Audism Examples from Movie
- Deaf and black woman who was denied job.
- Dinners with hearing family members and Deaf child who was ignored.
- Interpreters who changed students answer to question.
- Religious or medical cures that didn't work.
Warning Signs You Have Audism:
- You think being Deaf is a disability.
- You think the only way for a Deaf person to survive is with a hearing device.
- You hate when Deaf people don't speak or they make funny noises.
- You think ASL is crippling.
- Your hero is Alexander Graham Bell.
Outside Example of Oppression 1
- A couple was denied an interpreter during the birth of their son and throughout their 8 day hospital stay.
- They were told an interpreter was on the way, but never showed up.
- An exciting and monumental event became a frustrating and confusing one.
Oppression: prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or control
Audism: The notion that one is superior based on one’s ability to hear (Tom Humphries)
Outside Example of Oppression 2
Tom Humphries
- Prior to 1975, there wasn't a term to describe the oppression toward the Deaf
- There was "racism," "sexism," etc, so then Humphries coined the term "audism."
- Some major companies, such as UPS, has denied Deaf individuals employment opportunities, believing that the Deaf are incapable of driving.
Hearing Privileges in Society
- Many hearing people are not educated with Deaf culture norms and values; therefore oppression is more likely to occur.
- From the video and other outside research, we can infer that hearing employers are more likely to deny Deaf applicants.
Attitudes Toward the Deaf Community
- Hearing people sometimes treat the Deaf as incompetent.
- Hearing people are sometimes condescending, which is a form of oppression.
Audism Unveiled
By: Paige Gieske, Rachel Powell, and Kara Marko