Friedner (2011) uses the word “penetrate” when he refers to hearing individuals trying to participate in deaf spaces. In “Future Life How?”: The Making of Deaf Sociality and Aspiration in Urban India (2011), Friedner discusses the difficulties deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) people face in spaces predominantly occupied by hearing individuals. He states that the word “penetrate” is deliberate, as this reflects a history of “ambivalence” towards the boundaries between deaf and hearing spaces.
The fact of the matter is that deaf spaces are safe spaces for the DHH, and despite their best intentions, hearing people entering these spaces feels like a penetration of sorts. On one hand, it is appreciated as it shows a gentle overlap between hearing spaces and deaf space – an acceptance. On the other hand, Friedner (2011) noted that when hearing individuals enter these conversations, DHH would go silent, and the atmosphere would become more formal.
Friedner’s article (2011) focuses on India in particular. Upon interviewing workers in Excel, he shared the stories of women who appreciated their work environment because in other workplaces they had been ridiculed and belittled. Many employees shared that they felt compelled to help other deaf employees, because deaf employees were not seen as distinct individuals, but as a group. There were times when experienced employees did not wish to extend their work hours and help a new worker, but they felt as though they had to simply because both workers were deaf.
At another point, Friedner mentions his visit to an alumni event at an oral school. The DHH alumni shared their resentment for the school for failing to teach them sign language. They stated that they learned how to communicate after they had left school, and also spoke of moments where teachers had struck their wrists for communicating in sign language in between classes. Nevertheless, the school had reformed significantly by the time the alumni event took place. The school’s curriculum was entirely in sign language despite it being an oral school.
Forced Sterilisations, abortions without consent.
The relationship between DHH and hearing communities is bound to be strained when many DHH folks have suffered discrimination at the hands of hearing individuals. A notorious example is Adolf Hitler’s belief that deafness was a hereditary disease, and thus passed the Law for the Prevention of Offspring with Hereditary Diseases on July 14, 1933. This legislation included deafness as a hereditary illness. Children in deaf schools were sterilized without their knowledge or consent. Similarly, deaf women were forced to terminate their pregnancies and get sterilized. Law-makers chose to stay silent on this abuse, and leaflets were passed describing sterilization as a harmless procedure much like the removal of the appendix. The trauma stretched to such an extreme that deaf children would pretend to hear, and learn to speak to avoid this fate.
The reason it is pivotal to mention these cases is that these were not isolated incidents in history. The violence and criminalization of deafness are embedded in Deaf history for many DHH people. From forced marriages to hiding the DHH indoors out of shame, the relationship between the DHH and hearing communities is strained to say the least.
Deaf and Hidden from view.
In 2021, Arij posted an article detailing the cruelty undergone by a deaf Egyptian woman named Aziza who had been locked up by her brother who claimed for years that she was mentally unwell. The article, written by Douaa Imam, stated that it was common practice for deaf women and deaf children to be hidden away from society. Deaf women are often told that there is no benefit in getting a woman married if she is “dumb.”
The point to note is that this is the backdrop of any initiative taken toward the DHH cause. This is not to imply that the work done for the DHH community is in vain, but that the work needs to be consistent, and rigorous. The world is no longer sitting in the 1930s, assuming that deafness is hereditary or that deafness is a “disability.” The DHH has proven time and again that they are an asset to any society.
Employing DHH folks.
Countries that have worked towards empowering their DHH community have seen positive outcomes of their efforts. For instance, the Swedish government has embraced an education system that caters to both sign language and spoken language. The benefit this serves is that the higher their education the more likely Deaf people are to attain better employment. (Anon, 2006; Welsh and Foster 1991)
Another major factor in bridging the gap between hearing spaces and DHH spaces in different countries is employment accessibility. In August 2020, SK Telecom, a Korean company, launched Goyohan Mobility, a new service developed for deaf drivers. SK Telecom installed an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) in the vehicles and provided the drivers with Smart Watches tailored to their needs. The ADAS offers forward collision, pedestrian collision, and lane departure warnings through vibrations on the Smart Watch worn on the driver’s wrist. In February 2022, KoreaTimes stated that Goyohan Mobility employed 110 “hearing-impaired” drivers.
This discussion illustrates that there have been slow but successful steps toward harmonizing hearing communities with DHH communities. The case studies of India, Egypt, and Germany highlight that social factors are currently standing in the way of progress. It is crucial that this stigma is addressed so that DHH folks can not only coexist guilt-free but also excel in their professional and personal lives.
Unspoken Languages Services is an American Sign Language Interpretation service provider that aims to bridge the gap in communication and create an accessible environment for all.
Thumbnail Photo Credit to: “Deaf Community Marches on Parliament – Save Auslan TAFE Diploma course protest” by John Englart (Takver) is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
