Stereotyping and Victim Blaming of Individuals with a Laryngectomy

This study examined whether individuals with a laryngectomy are at risk for stereotyping and victim blaming. Undergraduate students (3 men and 41 women) volunteered to listen to a recording of a man who used tracheoesophageal speech or a man who was a typical adult speaker. A written vignette was provided prior to the listening activity to assess whether knowing that the speaker did or did not have a history of smoking affected the listeners' judgments of the speaker. Semantic differential data and qualitative responses indicated that participants did not report victim blaming; however, they did report that users of tracheoesophageal speech were less highly employable than typical adult speakers. Participants also indicated they relied on the vocal characteristics of speakers and used empathy- or experienced-based reactions to make judgments about users of such speech.