West Midlands Presents… Gender Matters! A Double Bill

West Midlands Presents… is extremely proud to host a very special double bill, Gender Matters! dissecting gender in sign language interpreting.

We’ll open our evening with Paul Michaels discussing his PhD research on men in interpreting, focusing on their motivations to become sign language interpreters.

We will then hand over to Ruth Peaker who asks if there is a glass escalator in sign language interpreting? Ruth will look at whether or not male interpreters are fast-tracked into high-status roles in this predominantly female profession, applying Christine L. Williams’ seminal work, ‘The Glass Escalator’, to the sign language interpreting profession.

We will end the evening with a Q & A with both Paul and Ruth.

Paul is a qualified BSL interpreter with over 10 years experience in the field. He is also a qualified Professional Supervisor having completed a Diploma in Supervision in 2018. Paul has a passion for research and is currently undertaking doctoral research at Durham University on the motivations for men to become sign language interpreters and their experience in the profession. He has previously conducted research on the identity, culture and language of the deaf gay male community in Britain, deaf gay men’s use of dating apps, male sign language interpreters working in mental health settings, deaf LGBT+ youth and the enterprising tendencies of British Sign Language interpreters.

Ruth is a qualified BSL interpreter who came to the profession with a background in Sociology. Ruth has contributed to NEWSLI several times and currently pursues a keen interest in feminism and gender issues. Ruth is an active member of ASLI’s Equality and Diversity working group and one of our very own West Midlands Regional Committee. Ruth has delivered training in presenteeism and self-efficacy for interpreters and continues to develop other training products.