and identity, and their close ties with ASL; then how the cultural appropriation of ASL by non-fluent signers can do harm to the Deaf community, especially within the scope of social media platforms. This chapter also contrasts these themes with a discussion of how successful Deaf social media influencers have been doing their part to increase awareness and understanding of ASL, Deaf culture, and the Deaf community’s perspective on Deaf identities online.