Deafness, Identity, and Familial Belonging: A Disability Studies Reading of Sian Heder’s CODA

Abstract

This paper examines Sian Heder’s CODA (2021) through the theoretical frameworks of Disability Studies and Deaf Studies, arguing that the film redefines deafness as a cultural identity rather than a personal deficiency. Centering on Ruby Rossi, the only hearing member of a Deaf family, the narrative explores the tensions between individual aspiration and familial responsibility. The study analyzes how the film challenges traditional cinematic portrayals of disability by foregrounding Deaf agency, sign language, and community life. Drawing upon the works of Harlan Lane, Raja Kushalnagar, Astha Singh, and Aniva Sukul et al., the paper demonstrates that CODA resists the pathos-driven representation of disability common in mainstream cinema. Instead, it presents Deafness as a lived cultural experience while exposing the communicative and social burdens placed upon Children of Deaf Adults (CODAs). Through an examination of language, identity, labor, and belonging, this paper argues that CODA offers a significant intervention in contemporary disability representation by centering Deaf perspectives and redefining familial resilience.