http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1_zuCOdfj4
Please watch this and discuss your thoughts, feelings, opinions and ideas. Please think about the TV program,"Switched at Birth" and chapter three from our required textbook and find information that supports your comments.
Have a great day!
~m
I found the you tube video interesting. I never thought of the phrase "are you in another world?" or "they live in another world". I do have to admit, I have used it when people do not understand where I am coming from. I do not consider Deaf people to be in another world because it is me who can not communicate well with them. It is not their fault that we do not understand each other.
ReplyDeleteI think this relates to the show Switched at Birth too. Bay's family does not understand the needs of Daphne in order for her to hear. This is not Daphne's fault because they knew she was Deaf so they should stop and think about how they talk so fast and don't look at her. If they, and other people, would just put them selves into the Deaf person's shoes they would better understand how that person feels and functions. If people change their way of thinking we would not have "different worlds". chapter three talked about the Deaf community standing up for others in the Deaf community and Deaf influencing other Deaf people. I think if they stand up to influence hearing people then things would change. I know Deaf people already conform to the hearing society a lot but before taking this class and going to the commedian last year I never knew there was a problem and two seperate world's. I guess this is mainly because I had little to no exposure to the Deaf culture
I have never thought about fact that we talk about the hearing world and the deaf world. I often use the terms myself to describe and separate the cultures I am talking about. I thought the video made a good point about how the Deaf culture is the only one in which we use world to describe it. Every other difference or distinction is expressed without having them be a part of a whole different world.
ReplyDeleteThis relates to the show Switched at Birth because each family is portrayed to come from two totally different worlds. Bay’s family cannot understand the decisions and choices Daphne and Regina make. They believe that Daphne and her friend Emmet can’t do the same things as those in the hearing world because they are deaf. They tip toe around the issue as if just because she is deaf she is an alien visiting earth and they have to keep it a secret. Also both girls try to keep each other a secret from their friends. Bay doesn’t want anyone to know that she has a deaf “sister” and Daphne chooses not to tell anyone, aside from Emmett, that her parents don’t sign. We choose to separate the two cultures because one doesn’t understand the other.
We use terms such as "Hearing World" and "Deaf World" to describe the type of culture and the type of people in those worlds. Hearing people and Deaf people are different. They come from different cultures, they have different languages, and they have different viewpoints about their world (i.e. individualism for American Hearing People versus Collectivisim for Deaf People). I think these two cultures feel like they do live in separate worlds at times. I also believe it depends on where you are living and what type of environment you are around.
ReplyDeleteThis past week I've been in Mississippi for my Grandpa's funeral. What i've noticed is how different certain types of people are treated down here. Blacks are treated and viewed differently here in Mississippi than in Minnesota. There are still some white people that geniunely hate Blacks and don't view them as equal. My cousin told me that that is the way it is down here. Blacks have been mistreated or used by the white population that when i genuinely nice white person wants to have a conversation with them they are skeptical and cautous and wondering what they heck they want. I think this goes to show that even though everybody lives in one world it feels like we are all living in separate worlds.
I do believe that a part of that has to deal with how we are raised. We learn our values and our norms from our parents and society. A professor of mine once said that "people are taught to hate before they are six, seven, or eight." It took me awhile to understand what that meant. It means that most of what we learn and how we view the world is already ingrained in us by our parents. Think about it. Our parents are the ones that teach us right from wrong. They try to tell us why things are the way they are. Those viewpoints define who we are and who we become.
I think that people do often feel like they are in separate worlds. Most of us have probably experienced this feeling of being in another world if we have been to another country or been apart of another culture. It's not our norm and we feel out of place. Deaf and hard of hearing people go out of their way a lot of time to accomadate hearing people. I don't see that type of accomadation from hearing people. I don't see hearing people trying to learn about deaf culture or learning ASL. There are exceptions of course but the majority of hearing people feel like the Deaf people need to change for them and be a part of the "hearing world." This can put a huge strain on Deaf people. I think this is a reason why it does feel like Hearing people and Deaf people are living in separate worlds. I just don't think its between those two culture those. The American culture is different than the Japanese culture and the Japanese culture is different than the Brazilian culture. These differences makes these culures unique. People shouldn't judge a culture if they haven't learned about that culture. There is a reason and a rhyme to everything that culture does.
