The blogging break isn’t working out - I just gotta say my piece. <sarcasm> After all, I’m an attention whore.</sarcasm>
The DBC controversy has morphed into a debate of what exactly is “Deafhood” is, and the merits of it. I was reading a blog article on AfterEllen.com about sexual identity politics, and I thought this article was so fitting for the deaf identity politics swirling around the blogosphere. Because this is what it really is about. Deaf identity politics.
Why is there such a huge following for Deafhood? Their messages certainly resonates with some of us in the community. Many of us feel threatened by the cultural transformations taking place. The deep irony is that for decades, we’ve been screaming at the hearing world, “We are just like you. We are human beings and we happen to just be Deaf and speak a different language.”
That is a very similar message the gays and lesbians have been telling the straight world. “We’re just like you. We’re human beings and we just happen to love someone of the same gender.”
That message for both the Deaf community and the gay/lesbian community has been getting through to the majority. More so for the gays and lesbians, really. But it is interesting to me to notice the parallels - the gays and lesbians had the Stonewall Riots, and we had DPN of ‘88. Both of those protests spawned a movement and defined a generation. We celebrated who we were, and flaunted our differences to the majority to underscore how ultimately when it came down to it, we were not that different.
The majority listened, and we all slowly gained acceptance. We still have struggles to overcome, such as having the establishment accept ASL as a legitimate language of instruction in education of deaf children. But the Deaf Community’s language is so widely accepted and supported that hearing parents teach it to their hearing children. Obnoxious encounters with clueless hearing people in public grow less and less. We are being provided with better accomodations and equal access. It’s not perfect, but we’re getting there.
As we progress in our fight, just like the gays and lesbians, our cultural identity isn’t as rigid anymore. The boundaries are more blurred and far more fluid. We’re still Deaf, but we’re not the Deaf of old. We all talk about the golden days, where Deaf clubs and schools thrived. But I find it interesting that when we discuss those golden days, we don’t discuss the fact that oppression was far worse back then and because of that oppression, caused the Deaf Community to flock to the clubs and schools.
Upon thinking about this, I am left feeling quite disturbed and deeply question the Deafhood movement. Are we truly in such a terrible position, that we have to band together again like we did in the “golden” days?
August 14, 2008 at 10:04 pm
Ahhh… those old ‘golden’ days…
Picking up a pint of warm beer and humming with a off-key tune… and signing:
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne ?
CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !
And surely I’ll buy mine !
And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine ;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine† ;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.
CHORUS
And there’s a hand my trusty friend !
And give us a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.
CHORUS
August 15, 2008 at 12:09 am
… signing:
Dauntless sons of Celtic sires
Whose souls the love of freedom fires,
Hark! ev’ry harp to war inspires
On Cader Idris side.
See the brave advancing,
See the brave advancing,
Each well-tried spear
Which Saxons fear,
In warlike splendour glancing.
Proud Harlech from her frowning tow’rs
Pours forth her never failing pow’rs.
Rouse, heroes, glory shall be ours,
March on, your country’s pride!
Shall heart-rending sound of woe
Be heard where Conway’s waters flow?
Or shall a rude and ruthless foe
Find here one willing slave?
From mountain and from valley,
From mountain and from valley,
From Snowdon, from
Plinlimmon’s brow
Around your prince ye rally.
Let cowards kiss th’oppressor’s scourge,
Home to his heart your weapons urge,
O’erwhelm him in th’avenging surge;
To victory, ye brave!
-George Thomson
August 15, 2008 at 1:52 am
Well, for some people the good ol’ days look better than what is happening today, which is in a flux of change and uncertainty. Some just have a need to feel grounded and so they slap a new label on something comforting to them to make it seem like something new.
Others see change and uncertainty as stimulating and refreshing, a coming out of the stifling restrictions and oppressions of the past. Change is a sign that indicates an openness to new ideas.
Yes, granted, we’ve made a good deal of progress in awareness of deafness, communication access, and ASL in the hearing society, but…Deaf renaissance? It really won’t happen ’til there’s an acceptance of the entire spectrum of d/Deafness among ourselves first, both online and in real life within the deaf community. That is going to take a willingness to become open-minded and welcoming new ideas even though they seem hare-brained at first.
