5/10/2008
Sexism in Deaf World
Hi all, I am doing a research for my Feminist Theory class about genders in Deaf community. My personal opinion is that sexism does not exist as much as it does in Hearing community. The reason why,... we are still oppressed. We are still a group of "leftovers" in this world. Even though the Deaf community is "understood" to have a culture of their own, it is not completely understood or respected like many others. Those traits make us closer with each other and there is much less racism, sexism, etc going on here. For example, Deaf community accepts African Americans, Gays and Lesbians much more than any other minorities. I personally believe that the Black community had less prejudices/sexism in their communities during their oppressed times, maybe it is still the same today. Because they were/are much closer to each other due to the outside world (Whites, KKK, etc). I am curious about those who raised in oral schools, or used CI in public schools, etc. Do you experience racism or sexism? Do you experience that with your own group (oral users, CI, etc). Or, is it similar to what I experience? Less prejudice/sexism? Let me know your thoughts. Correct me all you want, am open. Also, if you know any articles based on this, please do share them with me.
Thanks,
Ali
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- Ali Tyler
- "There are few things in the world as dangerous as sleepwalkers." - Ralph Ellison, Photography, University of Nevada in Reno, pinetrees, dogs (Bear, Scout, Max, Taffy), sunsets, a walk in the snow during full moon, smell of roads when it rains...
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15 comments:
this is what I love about DEAF COMMUNITY.... I mean for those who came from Deaf schools, and Deaf Univerisities,... I had never really see sexism, racism or such. Only I have seen is Audism. This is why alot of us are trying to resolve the problem with Audism. Our culture is unique. Theres no such as these words, Sexism, or Racism in our community I believe there are some reasons to it, possible because we are the people that doesn't pay attention to our skin color, or gender, but see what is in our hearts (spirituality) and our minds (education). We all are human, the natural as way God has made us all. NO need to change any of us, genders, or colors. That's what I think. I love ASL COMMUNITY! We all are together as whoever we are! This is for all Deaf people in the world, that signs. ILY all!
It is interesting to note that ASL doesn't always make a distinction between males and females. He and she are signed the exact same way.
Growing up oral mainstreamed, I can remember being very open about African Americans, gays, and other religions. I remember my grandmother insulted the African Americans that lived down the street, and I wondered what the heck did they do? My friends told me that faggots were worse than maggots, and I remember thinking, what's wrong with being gay?
Darla, awesome! Thank you for the comment. I agree with you. Its the beauty of our culture.
Anonymous, that is interesting. Maybe it has to do with us feeling our own difference growing up, so we are more respect towards others.
Ali-
I believe deaf can be little racist against hearing people because of all the negitive thing deaf people heard from hearing so inside of deaf person grows to hate hearing and grow to make deaf community a stronger community and bring us closer to not to lose our culture. but we get along with minority such like gay and lesbian , black, becuase we know how they feel being outcast
we are all different how we truely feel aboiut sexism and racist bases on their background.
there could be a minority who were taught to hate and other taught to love so deaf could hate deaf cultre and try to be hearing and not accepting that god made them to be deaf
I believe deaf can be little racist against hearing people because of all the negitive thing deaf people heard from hearing so inside of deaf person grows to hate hearing and grow to make deaf community a stronger community and bring us closer to not to lose our culture. but we get along with minority such like gay and lesbian , black, becuase we know how they feel being outcast
we are all different how we truely feel aboiut sexism and racist bases on their background.
there could be a minority who were taught to hate and other taught to love so deaf could hate deaf cultre and try to be hearing and not accepting that god made them to be deaf
Hi Jerod, thank you for responding. You are right, about some deaf people. Some call it "reverse audism." It probably comes from the oppressive experiences they had.
-Ali
I may be digressing here, but I think Deaf women are victims of sexism just like hearing women since Deaf people tend to be influenced by the current vibe of American life. There have used to be a majority of male presidents in deaf community or political organizations, but lately many women has taken office, for e.g., NAD. NAD had used to reject inclusion of blacks in membership, but recently apologized over time. However, I believe that addressing sexism has made some strides somewhat and women are gaining ground in equality and respect, but effects of racism still exists deep down in American life. What I learned from my recent class on “under serving multicultural deaf population” is that some blacks do not often send their children to deaf schools because they fear their children will influenced by whites. This form of resistance still exist. Does this kind of resistance exists for women to obtain positions of power as well? Often, we do not see many Deaf blacks role models in community agencies, etc. despite various jobs are available and needed from them. You also have to consider why there is black on black crime and the lyrical content in rap songs that treat women as objects. Even there are people from the blacks community who complains about these trends. Also from the class, I learned about White Privilege. There was one paper I read from Peggy McIntosh - "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack" -
http://seamonkey.ed.asu.edu/~mcisaac/emc598ge/Unpacking.html#daily. Good luck for the research for your paper.
As far as sexism goes, I don't think there are much of difference between deaf and hearing community. As a male, i don't think i am better suited to answer this question than any females. As an african american myself, in both communities, I have experienced racism in different forms, subtle or obvious so i wouldn't say it is any different too. But I do think we are more likely to accept each other in the deaf community because we do share something in common. I also think it is because of the fact we come from a small community and sharing this "disability", we are more likely to embrace each other than hearing community at large.
Allie, I hope I helped you some in your paper :)
i m currently a student in hearing college.i have been struggling with sexism and audism because most of my professors are males. my two lab professors were skeptical about my deafness and being a female. they said they were concerned that i might not be capable of rescuing animals and can't communicate with hearing people. i said," deaf makes me a stronger person that i am a strong female and don't need a cochlear implant." i have rescued a few dogs without my hearing. how did i do that? when a co worker was in the another room, she thought she could hear animals crying out or getting hurt, but i was the first person to notice a dog was dying by my VISION. a dog was very lucky to be alive from pneumonia. they gained my respect and changed their attitude about deafness and sexism.
i m aware that i will go through oppression when i get interviews or work with a co worker. i want to use my own struggled experiences so i can help the future deaf vet students to get through oppression in the vet field.
- deaf vet student
I feel that some deaf people are prejudiced in the same way that hearing people are. I also feel that the overriding prejudice in the Deaf Community is against people who want to access some sound and spoken langage while also being deaf. Unfortunately some see this as a defining aspect of someone rather than thier personality.
I grew up oral and I find mysel friends with the minorities in the school: Hispanics, blacks and gays. I never found myself discriminating against anyone that treated me like a human being. When I attend ASL events, no one treats me differently and I treat no one differently. I work in the IT field and I find that some male clients will act superordinate because I am a woman repairing their issues. However, I have proved myself time and time again that I am quite capable of doing the job. It is the overachiever in me.
drmzz,
Thanks for a good comment, I agree with you. Makes sense, yet I do believe that living in the dorms does create a family sense in the deaf community and possibly, there is less sexism. However, you are right, "vibes" of American life do come.
Thanks again, your classes seem interesting! Where do u take them?
-Ali
Jon,
Yes you did help. Thank you so much. I got 50 out of 50 on this paper! :)
Ali
Dear Deaf Vet,
Wow... what an experience. What would the situation be like if your professor is Deaf? Would you still experience sexism?
Ali
Anon # 2,
Interesting... good to know.
Abbie,
As for the male clients, are they Hearing?
Thanks,
Ali
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