I guess my standpoint is that there is no "one" world but multiple worlds that we all live in and interact with everyday. It's not just a "hearing world" or just a "deaf world." It's a hearing world, a deaf world, an american world, a white world, a black world, a hispanic world, a japanese world, a chinese world...its all of these cultures and more that make up the world that we live in.
A hearing person asked the guy in the video what’s it like in the deaf world. The deaf man really didn’t understand what the hearing man was talking about because the deaf people don’t have there own world, hearing and deaf people share the same planet. Deaf and hearing people want to be treated equal yet they classify each other in there own worlds. Why don’t other races be classified as in there own worlds? They are called the black world or white world. I think we should all be in the same world, others learn others language but why don’t more people learn sign language to learn to interact with them too. We are all on the same planet so lets try to be one group of people and try to interact more.
ReplyDeleteI thought the man in video posed a very good question—Is there a hearing and deaf world? I agree with him when he says that we don't live in different worlds but that we separate ourselves into group that make us the most comfortable. We, as people, are curious and strive to be excepted by others. We find it much easier to be excepted by others that have the most in common with ourselves. Another things is that we tend to be scared of the unknown, hence why people are afraid of the dark. It's not so much that the dark is scary but what could be in the dark. As we find out in chapter three, the Deaf culture and hearing culture are very different. The same goes for many other cultures around the world. When we come in contact with someone that is “different” than us we can poke fun at them and shun them or ask them what can be very stupid questions. We make fun of them because they are different and that can make us uncomfortable. We poke fun at the differences trying to slip back into our comfort zone.
ReplyDeleteLike I said earlier, we are curious so when something new comes along and we can stay in our comfort zone we tend to ask really obvious questions, like “Can you drive?” This question was brought up in the T.V. Show Switched at Birth.” The show brings out a lot of the difficulties that rear their ugly heads when two cultures smash into each other. But just like in the show, the only way to get through the tough times is to work at it together and try not to take everything too personally.
I never took the term world when referring to the “hearing world” and “Deaf world” as more than another word for culture. However upon watching the YouTube video and reading chapter 3 I realized how the word world is isolating and separating the Deaf community from the hearing community even more. By using the word world we are ignoring the fact that we do in fact all live on the same planet. I believe that hearing people need to accept this. Since Deaf people are constantly changing themselves in order to make things easier for hearing people, I believe that hearing people should learn the basics of how to communicate with deaf people and be willing to learn a little bit about the Deaf culture. The hearing culture and Deaf culture will never completely merge due to the fact that they operate on different believes and norms. The Deaf culture focuses on collectivism where as the hearing culture is a lot more individualistic.
ReplyDeleteIn the show Switched at Birth each family is portrayed to come from two totally different worlds, one from the “hearing world” and the other from the “Deaf world.” It's unfortunate that we feel like since we don't understand someone that we should detach ourselves from them instead of taking the time to learn about each others differences.
Sam
Oh man, I feel silly now. I was checking the blog and checking the blog and couldn't find this post! I kept wondering why it wasnt up yet! Turns out I never looked under OCTOBER! So I apologize for this being late.
ReplyDeleteI would like to start off by saying that I didn't really think of the wording when we have talked about the hearing World and Deaf World. It cwas an interesting point to talk about in the video. We don't say the Jewish World, we say the Jewish culture and that goes for other cultures as well. Deaf is a culture but I feel like its definitely different because of the language and how people act within it. Coming from the book, it is said that the Deaf culture is a collectivist culture. In a collectivist culture "the people identify with few groups, but those attachments become a highly defining feature of their identity and are long term, if not permanent." Many other cultures are also religions. Dead culture isnt a religion but it is just as strong as one being the people are so close and really are family. Friends are literally family.
I think that is what distinguishes the Deaf from not just being considered a culture but being considered a Deaf World.
Connie~
ReplyDeleteI agree that we use these words and don't really think about what they mean all the time. I mean we both have been in ASL 1 for year and now a Deaf Culture class and ASL 2 and I know I didn't even think twice about the use of the word "world" versus culture when it was used in class.
