We socialize with hearing people every day, whether at a gas station, coffee shop, library, or at a doctor’s office. Almost every time, we’re asked if we can read lips, or they refuse to accommodate our auditory needs. Most times, they don’t even understand why I ask for a pen and paper. This is called being an audist, or a person who is hearing that shuns deaf culture, the use of sign language, obsessed over the use of hearing speech (talking), and lip-reading by deaf people. Further, some people believe that Deaf people and our culture are inferior to hearing culture and that it is something we strive to change. Therefore, Audism is a norm in my life and the Deaf community.
American Sign Language is my first language, and yet strangers I meet every day ask me if I can read lips. My answer was always, “Yes, I can read lips, and I can talk.” Almost every time, the reaction is relief that I can understand spoken English and surprise that I can speak so well for someone who is deaf. One of the many struggles we face is the oppression by audists who thinks I am inferior to their auditory status, and want me to accommodate to their needs.
According to the recent data in 2013, there are about 77% of Deaf individuals are born into hearing families, and 72.1% of those hearing families have members that don’t sign at home. This means even more isolation at home growing up. That isolation can lead to worse things later in life, including susceptibility to abuse. There is recent data from 2011 indicating that Deaf and hard of hearing individuals are 1.5 times more likely to be victims of relationship violence, sexual harassment, sexual assault, psychological abuse and physical abuse in their lifetimes. They are more likely to be in a relationship with a hearing abuser, as isolation is a tactic they can easily inflict on their deaf partners. For example, they could disconnect the videophone or Wi-Fi, so their partners wouldn’t be able to communicate with their friends or family members. Additionally, if the police were called and there was not an interpreter on site, an abuser could wrongly interpret sign language to law enforcement, continuing to manipulate the situation.
We believe in giving all survivors, including deaf survivors their own voice, especially when their voice is their hands. This month, MSP joins the Deaf community and Deaf survivors to amplify their voices and/or hands, value deaf culture, and advocate for equality and the erasure of audism.
By Jacqueline Mamorsky, Project Manager at MSP.