Deaf Culture Ch. 4

culturally marginal individual

-does not feel at ease in the Deaf community, but does not feel a part of the hearing society either -person often feels marginalized bc both deaf and hearing people avoid them bc of their lack of communication skills

Categories of Deaf Identities

balanced bicultural, Deaf dominant bicultural, hearing dominant bicultural, culturally separate, culturally marginal, culturally isolated and culturally captive

Bi-cultural identity in the Deaf World

belonging to and being able to participate in both the Deaf community and hearing society

what are cochlear implants, the two views and the effect they have

two views: improved hearing because of implants is causing the Deaf community is becoming less & less significant because kids are more likely to grow into the hearing society and be opposed to signing -many Deaf don't feel like they need to be 'fixed' -sign language is often discouraged to those who get implants -instead supposed to learn how to speak and parents expected to ban sign language -also seen as perpetuating perception and that there is something wrong with being deaf

culturally isolated individual

-a person who chooses not to be affiliated with the Deaf community -rejects sign language -an isolated identity

Deaf dominant bicultural individuals

-able to function well around both Deaf & hearing people but would most likely choose to be with Deaf people who can sign -enjoy hearing friends but find Deaf contact more rewarding bc of true communication

balanced bicultural Deaf people

-individuals who are truly comfortable in both Deaf & hearing communities -ability to speak & sign

hearing dominant bicultural deaf

-individuals who can function in the Deaf community but have limited contact with Deaf people -live mostly around hearing people with a life devoted to corporal world -may not be interested in the Deaf world but also does not shun it

culturally captive

-individuals who grow up without any knowledge of the Deaf community -grew up believing there was no other deaf people or no one to support them -unaware of opportunities in place for them

what are the stages of cultural awareness?

STAGE ONE: -conformity: deaf culture is often shunned & that shouldn't be the case STAGE TWO -dissonance stage: person is exposed to positive aspects of the community to reevaluate their affiliation STAGE THREE -resistance and immersion: individuals from disenfranchised groups become determined to learn more about their cultural identity STAGE FOUR -introspection stage: begin to reexamine the extreme stance they may have adopted in the previous stage STAGE FIVE -awareness stage:at terms with their community and in this case, being Deaf

growing up deaf and forming an identity

forming an identity as a daef individual is often difficult bc many hearing people in their lives can be ignorant. Parents often fight on how raise a deaf child: the value of a Deaf identity or focusing on having speech skills for hearing society Important to habe a good relationship with both the hearing and the deaf

Composite Identity

having multiple yet shared identities

what is deaf identity

it still means that a person is a part of American culture and they still do normal things. They can choose not be a part of the Deaf community and they upbringing affects their identity with both sides

culturally separate Deaf person

someone who intentionally keeps contacts with hearing people to a minimum due to communication obstacles, patronizing attitudes, insensitivity, and oppression -Deaf places for employment -don't visit hearing family who does refuses to learn how to communicate w them