Positive Use of Hearing Privilege in the ASL Community?
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- čas přidán 2. 10. 2014
- “Privilege” is often a negative word; is it possible to use hearing privilege positively in the ASL community?
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My husband and I were invited to join some Deaf friends for sushi at a local restaurant. My husband is learning sign. I'm hearing and fluent in ASL. When the waiter came to take our order, we all ordered by non-verbal methods. My husband saw the waiter struggle to understand one of the Deaf customers and suggested I interpret, but I explained to him why I would not. Deaf people go out to eat, to grocery stores, etc and don't have an interpreter with them throughout their day. It is important for hearing people such as that waiter in the restaurant to learn different ways to communicate with their Deaf clients. I was asked to be with my Deaf friends to hang out with them, not to interpret. It would have been rude for me to jump in, uninvited, to interpret in that situation. If I had, my friends would not have been happy with me at all. I let the waiter know I was hearing by telling him my order verbally while signing to provide access to our conversation for the others at the table. Sometimes the best way we can advocate is to hold our tongues. We had a lively conversation during dinner about hearing people who are learning sign jumping in to interpret without being asked, when they are not needed. It actually is a form of audism and continues the oppression of Deaf people.
thank you for sharing that perspective.
+ASLfunvid This is the thing that I struggle with. I like what the lady in the video said about her sister-in-law using her privilege for good, and having allies is important, but at the same time I have seen minorities react with anger if someone else steps in to fight "for" them. The women in the video were relatives and had grown up together, so they knew each other well - but it seems to me the dynamic is different if you aren't as close to the person. You know what your friends want and act accordingly - what do we do in situations where we don't know the person as well? Standing by and saying nothing seems wrong, because then you're kind of on the side of the oppressor. Jumping in unasked can be demeaning or condescending to the person you want to help. It's not always easy to know what to do.
+ASLfunvid My wife is Deaf, she makes me order for her all the time. Usually because it's easier, buit at the Deaf club, because I need all the signing practice I can get!
That aside, I agree with you 100%. When we're out with other Deaf people, I'll only interpret if they ask me to.
+ASLfunvid seen that before...yes, I only step in for my Deaf friends if I'm invited... have you seen Awti's vlog on this subject??? Called Word=Bullet... excellent!!
Hi. I am learning sign. I am at an intermediate level of fluency at the moment, and I am really glad you wrote this. I would like to interpret (I'm on my way!) and my natural inclination is to jump in and help in any situation.... but reading this made me think about how I would feel if it was me, and someone kept jumping in when it wasn't really necessary, such as the situation you described.... I would likely be upset. I am perfectly capable of doing pretty much everything on my own... as are members of the deaf community. Just because I could interpret in some situations does not necessarily mean I should. I would never intentionally want to aid in oppression of any kind or try to help in a way that would not really help. Im pretty new to the community and I am still learning, and this made me really think... thank you.
I was pulled over once by a police officer who insisted that I was not allowed to have a licence because I was Deaf. My sister is hearing and she was interpreting the whole interaction for me. I don't think I have ever seen her so mad. This police officer was accusing me of obtaining my licence ficticiously and was threatening arrest if I didn't tell him how I managed to get a licence in the first place. My sister used her priveglige to educate the police officer. She literally had this police officer threatening her with arrest before he finally called his superiors and was told to back off because I did in fact have a valid driver's licence. My sister has since started working with the local polive force, teaching them how to interact with Deaf people and I got a formal apology from the commisioner of police.
too bad they didn't make that dumb ass of an officer make a formal public apology to you in media to help spread the "awareness" this idiot didn't have. Sorry you had to suffer that. Some cops (and people in general) can be real jerks.
Wow, I'm impressed with the end result of a very negative experience!! Where I was living in Central Europe there was someone in government who suggested Deaf should not have driver's licences... that was so offensive... and as yet nothing has come of it.
+Michelle Smith
Michelle Smith
I didn't really understand the concept of privilege until my first social event with a group of Deaf people (at the time, the only signing I knew was the alphabet and numbers). I really felt left out, and realised it must be what it's like for the 90% of Deaf people from hearing families.
Edit to ad: Now, many years later, I'm married to my date from that night and I'm studying towards becoming an interpreter.
David Willanski I went to my first ASL Social last week, and I had that same feeling. I'm actually hard of hearing, went deaf when I was in kindergarten due to fluid in my middle ears. I had tubes placed in and eventually taken out, but only because my parents thought I needed fixing. A friend of mine took me to the social to introduce me to the community that I should've been apart of all along. So with my hearing, I'm taking part in the ASL Socials and really studying ASL, and the Deaf Community! :)
My mother is deaf and I've been raised knowing ASL all my life.When I first started having friends over a lot of them didn't know what being deaf even meant so I would always explain and teach them a little ASL and help them be able to have basic conversation with my mum through finger spelling. Now that we're all older and have jobs I have found that a lot of my friends with encounter members of the deaf community and will use the signs I taught them to communicate. I think that's one way of me using my privilege to help as well as normalizing ASL communication
Just today I played this video for my ASL 3 class that I have this year. I assigned them to write a response to it: 1. Do you agree/disagree, and why? and 2. the question you had on the screen at the end about using priviledge to help.
One student had a very insightful response for #2: "I agree it isn't our job to trample on the ASL community {we have deaf students and interpreters in our school}, but just help. But if we put too much power in ourselves to help, then we still have all the power. It makes it seem as though they {the Deaf people} need to be coddled, which doesn't improve anything."
I agree with her, and think it's a very fine line we priviledge Hearing have to walk -- to help, but not to the point of giving the hearing world the impression that Deaf people can't advocate for themselves and thereby perpetuate the myth that they are "handicapped" and therefore lesser. I told my student I thought she was very wise in her response.
Thank you for posting these videos. The captioning helps the kids whose ASL skills aren't as high as the others in the class.
+Gerrie Louden Always a pleasure to see your comments, Gerrie! Wise words and so refreshing *** :-D ***
+awti Thank you so much for your vid. I have so many experiences where I face situation something like oppression just because I am Deaf. There were times hearing person did help out, it was truly uplifting. I mean, think about ratio of how many years I have to go through such as these and when hearing person come to help and I feel like I am on "red carpet" just for short moments. It was truly a nice feelings. This does not happen often. So with ratio very seldom I get uplift/help via hearing person. Sorry Gerrie Louden, I do not agree, because we the D/deaf have been waiting for many years to get breakthrough. For example: Tell all fast food corp to set keyboard or press button on screen at every drive through, Get the Federal to require all hospitals to provide ASL terps when they see a deaf person enter, Get the Federal to require to have all VRS phone booth establish at gas station etc,, Get Federal to order all Cops/police/Sherrif/SWAT/firedept/EMT/ in America to require to know basic sign language The list goes on....... It has been too long. We need hearies ASL user shout and help us. Once we are out of oppression phase then hearies can just watch and wait if we need some help. Right now, we need help more than ever. Seriously! Hearies will need to set up an organization to affiliate with corp/Federal/the likes, to resolve all issues. I have seen some Deaf organization that have been trying but it was not enough Why? because the bigger people looked at "Deaf" organization and shun or not important. Can somebody hearies ASL user start an organization??
Yasss!! Thank you for sharing this. I have felt the same way for years, as a CODA. I have said this many times in the community. So glad you used your platform on social media to talk about this topic! Awesome vlog!
Awti, thank you so much for this! I agree with you 100%, that THIS is the approach that hearing people should be taking. I love using Amber Galloway Gallego as a great example of this... she is a hearing interpreter well known for interpreting music, particularly rap. She was invited by "Jimmy Kimmel Live" to be involved in a "sign language rap battle", but refused to go on the show unless they included a Deaf musical performer. JoRose Benfield received a lot of recognition from the ASL community thanks to her appearance on that show... and her appearance was thanks to Amber Galloway Gallego.
As hearing people we have the ability to get the attention and spotlight from other hearing people. It is up to us to make sure that we share that spotlight with the Deaf rather than keeping it to ourselves. That is how we should be using our privilege. GREAT VLOG!!
The one thing I will say is it can be difficult to accept allowing someone of privilege to speak for you, especially when that person of privilege is a member of the same community that oppresses you. Many people don't want to accept taking advantage of the privilege of those who wish to help pull them up because of that. So it can be a two-way street in the sense that the underprivileged have to be willing to accept the privileged speaking for them in a way that positively helps their community.
obriensign Yes, and also those who have privilege should graciously accept when underprivileged folks say: "Please don't speak for us." So often, people who are underprivileged already have to struggle with not having their experiences respected. Give support when it's asked for, and give room when it's asked for.
So even the going both ways goes both ways. ;-)
Note: I'm Hearing, but physically disabled. so I experience a different sort of disprivilege than Deaf people (As a native speaker of English, my language is universally accepted as valid, and real. that is a HUGE privilege), but I'm enough of an outsider to the mainstream culture to see the "cracks in the set backstage."
CapriUni As a member of the LGBT* community, I get it. Anytime you are a member of an oppressed minority, you want to speak for yourself. But sometimes the majority is either so ignorant they don't realize there's a problem (much like the hearing community towards the ASL community), or they are hate-filled towards the minority group (such as with the LGBT* community). And sometimes the best thing you can do is let other majority folks teach or open-the minds of other majority folks... it's just up to those allies to know when to step out of the way and let the minority group finish what they started for them. :)
obriensign Indeed. The worst offenders when it comes privilege are laboring under the misconception that their winning lottery ticket is actually a bonus of merit pay -- and that those of us who didn't get the winning ticket must therefore have no merit, and thus are not worth listening to.
In those cases, we need allies among privileged groups to act as translators... just to get our basic ideas heard at all. But the danger comes when it turns out that *some* allies turn out to be the merit-pay believers, after all, and then you have a real mess, because they have the added power of being considered 'a trusted spokesman for people X"
Just look at how long it's taken for a film like "Selma" to be made -- where the heroes of the black civil rights movement are the black people themselves.
It's a really delicate balancing act. That's for sure.
My favorite episode so far! This is what hearing people need to learn : ) Thank you Awti!!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! That's all I can say.. We need more people like you to be a great allies to our ASL and Deaf community. Hugs
Wonderful Vlog, and excellent example of how hearing people can use their privilege to create more equality for their Deaf compatriots. As an interpreter, I recently volunteered to interpret for Deaf advocates who wish to do community education workshops for first responders in our community (fire dept., police officers, hospital workers, EMTs, etc.)
It's important to me to give back to the community I work inside of....particularly because the Deaf community provides me with a fulfilling and stable career. It's the least I can do, and I hope our efforts will improve their lives in every interaction with these important service institutions.
Thanks so much!
I really appreciate this video, the statement made is profound. Too often in this world pre-judge others, sometimes without realizing it. I am glad my ASL teacher chose this video for this weeks discussion. It gives me an opportunity to internalize and reflect on how many times in a day I see a form of judgment. It begs the question "how do we stop this?" Thank you for posting this wonderful video!
Someone just now brought this to my attention Austin. Seriously honored by the 80's Slow Clap. ^_^ I'm blushing over here. Keep up the great work you do for Deaf, Hearing, and the World alike!
+CaptainValor And thank you, sir, for your wise and articulate explanation of your perspective and resulting decisions, it has shed a warm light on a difficult and normally contentious topic. As the interwebs would put it, UR DOING IT RIGHT!
Awesome video.. I was here just to re watch Deaf Ninja for the 1,000th time and write down the structure in which the story was told so I can emulate and recreate stories more visually in ASL. Then.... I read the comments. ALL of them. So here I am, intrigued, enlightened, inspired, frustrated, angry and full of love. I would like to say AWTI you champ! I love the videos and work you do and can't wait to chop it up with you again or go down another zip line with you. Mark Ramirez, I agree with most of what you have said on such a "taboo" subject. There is one area in which I must raise my voice.
I have noticed the definition of audism has changed in the last few months..
Before it was: "To perpetuate or exhibit discrimination on someone's ability to hear or not hear"
Now it is: "discrimination or prejudice against individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing"
Which is an interesting distinction. Reason I bring this up is because as a hearing child of Deaf adults I have experienced discrimination based on my hearing status first hand. It used to bother me but now I just chock it up as... meh. Part of the package I guess. There are those who understand and want to build the bridge of ally ship and understand what it will look like. It comes with both sides running the gambit so I disagree that it is such a one-sided affair. Everyone indeed needs to work together and bring all their talents together and instead of keeping a "well the grass is greener" mentality, they need to knock down the fence and share the damn lawn and good grounds-keeping tips with each other".
I appreciate the conversation and it did spark in me a deeper interest in how to remove oppression that anyone could face. Thanks for the time! --Si
I am hard of hearing and the only time I have stepped in was to help a deaf customer at Wal-Mart. I, myself was doing some shopping and had seen this woman trying to get some help from employees. Finally, after getting angry myself, I saw an employee walk by. The deaf woman tried to get her attention to no avail. I walked up to the employee and told them that this nice lady needs some help. I was informed that they didn't see anyone needing help. At this point, I took a deep breath and using sign and voice told them the deaf woman is needing help. I asked the woman what she was looking for and told me. I intyrn told the employee and with a huff went to show the lady what she was looking for. The lady thanked me and I went to management. I told them that their employees need to be more mindful of others. When I asked why I told them. They were writing as fast as they could to get all the information. Since I knew one of the managers, i even added, if this problem continues, I won't be shopping here any longer.
Now, they have a deaf employee, and I stop to say hello when she she works.
I'm clicking on all of your ads because you rock!
I think what you do on CZcams is a wonderful example of using your privilege for good. making visually appealing and engaging ASL videos. I hope you kep doing what you are doing. best wishes. :)
Thank you for this post. I really appreciate it. As a hearing artist working with the Deaf community and primarily language-deprived Deaf youth, I see my role as a bridge-maker, and a conduit to bring awareness to the hearing world of Deaf community issues such as language, literacy, education and opportunities, in hopes of having an effect on policies that will improve things for Deaf people generally. But it's a fine line. Although I use sign language and am working at improving my ASL, I will never be a native speaker, and I am not Deaf. I don't have a family member who is Deaf, although one of my very best friends in the world is Deaf, and I am working with her and her students. Deaf issues are not my issues, and I don't get to make them my issues. Even though I want to use my privilege as you so eloquently explain, to help in any way I can, I have to be very vigilant and sensitive around appropriation of Deaf issues. At the same time, I want to reach and educate the hearing world, and because I am hearing, I know how to snag their interest and I know what will make them pay attention. As a theatre director, I have to watch how I work with the Deaf community so that I am attentive to their particular culture, stories, and traditions, and make the work accessible and relevant to Deaf audience members, while working to shape the message so that a hearing audience will be receptive and affected. It is a very challenging process and very fulfilling but one of the hardest things I have ever done. Thank you so much for helping me see more clearly what my role is! It brings a lot of peace of mind!
I think this popped up in my feed last year or the year before and I just wasnt ready for it. Now a year doesnt seem like a lot but mentally it is a lot. I'm glad this popped up again. My brain is finally cleared out and able to recieve and accept this. So useful.
My favorite metaphor for any privilege is "A power tool" (for example: a chainsaw, or a nail gun, or a jackhammer). They can be very useful, and can do a lot of good, but if you don't read the safety manual, wave them around without being aware of where they're pointing, or, worst of all, forget you've got one in your hands, a lot of people could get seriously hurt.
And when someone says: "HEY! Watch where you point that thing!" it's best just to say "Oops! Sorry!" and carefully put it away, instead of what a lot of people do, which is to get angry, and start blaming the person who called them on it of having a "Bad attitude."
"Captain Valor," provides a good example of finding the off-switch. :-)
Agreed - DYUSA made a great video on what you're addressing, "Tone Policing" DYUSATonepolice As always, thank you for commenting, CapriUni, I always love reading your thoughts!
First off,I want apologize that I can't really respond to the video, or if anything I say was covered in it. I just started learning ASL, and I just happened upon this and wanted to respond to the comment.
I agree with this sentiment, but I think it oversimplifies how people are going to feel about their privilege or lack thereof. No one is born with a power tool, you have the choice to just not use them, if you like. Maybe in your proposed situation, it's logical to think the response would just be "Oops, sorry!" and it would end there. But in real life, those with "power tools" are going to have to live with the fact that they could accidentally hurt someone at any point, while those without power tools are going to understand that they could always potentially be on the receiving end of it. People are inherently going to feel guilt for having things that others do not, and we are often taught that it is easier to deny that than come to terms with it. While I agree that there is a responsibility for privileged people to be aware of their privilege, it is often a difficult task that can be frustrating. So I think that a mutual understanding of that factor is important. That's also why I think, when discussing privilege, tone is VERY important, from both sides. Obviously we should not discount what someone says about how they feel, but we are dealing with really deeply engrained issues and I think some moderation is okay if they are saying it in a rude or inconsiderate manner.
This video is terrific. I hope you and others will continue to unpack privilege and what the best ways to handle it might be on both sides of the fence.
Then all of this discussion should be pulled together in some sort of central location so all of it can be easily found and used as a valuable resource by interested parties or those who are urged to look it up.
Thank you for this. I will def use this in my Interpreting classes. Thank you!
Loved this video (kiss fist!!) - as a CODA and SODA, I have experienced both the white and hearing privilege opportunities I have to help educate others. Byron Bridges recently brought up this similar point in a FB vlog and it's a "hot button" topic these days. I have subscribed to your channel and looking forward to many more! Thanks for all you do!!
Interesting topic to be discussed. Privilege is applied to anyone regardless. Good example would be Deaf: Deaf from Deaf family (privileged) vs. Deaf from hearing family (underprivileged).
Wow!
I am a kitchen manager at a middle school. My boss recently hired a deaf gal and it has been so great create an environment in which hearing and deaf folks work together in Lunchlady Land. I am so proud of my kitchen being the only kitchen in a school district made up of 52 schools that hearing and deaf employees work together to serve our kids. It is a total blast! My ASL skills are improving, to say the least :)
Wow great video!! I am learning ASL and the hardest thing expelling as English is not my first language. I just really wish I could practice it more often!
Thanks much for providing these videos! Have you considered providing CC of the actual ASL/signs you're using instead of English? That would help immensely as people like myself attempt to learn. With CC of the ASL, we could see a one-to-one correlation and truly start to understand how to form proper ASL sentences.
So appreciate the comment about the restaurant situation. My third grade teacher wrote on my report card "too helpful" lol. I always feel pressured but oppressive at the same :/. Problem solved ~ now I'll know what to do. Thanks!
As a high school student who plans on attending Gallaudet, I think using my privlage as a white hearing person is important in education. Telling people it's important when interacting with an oral deaf person not to over mouth words, not to talk to fast, and to make sure you're facing them. Same with non oral Deaf people, that it's important people understand they are just as capable and that it's not something a lot of people want "fixed", and that deafness is also a culture, sign language is its own language, and that it's important to make the adjustments needed for the Deaf person.
Your signing is really beautiful even though I have a small problem keeping up with your finger spelling, but that's on me. I really love these education videos and ive been voicing them to help myself get better at interpreting on the spot, since I plan on doing interpreting as a career
Keep making these awesome videos!
I'm not really a part of the ASL community, just learning ASL by myself without knowing anyone who is Deaf or signs. But as I was watching this I was thinking about the autistic community. And while there are some non-autistic people who support autistic people in our fight for our rights, sadly we're often more oppressed by the non-autistic people who should be part of the community than by outsiders. Some of the most hateful things said about and to autistic people are said by parents of autistic children. Even among professionals, as someone who is both autistic and has PTSD, professionals who deal with PTSD are way more respectful to me than professionals who deal with autism. PTSD professionals treat me like an adult, someone who has problems and needs help but who knows what I need and has the right to question anything or say no to anything I'm not comfortable with. Autism professionals treat me like a misbehaving child, who has no idea what I need and should just shut up and let the adults decide for me. In their eyes, I could be eighty years old and I still wouldn't be an adult, just because I'm autistic. So the autism community is divided between autistic people and those few who actually support us, and the non-autistic people who should support us but instead trample all over our rights and our voices.
Hi AWTI I want say thank you for make this vlog so amazing, I do subscribe your channel but did not watched all your vlog, I just starting want see all your vlog, it's worth my time. will do share your amazing vlog on my wall. again thank you.
What a great message. Thank you!
I just discovered this channel through an awesome friend of mine, Rikki Pointer. It's weird because even though I am Deaf, because I speak so well and lipread so well sometimes I feel like I have an unfair advantage over my other Deaf friends. I definitely have seen a difference in how hearing people treat me vs my Deaf friends who do not talk and were raised in Deaf culture. It was really evident when we were filming our "Different Colors" video in Hollywood. So many stories! There is also a noticeable difference between how people treat me on days without my implant on (when my Deaf accent comes out and I rely more on writing and ASL) vs days with it on too.... Hmmmm hamster wheels turning.... Thanks for making this video! :)
+Amanda McDonough thanks for sharing your personal experience... so many layers to go through to understand and fully comprehend this issue... this was an interesting viewpoint!
I agree. As an autistic person I have a disadvantage compared to non-autistic people, but the fact that I can speak and don't need an assistive device to communicate gives me a big advantage.
You shouldn't feel guilty for having the privelege of being bilingual. You didn't take anything away from anyone in doing so.
There is unfairness and oppression in society, and we should all work toward changing it and making the system more fair. The problem is when people misdirect their anger toward innocent people (often including themselves), such as the white kid who was harassed for wearing dreadlocks or the scientist who wore a salacious T-shirt, or the college cafeteria who served poor-quality Asian food.
In the case of "Captain Valor", it was understandable that people were upset over his lack of quality. But his self-flagellation was just pitiful to read. Is the country star who never lived in rural America and makes millions from crappy music also guilty of marginalization?
I suggest you read Harrison Bergeron. It's an science fiction short story to which I see a lot of parallels in today's discourse.
It's important for hearing people also not to think of the Deaf community as a monolith. As you pointed out, some d/Deaf are oral, verbal, hard of hearing, codas, and they are all individuals with different stories and life experiences.
Cracking the Codes - YES!! Our school use this video for our diversity training and for you to bring this up - awesome! And of course your vlog elaborating Captain Valor's sincere letter is very helpful! Thank you!!
My pleasure, Joey - so glad to see your comment here, I greatly value and enjoy your videos!
*materializes* I'm an anglophonic homeschooler who doesn't communicate with anyone outside the house in any language and is therefore not yet a part of any larger non-internet community, but I personally find this stuff fascinating. *vanishes*
Ouch! Guilty myself of jumping in and taking over to "help" or to do small things that looking back, would cause that degree of separation. Good lessons.
An eye opener! Good analogy. Even within Deaf community have this privilege advantage such as HH and Deaf. This should be educated across the board.
thanks Austin. It's an universal theme. Nice of hearing people to include and support deaf individuals but if it were me, I think I may reserve the rights to be selective towards to those who are deserving, kind-hearted, passionate, etc. In other words, I wouldn't want to deal with selfish ones, whiners, those who wouldn't want to take some responsibilities for themselves and expecting "help me, pity me, poor me" etc. that's my 2 cents.
Watching this video reminded my of my elementary school years, when in the 1970s my school was one of the first to offer full integration to deaf and hard of hearing children in my town. However, many hearing children mostly avoided the non-hearing children. And I remember thinking, as a 9 year old, that if I were a beautiful person I would stand up for the non-hearing children. Until I realized, that I didn't have to be beautiful to befriend non-hearing children, all I had to do to show my alliance with the non-hearing children was to learn their language. And I did learn some limited signing, but mostly I learned how to make new friends with such amazing children. It's a lesson that stayed with me.... and I went on to pursue a career in working with children who are marginalized in some way or other because of a physical, sensory, or cognitive limitation. Once upon a time I dreamed of attending Gallaudet U, but I wasn't admitted because I lacked fluency in ASL.
One example that comes to mind is when my girlfriend and I were out to dinner - she is deaf, I am hearing. Some people at the table next to us were joking about us being overly affectionate, and I interpreted their remarks. At the end of our meal she approached the table with a sassy response to one of their comments, leaving them appropriately shocked, awed, and apologetic. In this way I didn't take her power by playing the rescuer, or blast my privilege all over the place, but rather enabled her to call out their behavior of her own volition in a hilarious way that drove the point home much more succinctly than some lengthy call out. I think her note simply said "we're not drunk or on drugs, just in love. ;)" I'm sure they will never again talk about a signing table under the assumption they won't know.
Hi!! Great thought provoking vlog! I'm clueless on the Captain Valor saga except that I've seen his vlogs and commented years ago directly to him about this topic of what to me looked like a disingenuous representation of "ASL". Then I dropped it. I have thought about this topic often. I personally have a lot of satisfaction in effectively using my meager privileged status and social capacity to positively impact a situation. For example, I can as the interpreter be supportive of an inmate who wants the interpreter to also go interpret with the jail nurse about a health concern. Although that might not be the norm, my "privileged" support of the D/HH person's request, and willingness to take time, stick with it when the admin don't really want to allow that kind of privilege, wait patiently but expectantly while they deliberate etc...and eventually allow the person to go with "the interpreter" "just this once" to meet with the nurse for 6 minutes makes a difference. I could go on and on with examples of ways in which I am able to make connections with people that benefit access for the D/HH person and bring a more equal experience for the person. If I get time will make a vlog ;o) Cheers!!!!!!
Marvelous video and supplemental materials. Interestingly, one of my ASL students has been using the topic of audism in debate competitions, but judges often cite the fact that the student is hearing as a negative effect on the student's speech. This discussion provides much needed counter-ammunition.
This is an interesting paradox - should people of privilege be excluded from discussions regarding privilege? In other words, should only those without privilege be able to discuss this topic? It's a slippery slope to assert such a thing... one of my Deaf black friends pointed out that people often turn to her, saying that she's the only one in their group that can offer a valid perspective on privilege - but she pointed out that she herself is an American, which gives her exceptional privileges that her counterparts in other countries don't enjoy... so should the discussion be referred to them, instead? How far should we pass this hot potato?
Another point to consider: When privilege is used negatively, the reality of the matter is that those negative consequences aren't confined to the underprivileged; it hurts all of us. As one poem puts it: "First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out - because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me - and there was no one left to speak for me."
Should I, as a person of privilege, remain silent regarding privilege? I think such a course would be unethical.
***** I feel like I'm from mars -- nobody should be excluded from the discussion (and I don't mean a monologue)..... unless we'd like to continue the inequality and end up with a new and different form of oppression.
Great post! Just want to add that the word "privilege" can also be used to mean the same as "honor"...such as "It was my privilege to work with you."
I would disagree with that. "Privilege" has a great deal of meanings when applied to different situations.
Love this. It really made me think. Privilege seems akin to preferential treatment, as in the example. How to use that preferential treatment for good? That's a tough one. Perhaps it comes down to making the best of a bad situation. The situation doesn't become less-bad, but some people choose to act nobly, and that is what elevates others.
An example, you say? Picture a deaf/Deaf colleague at work who is leading a project and running the latest meeting. The simple demeanor and behaviour of someone who knows what to do (how to be) is itself an example to the ignorant hearies. This person-who-knows may have to call someone to task but they will do it so skilfully, so nobly, and openly, that the lesson is understood by all. Knowledge is power. ASL power.
**air guitar**
Sorry, more - I was responding to the supermarket scenario, but then thought maybe I should check and see what the whole controversy and response was from Steve. Seems a bit different. The problem here (if I understand it right - I've not seen his videos) isn't preferential treatment, it's misrepresentation. Bit like a band saying 'we're punk'. No one cares until you're making money.
HAHH "no one cares until you're making money" SO TRUE! *whew* That means I'm safe from scrutiny ;-) Love your comments, Toby - very insightful! Simply knowing "how to be" can have an immensely powerful effect on others, yes! Mightyfine.
good point!
The most important thing we can do with our privilege is to bring it to others and let them know that Deaf people are just like everyone else. Like Marlee Matlin has said over and over that the only thing Deaf people can't do is hear. We don't want to coddle them or speak for them. But we also want to bring awareness of the deaf community. That it is out there. That when a child is born or becomes deaf that is not the end of the world. And that is what our privilege is for.
+Shannon Hensley This couldn't have been said better.
Excellent presentation. Hearing privilege can (and should) be used in much the same way as expressed in the Vlog regarding race differences. At best, if the hearing person does not want to confront the perpetrator, we could inform those who are Deaf of whatever sidebars or injustices we observe and allow them their unalienable right to equal treatment.
V. interesting. I learned PSL while doing volunteer work in Panama. Now I'm interested in ASL. The nice thing about the volunteer work I do is that none of our members discriminate or use their knowledge to dominate others, which is a sad reality today (Ecc. 8:9). Rather, it brings us together creating an international community that's united (Micah 4:1-4).
I so love this sign for PRIVILEGE. That said, I used it in a class presentation, and the Deaf instructor marked it wrong.
I am willingly enrolling online for courses to educate me so I can use my hearing privilege for the deaf community.
really terrific. I will try and 'share' it on my FB. Interesting, as I myself went to a NORC conference two years ago in New Orleans; the topic of the entire conference was "White Privilege" ... One presentation I went to was by Jane Hernandez, the Gally Prez appointee who was ousted in the most horrific ways by White 'Deaf" privilege... (my opinion:) Anyway, your perspectives are spot-on, as the British like to say haaa. White AND Hearing...wow, I've been making that analogy for decades but the "hearing" world is mentally deaf/closed. "What matters, deafness of the ear, when the mind hears? The one true deafness is that of the mind." Victor Hugo :) Namaste.
I would like to VP with you some time if you are available. Let me know and thanks.
...hi...quiet since, is everything ok with you? Enjoy watching ur vlogs.
We, at DHN, like to think that we positively use hearing privilege. DHN is a bi-weekly news broadcast that uses ASL, spoken English and captions in each broadcast. All of our anchors and some of our staff are Deaf. All of the hearing crew members sign. The show was founded by a hearing student at ASU who's well connected in the media world. She was able to use her privilege to partner with her local Deaf community and create the show. She's also able to use those connections in the media to inform the hearing world about the Deaf community. From the feedback we've gotten, I'd like to think we've positively impacted the Deaf and hearing communities.
www.WatchDHN.com
I agree, I love watching DHN and, ofc, I'm subscribed to your channel :-) Very well-done, high quality programming. PHENOMENAL!
Interesting question and backstory to your vlog. As a Deaf person, to be honest, I'm leery about hearing people having positive priviledge in the Deaf community. I do see your point, but I see too many interpreters regardless of years of experience rather 7 years, fresh graduates or 30 years abuse their position to 'take over' without checking in with the Deaf person. Also those type of interpreters would say they mean well, they are helping, they are advocating but they are doing it in their own way. Their way may not be the way the Deaf person wants or needs. I will think on this some more and make ASL vlog. There are some situations in which my trusted interpreters, I would ask them to advocate for me, ie when naive hearing people are being audist.
Oh, I don't blame you for being leery when it comes to hearing people wielding their privilege - we (hearing) have a TERRIBLE track record! You raise a very good point when you mention that hearing people (interpreters) often advocate in their own way, not the way the Deaf person wants/needs - this is also common among philanthropic organizations that seek to help underprivileged persons... they often go into a country, build a church, declare themselves amazingly helpful, and move on, while the local community is left asking, What the heck just happened and why are we still suffering if we've been "helped"? (Discovering Deaf Worlds - www.discoveringdeafworlds.org/ - is a great example of an organization that does things correctly, btw) I'd love to see an ASL vlog from you, please send it my way when you've posted it - and thank you for sharing your comments, Ellen!
I want to let you know I"m still thinking on this! :) been teaching myself video editing skills. thanks for your comment!
Ellen Hibbard No, thank you for being willing to discuss this! It's conversations like this that make me feel like there's hope for healthy change :-)
Great vlog Awti....I had missed Captain Valor's link and really liked the grocery store story. As for how hearing people can leverage their hearing privileges for the betterment of the ASL community....that's a tough one to tackle. At least..for me as a deaf person..I have never really wanted "help" and have always especially been intent on doing things on my own. Maybe it is because I grew up in a hearing family/hearing world and always felt as if I had to prove myself over and over again. Then on the other hand during any sort of conflict between deaf/hearing people, I often feel that we need a LITERAL voice to be heard. I do not mean to offend hearing people, but it has always been my impression that hearing people process information primarily and faster via their ears. So, sometimes the deaf community needs a person with hearing privilege to step up and serve as a literal voice. Case in example, a deaf person is pulled over by a trooper, but has a hearing passenger....in that situation the hearing passenger is a great ally to diffuse any issues that might arise from miscommunication. I think you are doing it the correct way...by asking the community first. I think the answer is on a case-by-case basis.-JJ
Oh, I couldn't agree with your more, Jerry - hearing people are very 'disabled' when it comes to feeling like we need to process things auditorily (something I alluded to in a previous vlog that you probably say, bit.ly/aslcommunity007_pl at timing 4:37) We're so reliant on our hearing that when many of us (hearing persons) are confronted with a Deaf person, we freeze with a "deer in the headlights" look!
For this reason, YES, the ASL community stands to benefit greatly by utilizing its hearing members, with their hearing privilege, to the benefit of the Deaf community. As the ASL community, we're all in this together and we should use our resources, including privilege, strategically to advance our linguistic identity!
I can get what you mean, but being someone's voice is not a substitute for writing notes or gesturing for direct communication. Plus, how else would the officer get an opportunity to improve his own communication style for the next time he encounters a Deaf person? Also, you have to consider the implication from a voice-assisted dialogue where the officer may now view all Deaf people as incapable based on that one encounter. Just look at the businesses refusing relay calls because of one or two bad experiences with scammers.
Good points, Maple. I am inclined to agree with you...I'd rather deal with things on my own. However, it does not mean that we can't use hearing allies.
I found this video a refreshing look on 'privilege'. Instead of sitting around complaining we don't have enough; this video shows how we, who have the privilege of hearing, can enhance the possibilities of society becoming more " Deaf aware". This can only bring about good, because than Deaf will be treated with the equality that they should be treated with. Good, good , good! :)
Gostei!!!
I'm entirely new to this concept but I'm glad I found this video. Wondering if any of you all have thoughts on the tv show Switched at Birth
I agree 110% with what was said. Our biggest responsibility for those of us who are privileged is to educate ignorant privileged people when injustice occurs.
Hi awti! Where you now? Been almost 5 months no vlog from you :( hope your alright?
I thought about this many of times but never thought of calling it my privilege being a CODA I realized I could help out the deaf now.
yes!!!! wow
I can hear im privileged i can see im privileged i live a nice house i will always be grateful for that but i will never pity anybody because u always have a chance to be better then anyone i see people as they are equal to me.
Looking forward who comments below. Im totally agree with you, must respect our deaf community and i know hearing asl if they music or acting is easy to be famous and all fan us. use privilege in ask community t hat world realize its beautiful language :)
I'm deaf
From Dominican republic. good video ^_^
hey, do you know sign for courage. I have see strong and courage same sign, what best offer sign for courage?
And a suggestion - put all of pictures on second layer instead of first layer because sometimes your hands go by the picture and it blocks. If you put on second layer, your signs will not be missed - not even once. Know what I mean? :)
Pics on 2nd layer with green screen, absolutely! But are you saying that there's a way to do that without green screen? (in the airport lounge part of this vlog) If so, please do let me know how, that'd be GREAT!
Hey thanks for letting me know. 😃
Sent from my iPad
Long overdue, long response. Video: czcams.com/video/g_Rkit1c-nE/video.html (note- transcript also available in comments under video).
where is the link to read Captain Valor's responses about Privilege?
Ah, if you view the video on CZcams, it's below the video, in the description section. You may need to click on the drop-down disclosure triangle to reveal it.
My hearing husband sometimes uses his hearing privilige when someone in public gets rude with me because I did not hear them. I have mixed feelings about this because I feel that I rather have the means to stand up for myself than to have someone always coming to my "rescue". I feel it cheats me of being able to learn my own mechanisms of defending my own honor. Does anyone else feel that way?
My hearing sister and I (also hearing) have been teaching ourselves ASL since we were 10 and 12 years old respectively. Last year, we went to a bowling alley together. As per usual, we were signing the whole time, and neither of us were voicing. When my sister went to the register to request a lane (in spoken English), the cashier only acknowledged her. She asked my sister if she was bowling alone. When my sister said it was for both of us, the cashier said "okay" annoyedly and continued using her computer. She only asked my sister which bowling shoe size she would like and neglected even to bring up the idea that I might exist and need bowling shoes. It was very sad to see how this person treated someone she thought to be deaf. I wish I'd have thought of the right thing to say in that moment. Even if I were deaf, I still could see the disgust in her eyes. What sort of response would be appropriate in that sort of situation?
Hi Deaf, focus on your intention and goal to build the machine of the hearing and deaf communities and work together on the result. Without engine, the machine could not be worked. If anyone feels interested in deciding to do, he should have to DO what his passions come on.
I believe that we shouldn't try and 'help' just by ourselves, unless it is something that people do by them selves like saying to people they know not to say things that would be offensive stuff like that, we should always work WITH the community to help them use the voice they have. Hearing people can learn sign language so people who use it can communicate easier, they can advocate for rights that the community doesn't have because if hearing people advocate for deaf rights it will probably be more respected, they can do a number of things to share the community's voice. They need to realise that the community doesn't need to gain a voice, they need to get their already existing voice heard.
hello. wondering where you live? and are you involved with Community Access Media ? love your stuff and wish was more widely known and seen:) thanks
Glad you like my stuff :-D I currently live in Austin, TX, though I'm originally from Rochester, NY. I'm with you - I'd love to have it more widely known and seen! Do you have contact information for Community Access Media? I've tried searing for them on Google and can't specifically pinpoint the entity you're referring to. Thanks so much for any guidance you can offer!
I know ASL well about half of the language but your way to fast for me I guess I'll have to hit the books and practice to :)
PS love your blogs ;)
+Eliana Whelan Im curious how you have measured your knowledge of "half the language". I've been using ASL for 32 years and since all languages are dynamic and productive (constantly changing) and I can not know all there is to know (or even half) of all TOPICS, I think it unlikely that I know half of the language. Rather I have internalized the rules of the language and continue to interact with native users of the language. In that vein may I suggest that "hitting the books" is probably not the best way to acquire and practice ANY language but especially not a visually language. It is better by far to actually USE the language by hitting the Deaf coffee nights, and other events where Deaf people are in attendance and available to converse with you. Cheers on your continued learning journey.
I know I I made a comment relating to this comment on a different video, but I'm going to ask it again. Is there anyway you could, like your blog, have somebody read the subtitles? Is this we with this one, and other ones that relate to communities that are, and societies view, lower-class. At least with my experience, a l A lot of people, no matter what the difference, are viewed as lesser. They could definitely use the video. And if they're not able to read the subtitles, or understand sign language, they won't receive your message.
+ZeldaWolf2000 I'm VERY interested in this, YES! I was just chatting about accessibility while at a Deafblind coffee chat today and was gathering ideas on how to make my posts (CZcams, Facebook, etc) more accessible. I've done voiceovers on some of my videos (especially the "KnowThat?!" and "ASL Community That!Vlog" series) but you're right, I haven't done them for all of my videos. (each 3-minute video takes, on average, about 30 hours for me to make). Question: Are the captions accessible to you?
+awti thanks for these invaluable 3 minutes for us, 30 hours for you... appreciate your time and effort and they are an intrinsic component of my education even before I started the Terp program....
The grocery store story is a perfect story about privilege. I am white and I could use white hearing privilege if I didn't open my mouth. It is rare for me to see the sudden change in the other person's behavior when I started speaking but it had happened.
I am not sure about using this positive privilege because I like to be independent however I could see how using this positive privilege as a spring board to something big that will help other deaf people. I don't see what could be used as a positive privilege yet.
Discrimination is not the only thing I hate. I also hate the Crab Mentality. I think Deaf people should show emotional support for other Deaf people who have the skills to start up a business so they can turn around and hire Deaf people (and hearing people for the phones). It is sad for me to see many Deaf people with limited education. I want to see most of them attaining a college degree.
I don't have an answer yet to your question, Austin, but I think this is a much needed discussion. Thank you to all who have contributed. The discussion of privilege is one that I have been encountering (and considering) more frequently lately as it relates to all manner of marginalized/privileged people - Deaf/hearing, disabled/able, gay/straight (or passing as such), female/male, person of color/white... the list goes on and on.
I'd like to share this article that helped me to put my own privilege (and in some cases, marginalization) into a new perspective: qz.com/257474/what-riding-my-bike-has-taught-me-about-white-privilege/
From the article: "It is about systemic imbalance. It is about injustices that have arisen because of the history of racism that birthed the way things are now. It’s not saying, 'You’re a bad person because you’re white.' It’s saying, 'The system is skewed in ways that you maybe haven’t realized or had to think about precisely because it’s skewed in your favor.'"
Thank you for the links to the videos - I'm looking forward to watching them and furthering my understanding of this heady topic.
Fantastic - no, PHENOMENAL - article, Shannon!!! I recommend this article to EVERYONE, wowowowowow I'm so glad you brought it up here :-) Thank you for your articulate, thoughtful and rich comment!
EXCELLENT! Thank you very much for sharing your ideas with the world. Very helpful. Hope to meet you one day. Sorry to see that you are straight. LOL. And yes as LGBT person. yes, there is priviledge to being male, white and straight. Remember the opposite of priviledge is discrimination, or even bullying...other terps and agency will not hire me just because Im gay. thank you again very much, just seeing THAT VLOG is encouraging. John Hancock
The feeling's mutual, man - I love seeing your comments and am glad you're in the thick of things, making this world a better place. We need all the encouragement and support we can get!
Thank you so much. Take care.
Do you own an operate "That Vlog?" How is this different?
Did you create that sign for "privilege?" Or was that from input by deaf individuals (first time I have seen this sign).
I also believe you performed at NAD conference? Hopefully I am wrong. However, that is taking stage time away from deaf performers?
And, privilege is not about "pulling others up," it is about dismantling the fact that they exist in the first place. It doesn't work by pulling others up, it works by yielding space and allowing the center to expand.
I appreciate your allyhood, though there are mixed messages in what you are saying and what you are doing.
Hey there, Mark - I'm thrilled to see your comments! I get what you're saying about "mixed messages". I agree that my current understanding - actually, I believe that our entire ASL community's current understanding - is not yet fully coherent, which is why we desperately need this conversation, and why I'm so happy to see your comment here :-)
I should probably first start by saying that I believe we have a lot more in common than you may currently perceive. The spirit of what you're saying (both here and on your Facebook posting) resonates with me; I'm excited to see where this conversation goes! (side note: I don't have much of a presence on FB right now but I'm trying to improve that... a friend tole me about your FB post and I'd love to respond there! Up to this point in time, unfortunately, I've only had the time to have a CZcams presence. I'll try my best to change that.)
"That!Vlog" is my little vlog, yep. "Own and operate" may be giving more credit than is due; it's just an informal little thing that I do. On each episode, I spend about 40 hours of work and $150 of my own money; as a result, I earn about $400 per year from it. (I'm quite the savvy business person, aren't I? *not* hahh) In reality, I make "That!Vlog" because I love the identity that the ASL community has given to me and want to encourage a conversation about that identity. Regarding your follow-up question, "How is this different?"... do you mind clarifying? I'm not sure what you mean... different from what?
A recurring theme of "That!Vlog" is my identity: I'm a proud member of the ASL community. (my mother, father and brother are all deaf but I credit my ASL identity to the entire ASL community) I mention that here because it's the driving force behind everything I do: How I decide what I do for a living (financially meager as that may be), what language I use during my workshops (ASL only, no voice), what message I deliver (we are an ethnic, linguistic minority of which the Deaf community are the rightful gatekeepers). About 80% of my communication occurs in ASL; 15% in written English; 5% in spoken English. ASL is how I define my existence.
I really can't claim ownership over the sign I used in this video, to depict the concept of 'privilege'; over the last 4 years, after each "ASL Power!" show, I've had countless conversations with members of the ASL community (Deaf, hearing and everyone in between) about this concept and this is happens to be one of the signs that keeps coming up. My goal was not to teach/create a sign but to share this with the ASL community and see what their reactions would be - which brings us back to your comments!
Yep, you're absolutely correct - I did perform at the NAD conference; were you there for the performance? Or, do you know someone else who was there? If so, I'd love to get your impressions! I have a feeling that you'd appreciate the content of what I've been relaying in that performance. How many episodes of "That!Vlog" have you seen and what are your thoughts regarding its message? Some of what I cover in my performance is what I've been posting in "That!Vlog", please feel free to check out my previous episodes: bit.ly/ThatVlog_PL
After seeing me present and perform in Kentucky, the NAD asked me to perform (and present a workshop, "ASL-Centric Teaching: More Than Just Signing Natively!") at their conference. It was a huge honor to be invited but I did express a similar thought regarding the fact that I was hearing. The response from the NAD was that they wanted to emphasize unity amongst the various parts of the ASL community and linguistic identity - which is exactly what my performance is about. You raise a great point, though: Should auditory status be a deciding factor when it comes to how the NAD chooses their performers? How much should 'content of message' factor into that decision? What would be your answer?
You know, I really like how you explained that privilege is not about "pulling others up"! I'm certainly not married to how I explained it (hey, it could be the worst explanation in ASL *ever*, I'm open to that!) and I'm eager to see other ways of expressing the concept in ASL. Have you posted, or would you be able to post, a video in ASL explaining your perspective on privilege? I'd love to see your thoughts in ASL rather than read them in English.
I do agree that yielding space is one way that hearing members of the ASL community can combat the negative repercussions of privilege, yes! Yielding, though, is only one way - and so passive, at that! I want to maximize what I do for the ASL community and am looking for **multiple, active** ways to act! I'd love to hear more ideas from you - do you have other suggestions?
Again, I'm very eager to get your thoughts regarding the questions in this response; for the sake of ease, I'll reiterate them here:
-- Your first question, "How is this [That!Vlog] different?"... do you mind clarifying? I'm not sure what you mean... different from what?
-- Did you see my performance at NAD? If so, what are your impressions?
-- How many episodes of "That!Vlog" have you seen and what are your thoughts regarding its message?
-- Should auditory status be a deciding factor when it comes to how the NAD chooses their performers? How much should 'content of message' factor into that decision?
-- Have you posted, or would you be able to post, a video in ASL explaining your perspective on privilege?
-- Do you have other suggestions as to what hearing members of the ASL community can *actively* do to combat the negative repercussions of privilege, beyond simply yielding?
*****
Hi,
Appreciate the response. I have never seen any other That!Vlog than the one above. I was at NAD and aimed to see your performance but did not arrive in time. I also do not know you, but have just learned you are very involved and have relationships with a lot of Deaf people, which is cool. This may help with critiquing from an unbiased perspective? Thank you for sharing more about yourself. Your proficiency alone told me you're a native signer. This does lead to other questions like, what are the boundaries of CODAs when performing/broadcasting/ASL entertainment? Boundaries for when we want to consider privileges and oppression in the decision.
Also appreciate you being transparent about your profit. This is what I meant when I asked, "what is the difference?" Between Captain Valor making money from sign language and your vlog making money and being praised for sign language (even if you don't request for it. Paid by ads maybe?). I do recognize that you are a CODA and a native signer and I don't mean any disrespect to that. Though this goes back to the above question about boundaries. I was also told that you are very open to feedback and often include input from the Deaf community, which is great. I admit I feel more comfortable having you make Vlogs over the CODA Brothers. I see too much mockery (whether intended or not) coming from that channel.
Should auditory status be a factor for selected performers at Deaf events? In short, I do believe organizations like NAD and DYUSA should aim to invite Deaf performers. Why? Because it is a time to celebrate Deafness and allow stage time, because it is often not granted elsewhere; and signing-hearing people have greater access outside Deaf spaces, which is obviously a huge percentage more. At the same time, I understand that many Deaf people don't mind, I understand that sometimes we run out of performing candidates, and understand that we want to show that sign language can be for anyone. It is something that needs to be discussed.
I do agree that more dialogue is needed to really create understanding of the depth of what privilege is and how it works. I have done some Vlogs for DYUSA (www.dyusa.org) on privileges. However, it was done during the beginning of my process engaging in social justice and unpacking privileges so it is very brief and so much more can be explained. I would like to make more Vlogs, just need to find the time and strength to come together and produce them (signing and supporting).
As for yielding, yes, it does seem passive, but it is important and has a big impact. I do also see how it can be confusing. Like, what if you yield and no one else does anything, then nothing happens at all. This is where, "better than nothing," is believed. I would have to watch more of your Vlogs to get an idea of what your work looks like before providing feedback or suggestions on how you can be active for ASL.
Instantly, we can say that hearing people should not star in Deaf Vlogs and let Deaf people narrate them. While hearing people focus on supporting, filming, and editing. Should this principle apply to native hearing signers/CODAs (because they are not *just* hearing [but still, they are hearing?])?
In general, hearing people could use their air time to educate other hearing people on terminologies like: hearing identity, hearing world, hearing privilege, and audism (with examples/stories). They could share their own stories too of realizing their hearing privileges, places where they come to acknowledge those privileges and how deaf people suffer in those same settings, and also discuss ways the hearing world can advocate and unpack hearing biases and assumptions against Deaf people. I would love to have Vlogs that review hearing privilege and owning up by a hearing person and use that to educate other hearing people... when the role of an ally becomes necessary (in cases where a hearing person continues to deny my reality and will only listen if they hear it from a hearing person themselves [which is not even good anyway because they devalue the same message by the deaf person, but sometimes needed]).
I am going to stop here before the response gets too long. I am curious what your thoughts are. Obviously an in-person dialogue would be more effective because we can ask questions/clarify on comments at the time before saying more.
Again, thank you for the response and looking forward to yours.
Mark Ramirez This is a great conversation, Mark, thank you for being willing to engage with me! It seems to me that this is one of those taboo topics that usually only gets an emotionally-charged reaction and, in the end, nothing is resolved. I really hope the the ASL community can have a productive discussion about it - like we're having here - and move forward in a unified manner!
I was excited to check out your DYUSA videos (www.dyusa.org) but it seems the site is down right now (drat!) I'll check back again later this week, I really want to see more of your work! (though I did check out your videos on czcams.com/users/DeafYouthUSA, really enjoyed those)
Thanks for clarifying about, "how is this different?", I get it now, yes - you raise a good question about "boundaries", Deaf space, where native hearing signers / Codas fit in, etc. I believe that it all comes down to how we define our identity.
Thus far, how you approach all these topics is by centering your perspective around your Deaf identity - rightfully so, you're Deaf. On the other hand, I'm not deaf in any way... and this created quite a problem for me! In reality, it was an identity crisis. Until a few years ago, I couldn't seem to figure out where I belonged in relation to the Deaf community, which was such a terrible feeling; to be honest, it made me feel like I wanted to just earn my money as a hearing interpreter and not invest at all in the community. How terrible is that?!
Then I redefined how I view our community - and how I view my own identity - which is what my "ASL Power!" show is about. (I address this concept of 'ASL community and identity' in the following "That!Vlog" bit.ly/aslcommunity001_pl) Things changed when I saw myself as a member of the ASL community; I went from being an ally (without any personal investment, able to clock in and clock out whenever I felt like it) to being someone who was personally accountable for the impact I make on my community. If the ASL community suffers (and both of us know, it's suffering BIG TIME), I'm partly responsible for that and I need to seek ways that I can actively make a difference. The same is true for all hearing members of the ASL community.
This is a perfect time to address your paragraph beginning with, "In general, hearing people..." is AWESOME! A thousand times !!!YES!!! that's what we need to see from hearing members of the ASL community!
I agree that it'd be great to dialogue in-person, I truly enjoy how you think and appreciate the contributions you're making. I wouldn't have my identity without ASL; I wouldn't have ASL without the Deaf community. I can't show enough appreciation for that. My little money-losing vlog and my fiscally-anemic ASL-only workshops / performances are my best (yet feeble) attempt toward doing so. I'm hoping that this leads to something more impactful and lasting that I can do for the ASL community someday - if the Deaf community allows it.
*****
Yes, definitely a tough topic, especially online.
Sorry about the website. We had just resolved the problem and now it is back? Do visit again. CZcams works too, glad you found them. So many more we want/need to do.
Thanks for sharing your identity process, I can only imagine. This really does make me wonder more about CODAs and ASL as their L1.
I am also going to throw in another perspective. Because this thread focuses on cultural appropriation and hearing individuals, and (ha) because we both are interested in the complexities of such a taboo topic. And mostly because I feel you create safe space for feedback on your work.
I think that redefining the Deaf community to the "ASL community" is an awesome idea. I have actually been using "ASL community" instead with a circle of people, with a different definition though. Normally when people mention "Deaf" in "Deaf community" it is often a reference to the white abled Deaf community/Deaf family/Deaf School/Deaf University/Deaf Greek portion of the actual community.
The other definition as you present, I often see and have used too, includes all those who use sign language. This is actually becoming more popular too, which is fine if the community evolves that way. Though I do wonder if hearing people should have space in encouraging such change. This questions comes in mind when I consider the privileges of hearing people and how they are able to identify with ASL, but not have to experience the oppression of those the language really belongs to. Again, the fact that ASL is your native language too makes it unique. But even then, CODAs are still immune from audism (discrimination towards them on certain levels is another thing, and still wrong). With their "immunity" in mind, is it OK to claim *front line* space and identify with the oppressed but not be oppressed? Or should they wait to be invited and then focus on doing things behind the scene (yielding as we discussed, so that the privilege weakens and those that live the deaf life are getting credit)?
I am not implying you should stop, because there are ways to yield and be active at the same time (well obviously sometimes yield, sometimes active). One way to be active as a hearing person is to support the process of existing Deaf agents/activists/members, as well as holding hearing people in their own circle accountable when they do things that perpetuate audism (which I trust you do too). What exactly are the boundaries, in terms of yourself/Vlogs? I do believe this deserves more assessment, experience exchanging, and a community feel (especially in light of Captain Valor and Tina, etc).
And thank you for what you have already done for the deaf community, I trust you have made many changes when doing your work. If you ever do make something on hearing privilege, do let me know.
Mark Ramirez Fascinating definition of "ASL community" (referring to the white abled Deaf community/Deaf family/Deaf School/Deaf University/Deaf Greek portion) I hadn't seen that one yet - which is exactly why we need to have these conversations, WOOT!
In the last 24 hours, there are two things that just occurred to me. First: I'm not sure where you live, but I'll be presenting "ASL Power!" in a community forum format in Fairfax VA, just over a week from now (Oct 18th) at George Mason University; if you happen to be in that area, I'd love to get your participation and thoughts on it! (for info on that, you can check out my FB page, bit.ly/awtiasl)
Second thing that occurred to me: Shannon Mulhall made a comment (regarding this episode of "That!Vlog") including an article that explains privilege in the CLEAREST way I've ever seen. (qz.com/257474/what-riding-my-bike-has-taught-me-about-white-privilege/) This article got me thinking about the question we've been discussing: Should hearing members of the ASL community have a space in defining our community? Should that space ever be in the front lines? Here are my latest thoughts on that; I'd love to get your feedback:
It's painfully obvious that people with privilege are usually oblivious (blind!) to their privileged status and struggle to understand what privilege means. People without privilege try to educate privileged people regarding the system of privilege and its detrimental effects but these explanations often result in privileged people getting confused and defensive. While it is true that this is often because privileged persons can't stomach this kind of information coming from someone who is not privileged (which is an unacceptable response), I believe that's not always the case. In many cases, the confusion and defensiveness is a result of the vastly different world views held by those without and with privilege, which creates a rift in understanding - resulting in privileged people *genuinely* not understanding what is being said to them by people without privilege.
This lack of understanding happens, not just between persons with different native languages (hearing and Deaf persons), but even between persons using the same language (ex: black and white persons using spoken English). Even though they're using the same language, it's almost as if persons without privilege are explaining the concept of privilege in a foreign language! (that's how it can feel to a privileged person)
((as a side note, perhaps this is, in part, why we've not been able to come to a consensus regarding which ASL signs accurately represent the concept of "privilege"... perhaps it's partly due to the different experiences that those without and with privilege hold. And here's what makes it even more complicated: Many of us straddle both worlds, for example, having the privilege of being white but not having the privilege of being hearing. Little wonder, this is a complicated conversation!))
I think this is why an explanation of privilege, when given from the perspective of a privileged person, can make so much more sense to another privileged person - because of the shared world view / experience. This is something that became clear to me when I read the article, mentioned above! This is not to say that privileged persons should be the only ones explaining what privilege means - I most certainly do not mean that. Rather, I believe that the best way to effect change is for those without and with privilege to join forces. What would this joint force look like?
In the ASL community, I believe that the Deaf community should be in the driver's seat, making the strategic decisions, determining how to use the resources (including privilege) of these joined forces. How do we make this happen? I have some thoughts on that, which I share in my "ASL Power!" presentation; at the very end of that presentation, I assert that the Deaf community needs to be back in their rightful place as gatekeepers of the ASL community (not the interpreter training programs or associations, not the hearing non-ASL-using education policy makers and educators of the Deaf) and I give some ideas on how we can make that happen.
The central theme of those ideas is an extension of a phrase I've seen: "Nothing about Deaf without Deaf." To that, I would add, "Nothing about sign language without Deaf; nothing about Deaf without sign language." I believe that if the Deaf community is in control of how their language is used, EVERYONE will benefit - both inside and even outside the ASL community.
... but...
This brings us back to the questions: Should hearing members of the ASL community (like me) have a space in defining our community? Should that space ever be in the front lines? Do I just wait until the Deaf community becomes a cohesive, mobilized unit that can utilize my privileged status? I don't claim to have all the answers but I'll be damned if I don't do everything I can to support the community that gave me my identity. If that means using the skewed system of privilege to do that, I ask, in all sincerity: Why not? The system gave me this white, male, straight, hearing privilege; let's see if we can use that privilege to un-skew the system.
I have a son who is nonverbal. He is hearing but nonverbal and we just learned that he cannot use PECs but uses sign language. I have since started entering the deaf community to reach out and learn some specific signs since he is unable to finger spell. I want to communicate with my son but I fear that as I reach out I might be sending out the wrong message that I am sad that my son is nonverbal (Ok I am sad) but then realize that might offend deaf people. Because they don;t seem sad about being deaf at all. They are proud. Many friends ask me why I am focused on ASL and I say because I want my son to be able to be a part of some kind of community. Any kind of community and perhaps he will be welcomed into the deaf community one day. How does the deaf community welcome the hearing nonverbal? How can I 1) not offend the deaf community 2) teach my son to be proud of himself.
It's a pleasure to read your comment, Carolyn! It seems that you already have some contact with the Deaf community since you've correctly noted that they aren't sad to be Deaf at all. While I can not speak for the Deaf community (since I'm not Deaf), I can share my experiences and thoughts with you.
As you've noted, the most important thing is to build your son's linguistic identity (that of being both an English and an ASL user). The most solid way to do this, and to address both your questions, is to reach out to Deaf, ASL-using organizations in your area. I don't know where you live, but the National Association of the Deaf (www.nad.org) can help you find such an organization in your area. I emphasize, though, that you and your son will need Deaf **ASL-using** people. There are deaf individuals / organizations out there who do not use ASL; I offer a note of caution about what they offer.
Here's that note of caution, which you may already know: It's tempting to settle for communication systems like cued speech and the like; they may be easier in the short-term (easier for you to learn) they don't pan out in the long-term. That is, they won't provide your son the community, sense of belonging, intellectual richness and self-pride that he's going to need in his teen years and beyond.
***** Thank you very much Awti. My son is young and has 20 hours of ABA therapy a week plus 4 hours of speech a week but none of the speech therapy are fluent in ASL and I have no idea why. You would think that Speech therapists would be fluent in ASL but anyways their main focus have been getting him to vocalize anything. I get frustrated because I know my son can communicate and it is through signs. He is so much more receptive/expressive with signs than he is with just speech. They spend the sessions talking to him and he is mad and frustrated and tries to elope from the sessions..running away, crying, screaming, hitting them or throwing things at them. One speech therapist felt it would be a disservice to just have him be fully signing and immersed in the deaf culture. I am pretty close to just stopping speech altogether as movement has been slow. I know that if I had gotten a fully fluent ASL person to sit and sign with him, he will show everyone how much more he knows. In fact the other day he put together the signs " more, mouse, now" to show he wanted our pet Chinchilla immediately in his hands. To me that is a very smart child trying to communicate. He is limited by just how little ASLers there are around him including myself. I just don;t know enough to communicate with him. When we watch signing videos, his little hands are moving around like his is signing "babbling" is this common among deaf toddlers? I am waiting for the day when he can either sign" mama" or say "mamamama" and know it is me. But he signs " oh no, yummy, more, eat, drink, help, bye bye, mouse, airplane, truck, potty, poop, again, cracker, now" They say he is autistic and may have severe apraxia as well. Tomorrow we are going to a deaf community family activity in our city. I hope he will enjoy the activity there.
