Deafhood

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AJWSmith said:
Not sure about this explanation. I have now chosen from deep within to identify myself as deaf and different from a hearing person (or wannabe hearing person). Being deaf shapes my existence and values. It's not so much a within/without difference as a difference in language & culture. And Deafness is shaped from without by accepting the values of other Deaf people.
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Actually it is shaped within by internalizing those values so that they guide your exisitence.

The way you seem to weighing things out, I have no doubt that you are on the way to becoming Deaf. You just have to get rid of the hearing person you were socialized to be. So have many, many others.
 
Hohtopics said:
The "d"eaf have just as much right to have their own "d"eaf identity or feel good about it as the Deaf do about theirs.
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You obviously still don't understand the difference between someone who id's as deaf, and someone who id's as Deaf. Someone who id's as deaf has not internalized it to the degree that is has become a part of their identity.
 
kokonut said:
You mean, for example, people with hearing loss who can use the telephone easily whether through the use of hearing aids or cochlear implants?
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Didn't you say that you don't use a measuring stick and apply labels? Then stop it.
 
Hohtopics said:
You do have some good points. Cause when I come up with certain thoughts, feelings or opinions, some seem to want to put a "negative spin" on them or make certain assumptions saying "You must have had some bad experiences in the past" and stuff like that. Yet, when I say "I've actually had more experiences with the Deaf than some of you think", they don't seem to follow up on it or want to "open the door" to that statement and so forth.
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It is because you come across as very negative and bitter. And you don't even recognize your own audist perspective in your posts.
 
DeafCaroline said:
That's where it starts getting vague and grey because then we have to go back to discussing the meaning of deaf itself. Like you said, people who wear glasses are not blind. So, people with mild or moderate hearing loss are not deaf. But then one would ask, what about severe hearing loss - where does that fall? So, this could very well be the debate that will never end.

All I know is that me personally, I don't classify people with mild to moderate hearing loss as deaf. I just see them as hard of hearing. Just like I don't classify people who wear glasses as blind.
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You're drawing a line based on hearing loss amount in regards to "deafhood"? Meaning, it doesn't consider hard of hearing people? Where does it say that?
 
kokonut said:
You're drawing a line based on hearing loss amount in regards to "deafhood"? Meaning, it doesn't consider hard of hearing people? Where does it say that?
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Stop trying to bait DeafCaroline. She has made her position and her thoughts very clear. You have reached the point where you have nothing to contribute (if you ever did) and are now just trying to lead people where you want them to go. Get over yourself. You have made your thoughts on Deafhood clear. Time to STFU now.
 
kokonut said:
You're drawing a line based on hearing loss amount in regards to "deafhood"? Meaning, it doesn't consider hard of hearing people? Where does it say that?
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I read Kim's article and she has made very valid points. And I'm glad she wrote it and good for her for getting that out there.

Let's be clear. I define deafness from a technical standpoint. Technically, people who have mild to moderate hearing loss are not deaf. HOWEVER that does not mean they do not have same or similar struggles or that they don't need help or support. Not at all, i know people with mild to moderate hearing loss incurred later in life and they really are having such a hard time with it and I absolutely empathize with them and consider what they're going through just as valid and real as my own experiences as a profoundly deaf person. For me to deny that they too struggle would be a huge slap in their face.

If they are perfectly happy not learning ASL, and living with hearing aids (or not, some late-deafened just won't), bonus for them! Whatever works for them and makes them happy, great! We need more happy people in this world, they're easier to deal with :)

And if they choose to learn ASL and get involved in the deaf community, then that's great too!

Whatever makes them happy. That's really the bottom line for me. And mutual respect.
 
Oh...deafhood. It's not my place to tell someone else how to define themselves as a person with a hearing loss. If they prefer to view themselves as deaf, not Deaf, HOH, not hearing impaired, whatever label they want to give themselves, they're still a person with a hearing problem.

It's up to them to define their own journey.
 
DeafCaroline said:
Oh...deafhood. It's not my place to tell someone else how to define themselves as a person with a hearing loss. If they prefer to view themselves as deaf, not Deaf, HOH, not hearing impaired, whatever label they want to give themselves, they're still a person with a hearing problem.

It's up to them to define their own journey.
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don't bother restating your view. koko's just out there to fish any flaw in you and then rub your nose on it like you're a bad puppy who pee pee on his favorite carpet.
 
Jiro said:
don't bother restating your view. koko's just out there to fish any flaw in you and rub your nose on it like a bad puppy.
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Obviously. She intimidates him as she is so articulate and intelligent. He is looking for a flaw in her reasoning and can't find one.
 
Oh wow...cant believe how controversial this word is. LOL
 
Coming from my own personal experience of adapting to and living in several cultures throughout my life, I would like to address the issue of defining the difference between Deaf Culture and Deafhood, IMO.

Deaf Culture defines a distinctive identity, perspective and way of living for D/dhh people. Deafhood is the means by which you embrace that way of living and adapt to it, for many it is a journey. If dhh people are finding ways to adapt to the hearing world and fit in there, then they are not embracing Deafhood or the Deaf Culture. As Deafcaroline mentioned: Whether someone has mild, moderate, severe, or profound ranges, we all face varing degrees of similar challenges in life. The question is: Which way of living do you choose to adapt to? Those who choose the 'big D' way, are no less able to interact with the hearing society - they just view things from a different perspective of themselves and life in general around them, same as any other distinctive culture around the world. I disagree with the concept that Deafhood is colonizing, it is impossible for it to be so, for it is worldwide, spanning every country.
 
Yeah, you guys are right. I won't be repeating myself again. If they didn't hear me the first two or three times, it would be silly to assume they would hear me the fourth or 100th time.
 
BecLak said:
I disagree with the concept that Deafhood is colonizing, it is impossible for it to be so, for it is worldwide, spanning every country.
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:hmm: Ladd does not describe Deafhood as colonizing, very much the opposite. “Deafhood is a process to decolonize our mind, body, and spirit from colonialism.” (Ladd)
 
GrendelQ said:
:hmm: Ladd does not describe Deafhood as colonizing, very much the opposite. “Deafhood is a process to decolonize our mind, body, and spirit from colonialism.” (Ladd)
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I wasn't referring to Ladd's book, as I do not have access to it so as to read it. Note I said: IMO.
 
GrendelQ said:
:hmm: Ladd does not describe Deafhood as colonizing, very much the opposite. “Deafhood is a process to decolonize our mind, body, and spirit from colonialism.” (Ladd)
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I wasn't referring to Ladd's book, as I do not have access to it so as to read it. Note I said: IMO. I made no reference to Ladd, nor am I disagreeing with him.
 
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