The media has a way of presenting things that can sway public opinion in a good or bad way. The point of the media is to sell and go with whatever extremities they can to do it.
Have you ever thought about how the media represents the deaf community? Let’s learn about the relationship between the deaf and the mainstream media.
Forms of Media
Media comes in many forms; journalistic, entertainment, and social. It is an educational tool to give us a glimpse into how the world is. Yet, it lacks clarity and truth because it tends to cater to certain beliefs and audiences.
Nowadays, though, it seems that it is becoming more unfiltered, especially with the rise of Instagram and TikTok. That is all user-generated content where real people can show you the rawness of life. It is a game changer for the deaf community. It gives those a way to show the world what it is like for them.
Representation of Deaf People in News and Entertainment
Movies, TV and the news can show groups of people depending on race, religion, or gender in a not-so-accurate way. And the issue is the media has influence and power over viewers’ minds.
It can easily make someone think that deaf people are helpless and constantly depend on others. It creates a false narrative that deaf people are isolated from the rest of the world. It happens all the time in entertainment, where there is a budget and people who can research different aspects of the deaf community to get the representation correct.
One thing that the NAD (National Association of Deaf People) notes are the media sheds light on the medical part of being deaf. For a person that has a total loss of hearing, a TV show or movie will show that the character needs to be “fixed.” As if there is some cure out there through AI or other technologies to magically bring back one of the five senses.
The deaf community doesn’t need a cure to change their lives. Communities worldwide have broken those barriers between the world of signers and non-signers. They created a culture and a language that defines them. Being deaf shouldn’t be seen as another adversity. The deaf is people living their lives as everyone else would.
Sign Language in Entertainment
Now, the other issue is with movies and the language used by deaf characters. American Sign Language is not just signing English words. It is an independent communication system from English. As with any language, it takes years for even professional interpreters to master.
While it’s a step forward, having sign language in movies, it’s a misrepresentation. It doesn’t help when actors and actresses misuse it or sign English words. It is the same when American actors fake British accents or speak in a foreign language with a bad accent.
Another representation issue is giving hearing people deaf roles. It happens all the time in entertainment where a person who “looks” like they might fit the description of a certain race, ethnicity, etc., gets the role. However, this takes away from the proper representation of the deaf community.
Terminology Used in Media
Words have an impact on the perception of things. Some terms that were fine to say in the past now hold a less favorable connotation.
There is some terminology in the deaf community that is constantly changing. Media is culture, and it should be on the latest wave of what is appropriate or inappropriate to say about a group of people. Deaf and hard of hearing are the most accurate terms to use. Saying things like “mute” or “disabled” dehumanizes the deaf community.
There are other words in the media used to convey a message and emotionally grab the audience. Language such as “courageous,” “brave,” or “triumph” can put the perception of adversity, which results in pity for the deaf community. That is not how the deaf community wants to be portrayed in the media. They do not see being deaf as something holding them back in life. They see themselves as a culturally rich community living as everyone else does.
How Can Representation be Changed
While progress has been made for the deaf community, we still have a long way to go. Breaking down these barriers is crucial to integrate into the majority of society. Some ways that the media can make things more accessible and inclusive to the deaf community are providing closed captions for all visual media like the news and online TV broadcasts.
Another way of bringing the representation of the deaf community to the media is through interviewing. It would be more relevant to have someone from the deaf community understand and empathize with the issues they face.
Having interpreters available is another thing that lacks in many forms of media. There was an incident last year at the Superbowl held in Los Angeles. Two deaf rappers performed at the Halftime Show. It was a big thing for the deaf community. A musical representation is shown on live TV that attracts millions of Americans. The two rappers did perform, but not on live TV. The deaf people only had access to the performance through an app. This is an example of seclusion from the rest of the viewers.
Non-Signers are Part of the Change
It takes the outside majority to change and create exposure for all minority communities. How can hearing people be more inclusive towards the deaf community? There are several ways:
- Volunteer with a deaf community organization
- Learn American Sign Language
- Content creators can make videos centered around awareness
- Dedicate a career to American Sign Language
Media Around the World
Here’s the thing, there isn’t just an issue with a negative representation of deaf people in the American media. It happens all over the world.
Culturally speaking, society tends to put everyone into a category. Normalizing deaf communities worldwide is important to acknowledge different identities and the existence of all humans. If the media would stop treating deafness as a barrier to the world of hearing, then people would be more welcoming, and the world would be more inclusive of differences.
Want to learn how Unspoken Language Services is being more inclusive to the deaf community? Visit our website to find out how interpretation services are making the world more accessible.
Thumbnail Photo Credit to: Photo by JESHOOTS.com
