Beyond Deficit Narratives: A Qualitative Journey into the Lives of Queer Disabled Redditors


Thomas Tri, University of Calgary; Alan Santinele Martino, University of Calgary

Access to information about queerness and disability has been unreliable and incomprehensive within formal education settings. In contrast, digital spaces allow people to share challenges, successes, and advice. Digital spaces, such as social media or the internet more broadly, have been focal points in fostering community, belonging, and connection. For many queer and disabled people, digital spaces not only serve as an avenue for support and interaction, but it can also serve as a vital tool in identity-making and ownership of one’s narrative. This phenomenon underscores the importance of exploring the concept of joy within these marginalized groups, challenging the prevalent "joy deficit" perspective that tends to focus solely on their suffering and misery. The term "joy deficit" highlights a research tendency to overlook the positive aspects of the lives of queer and disabled individuals, emphasizing their struggles while neglecting their resilience, hope, visions, and wisdom. Tuck (2009) suggests adopting a desire-based framework that acknowledges loss and despair and recognizes the positive elements within these communities. Scholars have delved into the concept of joy among queer and disabled individuals, exploring how critical experiences of pleasure and happiness are in the face of obstacles, yet queerness and disability are often discussed in silo. To address the intersection of queer and disabled joy using a desire-based framework, this study seeks to investigate how queer disabled online users understand joy in Reddit. Objectives of the study include a) identify how users defy normative narratives about disability and queerness that are disempowering and b) investigate how users construct new narratives around queerness and disability. Using a content analysis, this study will examine and analyze posts, comments, and content from Reddit spanning the past five years. A targeted search strategy will employ specific keywords, including "queer," "LGBTQ+," "disabled," and "disability," to identify and gather pertinent discussions within relevant subreddits systematically. A thematic analysis will be conducted inductively and iteratively to generate themes. Finally, this research project will be disseminated to local non-profits and organizations through infographics that mirror Reddit threads. In doing so, knowledge is accessible and more engaging. This study also seeks to inform practical outcomes such as policy, programs, and services that centre joy and foster well-being. This study is a work in progress and will have substantial results by the time of the conference.

This paper will be presented at the following session: