The Importance Of Deaf Culture - 1445 Words

It is quite a task to identify oneself within a â€Å"culture† due to the unique social, behavioral, and physical traits each culture represents themselves with. As I began learning about the hallmarks of Deaf culture such as â€Å"language, heritage art and history†, I began wondering about how the historical significance of each one impacted the modern choices of Deaf individuals (Holcomb 17). Our textbook Introduction to American Deaf Culture makes references to how important American Sign Language is to define the Deaf community which leaves me wondering how strong the foundation of Deaf culture would be if based on heritage rather than on language. Being Jewish I never learned Hebrew but knew all the prayers, values, and traditions to feel†¦show more content†¦Language never played in a role in how people viewed me as a Jewish youth nor did people believe I was not culturally experienced because I could not hold a conversation in a certain language. The Je wish people went through oppression both in the stories I grew up learning as well as historical events like the Holocaust which emotionally changed the lives of the Jewish population to this day and for years to come. The point of my experience as a Jewish individual is to lay the idea of how I grew up feeling appreciated by my population without a language and how the community I grew up with experienced oppression much as the Deaf community faced and show how the events we endured made our culture stronger in the long run. I believe that much like the Jewish people, Deaf people show the same pride in their community because of the oppression they faced and how the pride they feel is attributed more to their history than to language. When thinking about the historical impact against the Deaf community, the primary instance that arises in my head is the oralist movement which was supported by hearing people like Alexander Graham Bell. Many people opposed the idea of â€Å"Deaf Culture† and wanted to move Deaf children away from traditional ASL by teaching lip reading and speech to children instead of allowing them to use ASL in schools. While many could argue that this example provesShow MoreRelatedLanguage And The American Sign Language953 Words   |  4 Pages A few of the important factors that I thought were important in this unit were the American Sign Language itself, the rules of social interaction in the Deaf culture, and Deaf literature. American Sign Language is well described in the book, â€Å"Introduction to American Deaf Culture† by Thomas K. Holcomb. Holcomb explains how American Sign Language is often confused with â€Å"English on the hands.† However, Holcomb cites, â€Å"Research has clearly determined that ASL has an independent grammar that happensRead MoreFilm Analysis: Sweet Nothing in My Ear1011 Words   |  5 Pagesborn hearing and ended up going deaf, so his parents had to deliberate on whether or not they wanted to get him a cochlear implant. The wife Laura (played by Marlee Matlin) is deaf and her husband Dan is hearing. The movie is centered around Laura and Dan’s struggle to decide if a cochlear implant is what’s best for their son Adam. It doesn’t help Laura make the decision when her parents are both deaf, and her father is basically prejudiced against the hearing culture. The main characters in the storyRead MoreThe Effects Of Deafness On Deaf Children1669 Words   |  7 Pagesloss. The term Deaf is considered to be a disability solely on the fact that an individual who is Deaf is not â€Å"normal† due to their hearing loss. Most individuals do not believe that there are any benefits or positives from being Deaf, nor do they believe that a Deaf individual will ever be able to live a happy and fulfilled life. Deaf individuals do not view themselves as disabled nor do they view their lives as a loss, rather they view their Deafness as a Gain. This is called Deaf Gain, meaningRead MoreDeaf Culture in America972 Words   |  4 PagesVoices from A Culture When I finished reading the book I realized that I had just learned way more than I had been expecting. Just reading the first chapter was enough for me to be awestruck by the intricacies of the Deaf culture, but as I continued reading I realized that the depth and many levels of social structure are so detailed that being able to fully understand them would be simply impossible. I was very impressed with the amount of respect that the word Deaf conveys among the Deaf communityRead MoreEssay on Diversity in Education1208 Words   |  5 Pagesand students alike, especially for ethnic-minority Deaf students. Compared to American students, ethnic-minority Deaf students have different needs that require accommodations in the types of instruction methods from teachers. Because of the diversity within the Deaf community, it is important to stress on the importance of ethnic-minority role models for deaf college students, the academic preparedness of ethnic-minority deaf students, the dea f students’ level of comfort on campus, and the successRead MoreDeaf Again By Mark Drolsbaugh1581 Words   |  7 PagesDeaf Again is an autobiography written by Mark Drolsbaugh. In this book he begins at his birth, goes on to explain what it was like to lose his hearing, and details how this impacted and affected his life. Around the time Mark was in first grade, he began to realize that he was losing his hearing when he began having difficulty hearing some of his fellow students. His hearing continued to deteriorate until he was left completely deaf. This was very tough for Mark, because even though his parentsRead More Deaf Again by Mark Drolsbaugh Essay713 Words   |  3 Pages  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   After reading Deaf Again I learned a lot of new things about Deaf culture and was drawn in by the story of Mark Drolsbaugh. The hardest fight a man has to fight is to live in a world where every single day someone is trying to make you someone you do not want to be e.e cummings. I was brought into the book immediately from this quote and realized how difficult it must have been for Mark to find his identity. He was trying to hang on to his hearing in fear of going deaf as if there was somethingRead MoreEssay on Deaf Again730 Words   |  3 PagesAfter reading Deaf Again I learned a lot of new things I didnt know about Deaf culture and was drawn in by the story of Mark Drolsbaugh. The hardest fight a man has to fight is to live in a world where every single day someone is trying to make you someone you do not want to be Ââ€" e.e cummings. I was brought into the book immediately from this quote and realized how difficult it must have been for Mark to find his identity. He was tr ying to hang on to his hearing in fear of going deaf as if thereRead MoreReflection Of Deaf Jam789 Words   |  4 PagesThe documentary Deaf Jam produced by New Day Films provided an in-depth look into the beauty and dexterity of American Sign Language (ASL) while highlighting many important aspects of deaf culture. It also gave an even deeper analysis of the personal lives of those who are deaf and the societal and emotional struggles they face every day. This was done through the eyes of an Israeli immigrant named Aneta Brodski and her empowering journey to share her story through signed slam poetry. Through watchingRead MoreDeafness Has Been A Negative Label. Being Deaf Is Considered1528 Words   |  7 PagesDeafness has been a negative label. Being Deaf is considered to be a disability solely on the belief that an individual who is Deaf is not â€Å"normal† due to their hearing loss. Most individuals do not believe that there are any benefits or positives from being Deaf, nor do they believe that a Deaf individual will ever be able to live a happy and fulfilled life. However, Deaf individuals do not view themselves as disabled nor do they view their lives lacking anything, rather they view their Deafness