What does "audism" mean to the deaf community?

sallylou

sallylou

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There have been several threads mentioning audism, and I'd like to know what it means to the deaf community. What does audism mean to you?

Is it being forced to have speech? Is it implanting a CI in a very young child? I don't know. :hmm::hmm:

Please enlighten me. Thanks in advance! :ty:
 
Audism to me means the attitudes and views of hearing being superior to being deaf. There are so many examples of behaviors that reflects these attitudes and views. Frankly, I have such a deep hatred for audism.
 
LIPREADING & ORALISM
In general, Oralism is the avocation of deaf people to communicate by lipreading and speech alone--no sign language. Many people incorrectly believe that if a child is taught to sign, they will never develop speech skills.
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LIPREADING & ORALISM

Audism is really oralism and it makes Deaf people really mad as it holds that spoken language and lipreading are the only way for the Deaf. It discounts sign language.
 
I did not know that audists were against sign language. That is wrong. Thanks for the information.
 
sallylou said:
I did not know that audists were against sign language. That is wrong. Thanks for the information.
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Actually, not always. Some of them dont mind sign language but put speech, hearing, and oral skills first over sign language. They see sign language something for social situations but not to be used in the educational setting or for language acquisition. That view historically has put many deaf children at risks for language delays or deficients.
 
Hearing-centered thinking. Such as "deafness" is the "lack of hearing" and "Deaf people" are "people without the ability to hear." Defining deafness in terms of hearing.
 
So it's really a matter of whether ASL or English is a deaf child's primary language?
 
sallylou said:
So it's really a matter of whether ASL or English is a deaf child's primary language?
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I am not sure if I understand your question. There are many deaf children who arent able to develop speech skills and have to be exposed to ASL to be able to develop a language but it is usually at the later years rather than during their formative years when it is critical.

I have met educators at the public schools who say that sign language is so cute BUT can these children talk? That's an example of someone who is accepting of ASL but still audist in their views. They dont take ASL as seriously as spoken English.
 
Thank you, Botte and Shel. It seems to come down to a condescending attitude. The examples you provided help me understand how audists consider themselves superior to the deaf. Now that I understand, I can unequivocally say that I oppose audism. I want to advocate for deaf people against audism.
 
Thank you to Sally for making this thread, and thank you to Shel & Botts for answering our question! :)

I was not aware that people had such views. I wouldn't think that a hearing person would feel like they could criticize deaf people and deaf culture without knowing or experiencing being deaf first hand.
 
Okay, I am not deaf, but I would like to pitch in on the "What does audism mean to you?"

To me audism means the end of Deaf Culture. It means the end of all signed languages, ASL included.

Before people discussed Deaf Culture: Before ASL was considered to be a language: There was "The Deaf World". I was introduced to both as a child because my best friend was CODA. I was 7 or 8 years old and I loved it.

I believe Deaf Culture and ASL bring something wonderful to the world and it would be a sad day were they to be destroyed.
 
I have a very strict definition for audism. To me, it's based on hearing status, ie. you're not deaf enough if you can hear half of what people are saying, or you're inferior because you can't hear what people are saying; you can't get a job because employees are worried about forklifts running over you and so on.

The whole ASL/oral thing is more of linguicism to me. Why? I see First Nations people being belittled and deprived of their languages in the same fashion as ASL signers go through.
 
souggy said:
I have a very strict definition for audism. To me, it's based on hearing status, ie. you're not deaf enough if you can hear half of what people are saying, or you're inferior because you can't hear what people are saying; you can't get a job because employees are worried about forklifts running over you and so on.

The whole ASL/oral thing is more of linguicism to me. Why? I see First Nations people being belittled and deprived of their languages in the same fashion as ASL signers go through.
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That brings up a good point. I think audism swings both ways. Some Deaf people, though I don't think it is frequent, hold the opinion that all hearing people are bad or inferior simply because they can hear, or that that other deaf people who use voice or have strong English skills but aren't as good signers are also inferior.
 
souggy said:
I have a very strict definition for audism. To me, it's based on hearing status, ie. you're not deaf enough if you can hear half of what people are saying, or you're inferior because you can't hear what people are saying; you can't get a job because employees are worried about forklifts running over you and so on.

The whole ASL/oral thing is more of linguicism to me. Why? I see First Nations people being belittled and deprived of their languages in the same fashion as ASL signers go through.
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:gpost::gpost:
 
souggy said:
:lol: Why would it be offensive?

LOL Well, it is very annoyin'. Yikessss... it cringes me. Sheesh, I mean hearin' people. :squint: I've had enough goin' through all this in my life.

If you LIKE audism, then there's something wrong. :rofl:
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Yea, right. Over my dead body, if you ask me. :lol:
 
I rarely call people audist though I certainly think it exists. I've dealt with people who discount other deaf peoples' experience. Some things that really gets on my nerves is when they think I'm smart because of my speech. If they think hearing is better than deaf and try to rub our noses into it, i'll get offended or if they insist that we behave a certain way like being unhappy at being deaf, etc.. in short, an attitude of being superior based on hearing status is audist in my book.
 
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