Deafhood struck me as the old idea of deaf community with a new label slapped onto it. The concept makes sense to some d/Deaf people, especially those who are DOH, the oralist generations robbed of contact with a deaf community in their early lives. I don’t subscribe to Deafhood myself as I’m comfortable with who I am and where I am at this point in my life. But for some others, Deafhood makes sense to them because some didn’t have the role models to show them that being d/Deaf is fine, that it’s nothing to be ashamed about, that they can in fact have fulfilling lives without speech skills, and that there’s a rich heritage in Deaf culture should they decide to become a part of it.
I don’t have anything against the concept itself, but I do have concerns when some adherents of Deafhood start taking words from Ladd’s book out of context and turning them into propaganda, such as “colonialized” or “deficit thinker” and apply them to those who don’t agree with them or who are even neutral about Deafhood. I detest it particularly when some Deafhood fans say you have to read the book and go to the workshops (these cost money) if one is to have any say about the concept. This is deaf identity politics gone to elitism.
It’s another form of oppression. Deaf on deaf oppression. It’s a reflection of what the hearing world has done to us for so many years.
August 15, 2008 at 6:18 am
:o)
Ahhhh… identity politics!
Life is just full of politics of all kinds, huh?
August 15, 2008 at 6:28 am
Hey, the video comment on Mel’s vlog on DeafVIDEO.TV, made by virgingordo2, illustrates the difference between collectivism and individualism.. very good. It seems that Deafhood is seen as collective, versus seen as individual.
It reminds me of other movements which did leave several people uncomfortable… like in Jewish history when there were several movements and groups, leading to the factions of Jews agreeing and disagreeing with each other (Pharisees, Essenses, to name a few…)
I mean, I see that some people fail to understand that Deafhood is NOT new… it has happened in several groups, in other countries, etc…. not only deaf people, but hearing people too… just I used Jews’ history as an example.
Ann_C, I did go to workshop. I did read the book. Still I am here today, unchanged… I guess something is wrong with me ;o)
August 15, 2008 at 9:13 am
Like I said earlier, daffhood is just a new mask for these deaf-power folks who could not rein in the power earlier.
Nothing’s wrong with you Karen. Many deaf people went to the workshop but yet there are greater amount of people feeling confused than before. It’s an indication of lousy presenters on their part.
August 15, 2008 at 10:45 am
Yeah, I think you hit it right there. There is no way we can ever go back to that. Even if we tried.
One reason why we don’t have many deaf clubs like we do (we’re NOT talking about deaf coffee chats or meets here!) is that times have changed, many kids and 20 - 30 somethings have other interests they’d rather do (being part of society as a whole and showing the world that they are no different from them) than hang out in some deaf club.
Similarity. many kids now days are into things far different than what we were into, when we were kids. Many deaf kids are now involved in their neighborhood sports and activities far more than what it used to be eons ago.
Could be some deaf see it (lack of strong deaf centric environment) as a disservice to them and wanted a deaf centric world. That would take us back into history. Not good.
Which is why we are seeing “least restrictive environment” to mean, mainstreaming is better. So, with more mainstreamed kids, the ideology of a deaf world is becoming less and less visible.
“We are deaf, yet, we can do anything anyone can do.” What this means is better messages send forth to the population that we are as independent and are capable of being on the same page as anyone else.
Deaf people should be able to compete with hearing in all areas of live. We have that capability, after all, we can do anything but hear! So, that message is in conflict with DH’s message. Which is it gonna be?
August 15, 2008 at 10:50 am
Berg’s editoral cartoon in the gay newspaper incidated “more and more younger gay people no longer patronized gay bars and end up in hetro bars which they feel not have to go to gay bars to fit in”
I used to feel that way about not really have to go to “exclusively deaf event” while I was younger. I get more and more older. I became more suited to deaf identity politics because of seeing the real things like “audism”.
The society at large would put up with non-identity politics on very short attention span, then return to the old-self.
RLM
August 15, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Thank you, Ann C and Karen. I feel better I am not the only one who feel the same way you do.
August 15, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Interesting comment, Candy.
You present the dichotomy that many young deaf people face– having a working career in the hearing world or being a member of Deaf culture, which Deafhood focuses on.
Seems that today working in the hearing world presents more opportunities for contact with all kinds of people and helps to level the playing field, showing that a deaf person can indeed do everything but hear. Competition and being part of the larger world encourages independent thinking for oneself and that’s a healthy thing for growing as an adult, deaf or hearing.
OTOH being a member of Deaf culture does require following certain etiquette, which enhances the socialization among Deaf peers but which also cultivates a group mindset at the same time. It may be this latter part about Deaf culture that some young people find unattractive after having been mainstreamed early in the education system and after being in the larger world for some time as adults?
