Deafness Subculture
Deafness is the inability
to hear. Becoming deaf can occur for different people at different times and to
different degrees, depending on people's circumstances. Within our society
exists a community for the deaf with its attendant culture. The deaf culture is
a subculture in our society. The deaf community does not necessarily include only
the deaf; it is a group of people who consider themselves a part of the
culture. Many in the deaf community want to demonstrate that although the deaf
are different, they are also a part of mainstream society, not a divergence
from it. They cannot stand discrimination against deaf people and want to
encourage a positive attitude towards deafness, deaf people and deaf culture. The
deaf community believes the essence of its subculture and ideology is to
promote deafness as a difference, rather than a disability, though its
exhibition of distinct communication, diversity, and behavior.
Communication
Sign languages are the predominant means of communication among the deaf. The ability to use
and understand these language are central to deaf cultural identity in the
community. With such languages, deaf people can form their own community,
create their own subculture and show mainstream society that deaf people have
their own unique languages and linguistic systems. Over 200 distinct sign
languages are used worldwide. Sign language has its own grammatical structure
distinct from written language. Even though sign language is primarily a way
for deaf people to communicate with each other, it is also an universal
language that can be understood by those who speak different spoken languages,
such as English, French, Spanish, etc. In today’s society, sign languages are
taught at many schools for deaf people, and courses in sign languages are
offered at many public and private institutions as well. Students who wish to
learn sign language will easily find it offered at many community centers,
churches or other local organizations. To show the essence of the deaf
subculture, the deaf utilize sign languages to reinforce the idea that deafness
is not a disability, but a different way of expressing themselves.
Deaf people also use body languages and technology to express themselves.
Unlike sign languages, body languages are used not only by deaf people, but
also by other people. Deaf people tend to understand body languages more
quickly and easily than sign languages. Body languages have become a
significant part of the deaf culture since deaf people also use the language
often. Since many people do not know sign languages, body languages can be an
effective way to communicate with deaf people. Deaf individuals also rely heavily
on technology for communication. It is another method the deaf use to communicate
with people who are not deaf. Teletypes are the devices that allow them to "talk"
to their hearing friends and family. In the article "Games, Hackers, and Facebook-Computer
Cultures, Virtual Community, and Postmodern Identity", Haenfler describes
the influence of video games, internet, and computers' important roles in our
daily lives. Haenfler asserts that “new technologies have spawned new
subcultures and given established subcultures a new arena in which to interact”
(Haenfler 36). Technology becomes a cultural touchstone not only to society in
general but also to the deaf community. Communicating by notepads or on their
phones, deaf people can interact with hearing people who do not know sign
languages. Technology has become an important part of deaf society, for deaf
individuals can use such technology to successfully communicate with other
cultures and to promote their own. For the deaf community to expand, social
media tends to play an important role. Through social networking sites such as
facebook, deaf people can find each other and to remain in contact. Social
networking can connect deaf people from around the world.
Diversity
In today’s society, diversity
exists all over the world. Just as different languages and communication styles
exist in different countries, deaf communities also have different sign
languages and different cultural norms. Around the world, deaf culture
includes different nationalities, educational backgrounds, races, ethnicities,
and genders. Each country has its own deaf community that intersects with other
deaf communities. Deaf culture can be considered a global culture, such that it
is everywhere. In the "Global
Culture" article, Steger uses “McDonaldization” to “describe
sociocultural processes by which the principles of the fast-food restaurant are
coming to dominate more and more of American society as well as the rest of the
world” (Steger 53). Even though being deaf is not an ever present commercial culture
like McDonald's, it is considered a global culture and a cultural identity that
is everywhere in our society. The community tries to expand to promote the
essence of deaf subculture and convey its identity.
The diversity of deaf
culture can also be attributed to schools for deaf students. Within schools,
there is a diversity of deaf people and communication styles. School is a way
for deaf students to become part of the deaf community and to familiarize
themselves with and create deaf culture. In the US, many schools include
international deaf students, and the schools encourage students to interact
with each other. Deaf students tend to share the same identities and culture
with other students. Schools and social clubs unite deaf students over their
shared interests, across national and ethnic lines, to find a common identity and
culture. In many schools, there are deaf clubs, deaf athletic leagues, deaf
social organizations, and religious groups, all multiple ways of creating a
community. Sharing the same culture, deaf people want to form a community that
consists of diversity. Nowadays, deaf clubs are rare, but deaf advocacy centers
and other deaf organizations have become widespread and popular.
Deaf people also have their social norms and
ethical guidelines in the community. Their norms outline guidelines of
acceptable behavior and decorum. Deaf people show social interaction norms by
tapping shoulders, waving, flashing lights, or banging a table to get other
people's attentions. They tend to back slap and touch more casually to people,
and they use facial expressions to let other people to better understand what
they are trying to express. In the community, most deaf people will readily
assist other deaf people. In many social events, deaf people have prolonged
goodbyes, since they do not see each other often and they want to use the
opportunity to share thoughts. In the Culture and Media article, the
author shows what culture is and describes norms as how values are put into
play, showing how people might “shame a [person] for not following norms]“ if a
person does not wash his hands in the bathroom. Following norms for appropriate
behavior is the main conduit of becoming accepted to the society. If a deaf
individual does not follow such norms, he or she may not be accepted in the
community, or people may not accept the person. These norms can be the
essential means to show their essence of their culture.
Deaf culture has its own
behavioral norms and decorum. Their etiquette has distinct variations from other
peoples'. Deaf people have rules of etiquette for getting attention, walking
through signed conversations, and politely negotiating a signing environment.
They provide detailed information when leaving early or arriving late. If they
do not, it may be considered rude for them. Their etiquette is a way to express
their culture. Many deaf people prefer not to receive special treatment. They
tend to be polite and try to communicate to people who are not deaf. To get
involved with the society, deaf people use their rules of etiquette to show
politeness or by touching other people to get their attention. Their way of
showing etiquette behavior reflects an essential aspect of their culture.
Conclusion
All in all, deaf people wish to underscore the
concept that deafness is not a disability, but a difference, in human society. Deafness
refers to a cultural identity within a larger group of cultural identities;
deaf subculture derives from a social community involving different styles of communication
and behavior. Sign languages are symbols of the deaf culture, languages that
are unique and used in many countries. The beliefs and values of the deaf
culture are shown through the community's shared ideology of behaviors,
languages, and diversity. Through the realization of these ideological values, the
deaf community emphasizes what is at the heart of deaf culture: to show society
at large that deafness is not considered to be fixed identity, but a fluid cultural
identity assumed by many around the world.
great essay
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