People of all different groups definitely isolate themselves and its not just one group either. Its all the groups. This is frustrating. During RA training I had to attend a section of diversity training and the Intercultural Center was brought up and how not many white people use it or are seen in their. It's meant for anybody but I don't know what is wrong but it became another place for groups to isolate themselves. Something that was brought up about it was that the doors were glass and so everyone could see inside which I suppose can be awkward but the room still needs to be inviting. Its just an example of a culture struggle within our school but I feel it fits here.
Your right too, the Deaf culture bends over backwards all the time to accommodate hearing people. Why don't we do the same? It's something I just don't understand as even American Culture. We are SO individualistic that we cannot be fully open to other views let alone another language such as sign language when there isn't even a way for the Deaf to learn English. It just astounds me how uncomfortable we are with things that are unfamiliar. I know I don't exclude myself when it comes to that though too. I still haven't met another Deaf person besides Monica and its nerve wracking because I'm so worried about signing something wrong or something but it's part of why I am in this class and ASL 2. To get outside that comfort zone and really get out there.
I think it's cool you did that already by working in a Deaf home and having that experience can help you in class and the real world.
~April
April,
ReplyDeleteI think it depends on how we define "world". if we use the meaning given to us in the video then yes there is technically only one world. There are other cultures that have collectivism and that closeness between friends/family. I think its more than that. One thing the video failed to explain was that there are 19 other definitions of the word "world" The term world could mean something different to everybody. Maybe thats why we didn't think twice about culture vs world when it was brought up in class.
~John
I think that this video shows that we separate ourselves from each other from when we are little. That is more because our lack of understanding but I feel that Deaf people get hurt/ burned by other people that they isolate their community for the best of their community. That makes them stronger in the sense of closeness. This is like when the book talks about the different cultures, collectivism and individualism. That difference in cultures create a "barrior" and depends if people take the time to understand their culture like they understand ours.
ReplyDeleteHannah
ReplyDeleteGood point they could use the Hearing world and Deaf word as creating a distinction about the differences. It points out that Deaf people don't want you to find the similarities but embrace the differences.
Sam-
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that Deaf and hearing cultures will never be exactly the same. Your point about how hearing cultures are more individualistic is true but not for all hearing cultures. In many other countries and even in America’s past people have relied more on other’s so I think it would not be unthinkable that America would go back to being a more collective culture in the future.
Melissa
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with your comment about if everyone would change their way of thinking we would have a better world. Yes deaf people do stand up for each other; deaf people influence each other everyday. If they did influence hearing people that would put a big change in the society.
I've never really given much thought to the terms, "deaf world" and "hearing world." I think people are quick to judge and put people in their place. Some people just don't understand that just because someone has hearing loss it doesn't just turn them into some sort of alien that doesn't know how to live with hearing people. We all pretty much live the same way. We eat, we breathe, we live and function the same.
ReplyDeleteI feel that the Deaf and Hearing Worlds are more like a "safety net" than a way to separate everyone. Although many hearing people are unaware of deaf culture, there are those who choose to learn sign and involve themselves within the deaf community leaving their "safe zone" and also leaving them open for criticism and potentially rejection. Deaf people experience can experience the same criticism and rejection when involving themselves within the hearing world but those who consider themselves deaf instead of Deaf may have a harder time due to feeling "stuck" between both worlds and not comfortable being apart of either one. I feel that the reason that the two worlds are separated is due to the fact that people are scared to take chances. Living a life without rejection and criticism makes hearing people not see the importance of throwing themselves out there for the chance of being denied. Our world (both deaf and hearing) relies so much on what other people think that when push comes to shove, most people will talk the talk but are too afraid to walk the walk. I think hearing people need to make more of an effort to live together in a society versus separate but in an individualist society as in the book, that will be a difficult task especially when that means we have to stray from the norms. Deaf people, regardless of living in the deaf world, will always be surrounded by the hearing world and will have to interact and cope with the difficulties that it comes with. As in the movie, when Liam's friends make fun of Daphne and although Liam tries to protect her from what they say, she finds herself in an uncomfortable position. The next scene is when she goes back to emmit and tells him he was right. I feel that this happened because she feels safe with emmit and comes back due to the rejection Liam's friends gave her. Hearing or Deaf, the main thing that divides us is our lack of confidence to succeed. Everyone learns from their mistakes and if you never set yourself up for the chance to fail, you may always remain in your safe zone, never allowing yourself to reach your dreams in life.