I think that ideally a young deaf person would want the best of both worlds and be able to participate in either without the backlash involved. Who’d want to be called a deficit thinker or labeled colonialized? Who’d want to be labeled by his own kind as big D or little d, etc? The pettiness probably strikes some young people as rather stupid but it comes from a groupthink that is encouraged in Deaf culture.
Deafhood as a deaf philosophy has not escaped this collective thinking, even though the concept is based on individual journeys, no one deaf journey is alike.
August 15, 2008 at 2:13 pm
I think we can have the best of both worlds. We do need to socialize with similar people and who share similar experiences. That need will never go away.
And really, I resent the implication that I have to choose between the hearing or deaf worlds. Why do I have to choose? Why are people demanding that I choose? I can go out in the hearing world, be with hearing people and do my job. Then I can come home, and have a good time with my deaf and signing hearing friends.
I don’t fear the world. I don’t hold anger against the world. But I feel like people are trying to impose their fear, their anger on me, so I’ll make a choice that pleases them. And that shouldn’t happen.
August 15, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Exactly how I feel, Deafpundit. Same here.
August 15, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Interesting discussion. It just occurs to me that Deafhood mostly attracts Deaf people in 30’s to 50’s. In other words, will this concept appeal to the younger Deaf generation already comfortable with the rapidly changing world with better technologies? Time will tell.
Perhaps it appeals to Deaf people who experience a void in their lives, a need for belonging and understanding. Deaf people who haven’t experienced self-acceptance, empowerment and enlightment. To feel a need for kindred is a human nature and people explore different groups, including different religions, for both spiritual and personal growth. I’m just wondering.. is this the first Deaf-centric spiritual and personal growth organization? Kudos for Deaf people exploring the journey into self acceptance and empowerment. This is long overdue.
Empowered for decades, I’m comfortable in both the hearing and deaf world and seek diversity of people in my life. I don’t need Deafhood to validate myself or others. I am aware that countless D/deaf people, including oral and c.i. users who are already fullfilled and don’t need Deafhood for themselves. Personally I don’t care for any organization invested in using negative terms to label people who retain their personal beliefs rather than respecting them and accepting the diversity in the Deaf Community. Intolerance isn’t in my vocabulary.
Personally I would encourage Deaf people to explore opportunities promoting positive healing and letting go of anger in healthy ways. Make lemonades out of lemons
August 16, 2008 at 11:09 am
*shaking head* mothers who say they don’t need motherhood to validate themselves…it sounds odd. it sounds like mothers trying to deny their motherhood…pretending they are not mothers and not part of the motherhood world. i am sure there are mothers who refuse to do anything with other mothers. that is fine. if mothers prefer to spend time with people who are childless, that is fine. if mothers prefer to ignore mothers and spend time with fathers only, that is fine. deafhood is NOT about people who are angry. it is just about being deaf. very simple. motherhood is about being mothers. very simple. it is not about one needing deafhood or motherhood. one will ask me if i enjoy motherhood, i will say yes. if i don’t, i can say no. i guess some deaf people do not enjoy deafhood because of their negative experience as deaf persons. people say yes to deafhood because they embrace being deaf and their community and their language.
August 16, 2008 at 11:42 am
Deaf Reader,
I spend nearly all my time with other Deaf people. Nearly all of my friends are Deaf. I sign ASL, and cherish the language. And despite the vicious attacks from some in the community, I still embrace the community.
But apparently to you and your friends, I’m not Deaf, because I have the nerve to disagree with your hateful dogma.
August 16, 2008 at 12:31 pm
As a Deaf person, I do not see my deafness a negative experience. It helps define me as a person with strong interests in justice, advocacy and empowerment. However, because I have a mind of my own, I am deemed a person in need to be ‘deprogrammed’ as I’m seen as a deficit thinker by certain Deafhood leaders and supporters.
Amazing… one of the most empowered Deaf persons in the country who had organized a major lawsuit against a hospital resulting in new interpretations of ADA by Dept of Justice, a person who have served in the city committee for advocacy of disabled people for a good number of years and a leading civil rights activist needs to be ‘deprogrammed’… from what, I wonder?
I am fine as I am. I do not need to be ‘deprogrammed’.
August 16, 2008 at 7:58 pm
*stratching head* did i say that you, deaf pundit, are not deaf? i think you are deaf and experience your own deafhood whether or not you like it. it is just like all mothers who experience their own motherhood. your deafhood experience is probably different than mine. i just don’t understand why deaf people have to say they don’t embrace deafhood even though they are deaf. like i said before, it is odd to hear mothers say they don’t embrace motherhood. if they say that, i can’t help wondering what it is like for them as mothers. difficult children make them hate motherhood? unsupportive husbands make them hate motherhood? many possible reasons.