Carolyn L I'm so very excited for you and your son, that you'll be attending a Deaf community family activity tomorrow and would LOVE to know how it goes! Your frustration and perplexion regarding the speech therapists' approach is not only understandable, it's shared by many of us. Again, your son is very fortunate to have a mother who sees things clearly!
would love to have it included voice over??? i believe it benefits hearing family of deaf children and hearing ASL users .... don't ya agree?? let me know if it adds voice over.. I will be happy to share it with my family and hearing friends. ;-D
Love the discussion between you and Mark Ramirez!
You asked, "Should hearing members of the ASL community (like me) have a space in defining our community?"
Well, technically you already took a space in trying to define our community by proposing a name change of our community from 'Deaf community' to 'ASL community', and then going ahead and using it in your vlogs and your discourse.
Not criticizing you, mind you....just pointing it out.
Also, somewhere in the thread below somebody half-joked about the money issue...actually the central issue with regard to Captain Valor, Paul & Tina, et al., was CREDENTIALS and FLUENCY. Clearly as a CODA, you have both the credential and fluency, so even if you earned hundreds thousands of dollars per year, I don't think anyone would challenge you on these points. The only challenge that *might* occur is in regard to privilege.
One more thought about privilege...people like Paul & Tina think that they are using their privilege to "help" the Deaf community and "help" spread ASL awareness and "help" with building a bridge between the Deaf community and hearing community, when in reality their "help" isn't wanted or needed.
So that's where hearing people need to really *listen* to the Deaf community. If only 100 Deaf people tell Paul & Tina that they are abusing their privilege and disrespecting cultural/linguistic boundaries, that should be enough. Unfortunately, that's not the case.
I don't have all the answers...I'm still thinking about this.
I know, wasn't the conversation with Mark Ramirez great?! Articulate, intelligent and thoughtful, now THAT'S the kind of thing I live for - and, I should add, I feel the same way about your comments :-D
Point well taken (and no criticism perceived at all) regarding my already taking a space in defining our community, though I want to highlight that I always take great care to emphasize that I would never propose getting rid of the identity, "Deaf community". To do that would be to rip the heart out of everything the ASL community is (which is something others have been trying to do - unwittingly or otherwise - for years).
Of course, since I'm not Deaf I do my best to stay out of any discussions defining Deaf identity. That being the case, I talk about what I can - and that's my ASL identity, related to which is the ASL community, something that wouldn't exist without the Deaf community, and something to which the Deaf community are the true (and woefully disenfranchised) gatekeepers.
Something that I find myself saying every single day now is, "Nothing about sign language without Deaf; nothing about Deaf without sign language." I don't have all the answers yet but I suspect that all the answers have something to do with that sentence.
LOVING THIS CONVERSATION!
***** Thanks...I live for the same. :-)
"Nothing about sign language without Deaf; nothing about Deaf without sign language" is a nice sentiment, yes. But where does that sentence leave people like you? That sentence is fine for folks like me, but how does that sentence work for CODAs such as you? It would seem as though that sentence excludes CODAs...which then leads into the pesky issues of wording and privilege.
Michele Westfall That phrase doesn't necessarily exclude CODAs. "Nothing about _____ without ______" implies that the target group should be at the front and center. There most certainly can be supporters involved, too.
I don't speak ASL, why was there not closed captioning to include me? #doublestandards
Click the "cc" button in the right-hand bottom corner of the video. Captions have been there since Oct 3, 2014. You posted your oddly aggressive comment and hashtag in July 2018. Seems you need to work out some personal issues.
I don't think it's possible to have positive hearing privilege for various reasons. You certainly could go by 'alliance', but you also have to remember you really don't want to "pull them up" but back them up. By pulling them up, you can also inadverdently give the target audience/person the false impression that the underprivileged is less capable.
I'm pretty sure any other interpreter programs other than ASL would prefer to use the person who are fluency in the language to TEACH huh
Using my privilege, myself personally, would mean speaking the truth if someone asked a question about deaf people or made a mean or stupid comment against deaf people or ASL... But more importantly, to instill love and respect for deaf people and others in my students -- so the next generation will end audism.
How does the expression and practice "white man's burden" differ?
Blogs ;)
Thanks so much, Awti! Here's a video I've been showing my ASL classes for years, asking them to relate it to hearing privilege: czcams.com/video/NzAein4X37g/video.html I've been wishing someone would do something similar for hearing privilege. Maybe it's already out there and I just haven't seen it - anybody? In the meantime, your video is going on my must-see list for students!
FANTASTIC video, thanks for sharing that, Kelly!
perhaps by educating others who are un aware, that deaf people CAN !
do anything !
ive
I have many deaf friends, and have been out socially, and ultimately, treated differently, and have had to explain, and educate others to speak normally, face a deaf person, when u speak to them, and do NOT shout, it doesn't help
GOD'S hand ......wow!
Is this video missing subs just to prove your point?
... not sure what you're talking about. You need to click on the "cc" button.
good example, Deaffity on movie about Deaf boy used privilege. As good example.
Eh, u r right privilege term in terp world is very negative! Often ITP would " blue law" saying that terp should stay away from socialize deaf community.... I'm ASL instructor, often ITP would NOT use deaf in the ITP but almost always use terps to teach in the ITP! So it is "segregation" in terp programs that lead to outside terp world... I have all the skills and qualifications, prob much greater than those ITP terp teachers!! What's more to role play, of course deaf people would have far greater role playing lesson than do terps, obviously they NEVER use interpreter eh! Mmm so I'm really annoyed by ITP programs and I'm limited to adjunct teacher, I prob will never be a full time teacher at this college! So my opportunity are out in here! I notice it's same for 100, 100 of ITP mmm
Here is my response:
czcams.com/video/X6tAjH3BcHY/video.html
Please let me know if I need to clarify anything
Azael
Hey, Azael - I actually DO remember when you asked to do a version of the Deaf Ninja story for Deaf Art camp! Holy cow, it's been a few years, great to see a comment from you again - but this time in ASL rather than English, AWESOME!
I like - and agree with - your 'challenges' issued to two privileged groups in the ASL community: Hearing educators of the Deaf and hearing interpreters. Reminds me of something I saw in a TED talk where a young black man was saying, in effect, 'We don't want your charity, giving us money or clocking in / clocking out when it's convenient for you; we want you to live among us, see our struggles and triumphs first-hand, work alongside us. That's how you can make a difference.' (not a direct quote)
Ah and thanks for throwing in your two cents re: junkaslman Mcleod's, again - I thoroughly agree. The system's broken and needs an overhaul!
Hope to see more from you in future episodes!
"Positive Use of Hearing Privilege in the ASL Community?" I don't understand this video, yes it is because i don't understand ASL (Though I am trying to learn, if only on my own time) but sub titles for those of us that are making an honest attempt to try to bridge the gap would be nothing but a boon to farther your cause. Now i will state that yes, my limited exposure to ASL is, as stated, limited, but how can we learn when you don't give those of us that want to attempt to learn the means.
now i don't fully understand the context of this video because of the afore mentioned issues but i will say this, regardless of the videos actual context, Captain Valor has found away to bridge the gap and made ALS relaetable and a little more approachable.
Again there is no subtitles for this video and thus i can not truly understand its context, all I am going on is the title and emotion proved from the creator, if i am wrong a sincerely apologize, but as someone that wants to learn this just seems counter productive.
+Simon Ayres Thanks for your comment, Simon - letcha know, there have always been subtitles, or captions, on this video. Captions can be turned on by clicking the "cc" button in the bottom right-hand corner. Ah, and don't forget to check out CaptainValor's own comments, below, to see what he thinks of my commentary in this vlog. Enjoy!
Thanks for that, great video on the rewatch, keep doing what you are doing ;)
There is no voicing in much of the video this has eliminated many people from getting the message. Many do not sign ( they need the information). Many do not have visual equity to read captions or English is second language for them they hear and speak it but do not read it; Please make all the video's information accessible for everyone. Thanks :)
You need to click on the CC button to active the captions. They have been there all along.
Are you serious? i mean, how do you sign hypocrite? Look, you make some good arguments but to be honest. That man paid for his ASL lessons. How he chooses to use them is totally his decision. Now you can always try to reason with him and show ways he can support the '" ASL" community. Besides I never heard of an ASL community and ASL power. It's ridiculous and to assert some sort of ASL privilege is offensive. I'm a CODA too and think you're being hypocritical . Don't you profit form the ASL work you do and the CZcams Videos you make??
Lol vlogs