ReplyDeleteSam,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you when you said we should all learn the basics of communication with Deaf people. Not only would it shorten the gap between our worlds but it may interest more people to continue to learn ASL.
I found this YouTube video extremely interesting. Previously when I heard “hearing world” and “deaf world” I too assumed that it was referring to culture. Instead, it is literally referring to two separate worlds. It is disappointing that our one Earth has been split apart and our differences have created different “worlds.” However, I was struck by the point that Deaf people are described as living in another world, but other differences are not. Like the man stated in the video, we do not use the terms “black world,” “Jewish world,” “blind world,” etc.
ReplyDeletePerhaps these “worlds” have been established because hearing people are—unintentionally—crushing down Deaf people. They assume all Deaf people want to hear, and continue to create ways to make them “successful” in the hearing society.
I think this “split world” is displayed in the TV series “Switched at Birth.” Bay's family does not understand the decisions that Daphne and Regina make. Bay's parents also made the point to get Daphne a Cochlear Implant, which demonstrates how hearing people assume Deaf people want to be able to hear and interact within the English language. In reality, Daphne has her own language: ASL.
Deaf people are constantly accommodating to hearing people, but I think more hearing people should learn ASL and Deaf culture. The gap between the two worlds needs to decrease, because we are all equal, our world is one, and we are all a part of this planet.
This youtube video was definitely an eye opener for me. It had never once occurred to me that the "deaf world" and "hearing world" were so oblivious to each other. We both live in the same world and should not push one another away just because of differences. If we separate from both worlds, they will both drift farther and farther apart. I think that hearing people need to make a much larger effort to accommodate the deaf and hard of hearing. Such as plays should always have an interpreter and movies in the theatre should have captions. There are countless ways in which the hearing could be more accommodating. Deaf and hard of hearing people are always trying to work around the hearing barrier for hearing people, and hearing people should work as hard as they can to do the same thing in return.
ReplyDeleteI think that "Switched at Birth" is a good outlook on the deaf community because before I started watching it this summer I knew absolutely nothing about deaf and hard of hearing people. The show is what made me want to take this course. I think it a great thing for deaf awareness.
Sarah-
ReplyDeleteI agree with you in that i think it is very sad that our one world has been separated into many worlds. We are one as a whole. I also agree with what you said about "Switched at Birth", Bay's parents do not understand why Regina has made the decisions she has for Daphne. And lastly, I also entirely agree with your last paragraph, you couldn't have said it better "The gap between the two worlds needs to decrease, because we are all equal, our world is one, and we are all a part of this planet." its perfect. (:
I never thought about it that way because I’m so enclosed and brought up into a small town but now my mind is just bent. If everyone thought that way the world would be so easier because who would have thought “hearing world and “deaf world” were so close. Everyone separates it and doesn’t think about it.
ReplyDelete“Switched at Birth” was defiantly an eye opener because I’ve never even heard of it and so now I really want to watch it!
Libby,
ReplyDeleteI really liked your point about- "if we separate from both worlds, they will both drift farther and farther apart." I agree-we need to work on closing the gap between these two "worlds" otherwise they will continue to drift apart. I also agree that hearing individuals need to make a greater effort with communicating with Deaf individuals. I think that bringing closed-captioning into theaters would be a great start at bringing these two "worlds" closer together.
Sarah,
ReplyDeleteI like your first paragraph where you discussed how other cultures besides deaf culture are not seperated into different worlds. This was a very interesting video and I have never thought of that way. I have heard the terms deaf world and hearing world but I never really thought about it much I just accepted it. I don't think is either the hearing community or the deaf community's fault that we have seperated ourselves but instead I think it lies on both communities. I think we as hearing people are always assuming that the deaf will accommodate to us and the deaf are always wanting us to accommodate to them. I think that both communities need to meet in the middle and become more together and help each other understand the different cultures and languages.