August 16, 2008 at 8:02 pm
mz, who says you need to be deprogrammed? i am not calling you a deficit thinker. “some” of your thinking puzzle me. i admit i have a hard time understanding why a deaf person wants to deny their deafhood just like a mother who wants to deny her motherhood. i have not yet met a mother who says she does not embrace motherhood except in cases where mothers gave up their children for adoption or the like.
August 16, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Deaf Reader -
How are MZ and I denying our deafhood? Because we reject Ella, DE and GG’s definition?
Because we think Ella, DE and GG are scare-mongers and their propaganda is nothing but thinly veiled bigotry?
If so, then yes. I deny that deafhood.
August 16, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Deaf Reader, it’s funny. At first, one Deafhood Leader told me I’m very advanced with my Deafhood due to my extensive advocacy efforts. Then, later when I started disagreeing on some issues, I’m labeled a deficit thinker not only by the Deafhood leaders, but also their supporters. The person who took the Deafhood class last Spring under DE mentioned last month that I need to be ‘deprogrammed’.
So according to them, as long as I agree with them, my Deafhood is valid, but once I show independent thinking, I am no longer within my Deafhood.
So my deafhood is ‘defined’ by others? That’s how they play the charade? No way Jose. That’s not gonna work with ME.
That’s not the real definition of Deafhood, according to Paddy Ladd. However, this concept is abused by the Deafhood leaders and their followers.
August 16, 2008 at 10:12 pm
It has a lot to do with uncomfortable feeling of being confined to a creed especially if it serves such binary view as “those innocent deprived ignorant deaf people v.s. those audist monsters” putting us in polarizing position that many of us know it is not exactly the case nowadays. Many deaf intellectuals and good minds know better than that.
Resistance grew because of wrongful manipulation, (no voting power, conflict of interest, creeping into CAD mission, and then with ridiculous motions at NAD) plus fueling with negative labeling make it worst. The credibility is forever damaged. Damaged.
Let’s say we rest on that we do know what deafhood really is within our own good positive sense of who we are as Deaf and let others define it how they want. I personally do not care at all, do not tell me or us that we do not embrace deafhood because we disagree with some people because of their ethic problems.
Only we need to kept politically separate, like it is best to keep religion and government separate because sometime too much adherence to philosophy, belief whatever can limiting. Simplicity and clearer vision are the way to go, if we need to reach out to parents of our future generation more quickly.
August 16, 2008 at 10:22 pm
I kept on scratching on my head, what does it mean that I am being colonialized? What is it in me that they think I have the need to be deprogrammed?
I always feel good about being Deaf, never ever one moment ever in all of my life I ever feel like I wish I can speak well or that I wish I am a hearing or what?
I always have been clear that the system is unfortunately a big mess and we need to do more work to make changes. Simple as this.
I completely lost my respect to those who have been vigorously trying to instill fear and doubts in us.
August 16, 2008 at 11:13 pm
What an attention whore you are!
I enjoyed the songs - thanks Amy and gazelem for the off-key humming and signing!
MZ - you are really an incredible activist and advocate! It also saddens me that you are considered as a deficit thinker.
I hate that term even more than before. It’s spreading like wildfire now.
Like MZ said, if a person needs DH as a guide for spirtual and personal growth, that’s great and overdue as there hasn’t really been an official organization for that, is there?
But my pet peeve is that the longer one is in a group and very tight, the terms such as deficit thinkers gets stronger and personal towards some individuals.
That is not okay with me. It hurts some people. Because labels can stick with people for a long time.
I was talking to a friend the other day… can’t we all just get along?
She said she didn’t think so.
I still think there is hope.
Anyway, good post.
August 19, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Two questions herein:
Not to nitpick, but how does the writer know that “Deaf Reader”’s name is Jose? No one else but the bloggetr would know “Deaf Reader”’s name. (See “Jose” in the third passage of the message numbered 20.
The writer also says in the last paragraph:
A person who writes above owes the full explanation. Therefore, the writer should have cited Paddy Ladd’s saying to support the writer’s claim.
August 19, 2008 at 7:27 pm
MishkaZena isn’t saying DeafReader’s name is Jose. “No way, Jose” is an informal idiom.
As for your 2nd question, I’ll let MishkaZena take care of that.