Personal:
Oftentimes, I've been told I would not accomplish anything in life. Deafness is seen as a barrier in accessing to the language. Therefore, if I could not learn languages, I would not be able to learn anything. Obtaining a job is always a struggle. I have been rejected by employers because of my hearing ability. I've been questioned about my skills based on my hearing ability.
Witnessed someone else:
This young man is deaf and has several behavior disorders along with mental illness. Yet, he was bright and active. I worked primarily with this young man. He asked me if he could take driver's education class. He wants to get driver's license. He really wanted to be like every other teenager. I encouraged him to try the class out. He was uncertain about how he is going to pass the class. My head-supervisor said he cannot take driver's education, because he's not bright and capable. I stood up to her and asked to give him the same treatment as every other teenager. He has to try and learn. This is a sign of oppression between highly educated person and a person with mental illness.
Media---Switched at Birth:
This show is about two female teenagers (Daphne--deaf and Bay--hearing) who were switched at birth and discovered the switch as teenagers. One of the teenagers is deaf. This deaf person meets her biological parents. The biological parents automatically accused the mother for not preventing the child from becoming deaf. Then biological parents encouraged this teenager to get cochlear implant and be normal like them. They did not bother to recognize the wonderful person she is as a deaf person.
There is another character, Emmett, who is profoundly deaf since birth. He has deaf parents.Unexpectedly, he fell in love with Bay. Emmett's mother did not support Emmett's relationship with Bay because Bay is hearing and does not belong in Deaf community. The mother assumed that every hearing-deaf relationship is doom for failure. Emmett pointed out that his parents are deaf and getting divorced.
How one treats another removes the equality by lowering one's status in the society. This is basically what we all experience at some point in our lives. When someone says that a deaf person needs to be fixed, the inequity comes through the identity. This creates the feeling of being abnormal and possibly a identity crisis.
From my experience, oppression and prejudice had always anger me. I used to "talk back" to others who degraded my identity, my being, my ability, and so on in different ways. I used to sign to someone who mocked me. Sometimes, I'd say, "watch me" and I'd accomplish.
There were not many people who allied for me except for my parents, grandparents, and interpreters. Most of the time, I believe that my trait of being stubborn is what helped me getting through the obstacles. I knew what I was capable of, so I just endured everything to reach the goal. It seemed to be much more difficult as a teenager, and young adult than in my 30's. I am much more laid back now. Once in a while, I'll fiercely fight for equal rights.
I would not change anything. I wouldn't be who I am if I had not gone through the obstacles, the struggles, and emotions. This had given me the opportunity to gain compassion for others even if oppression exhausts me.
Hello Chrissy,
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy reading your blog! I worked with deaf children while in high school. This work was so fun and inspiring! It influenced my decision to go into special education and advocate for different abilities. I currently work with a couple of students with cochlear implants. I am always interested as well to hear your perspective on this new technology. The movie you referenced sounds very interesting. I put it on my Netflix queue. I would never wish the obstacles you experienced on anyone, but appreciate that you were able to use these times to form the strong and capable person you are today.
Hi Chrissy,
ReplyDeleteI too enjoy reading and learning about your world. Thanks for sharing. You were told that you would not accomplish anything in life because of your hearing ability and I was told that I would not accomplish anything in life because of my race, but look where we are today ((: Never let anyone tell you who you are because no one knows that better than you. We all face challenges in life, but it's how we deal with those challenges that matters. You did not fall victim to internalized oppression and if you did, you were able to rise above it; we both were. Continue striving to be all that you can be.