Deaf Culture Hypocrisy and Jane Fernandes
Colorado Springs – According to a couple of Deaf political leaders, there is no room for consideration of other deaf or hard of hearing people into Deaf culture. And there is no longer a simple requirement that people must only be fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) to gain entrance into a purportedly exclusive country club called, Deaf culture.
There are rules you must follow: you must never criticize ASL, or Deaf culture, or other Deaf people. To be Deaf, you must also worship all things Deaf, whether the Deaf toilet or the used Deaf condom that was found in a park.
You must also never question anything Deaf leaders tell you, because to do otherwise is blasphemy against Deaf culture. If you don’t believe me, then consider Dr. Jane Fernandes, who was bold and brave enough to suggest a realistic assessment of the future needs of the Deaf community.
Of course, Fernandes’ removal for stating an opinion is neatly hidden behind a wave of administrative complaints, suggesting she was a horrible administrator. Maybe she was, but I can’t help but think at least a part of the reason Fernandes was run off Gallaudet has less to do with administrative errors and more to do with a vindicative segment of Deaf culture. Fernandes’ crime, it seems, is entirely related to her not having the “right Deaf attitude.”
One Deaf blogger listed why Fernandes was removed from Gallaudet:
“… she has made [negative statements] regarding Deaf culture, ASL, Bilingualism and Deaf Studies to the press. All of us desire to move forward as much as you do – we want to be moving forward in a positive and effective way and to ensure no more damage is done to Gallaudet, Deaf culture, ASL, Bilingualism and the field of Deaf Studies.”
The funny thing about the above statement is the fact that another Deaf woman recently published a vlog, complaining about a Deaf residential school banning vlogs while employees worked. One way to look at the forbidded use of vlogs at a Deaf residential school has more to do with efforts at preventing a future Jane Fernandes in a Deaf residential school than anything else.
Oddly enough, very few people have mentioned this in any of the blogs or vlogs I’ve come across.
Instead, the focus of the Deaf residential vlog ban has been perpetuated by some Deaf country club members, who claim this administrative policy as evidence of audism and a general hearing supremacy over the Deaf community. Freedom of speech in Deaf residential schools apparently only applies to those “good” things said/written about Deaf culture. Make a mistake like Fernandes and say something unpopular, then you’re liable to have yourself faced with a Deaf crowd, comparing themselves to Sudanese radicals and demanding your head be lopped off.
A chorus of freedom of speech statements have followed some of these blogs and vlogs around. Apparently, many people seem to feel that it is okay for a Deaf employee of a Deaf residential school to express their opinions freely and on vlogs. Publishing a vlog that the entire world can see is just not the same as Fernandes making statements to the press. There ain’t much difference between the press and the blogosphere – with the notable exception that reporters are bound by codes of ethics while bloggers and vloggers are not.
Again, apparently, so long as people are “positive” and only do “good” for Deaf culture, can they have an opinion and express it – even while at work at a Deaf residential school. Still, what one considers “good” or “positive” relating to Deaf culture is entirely subjective, but the important thing to know is that some Deaf people believe their definitions must be adhered to. So, it matters not what you think, but what other Deaf people think. You are not allowed to think freely for yourself.
That’s the lovely sort of hypocrisy floating around certain quarters of the Deaf community. I offer you a statement made by a Deaf political blogger, who stated:
“… it’s not okay to compare anybody Deaf (uppercase) with someone deaf (lowercase). It’s so unAmerican it might be British!”
And to contradict that statement, I offer another comment by another Deaf supporter/advocate/person, who left comments at Mike McConnell‘s blog:
“… [complaints of] Deaf people excluding and/or rejecting others (which by the way is not quite accurate) …” and, “The common misconception is that Deaf people excluding others which is not truth.”
And in defense of Fernandes’ name being trashed recently, I offer you a quote from a DeafDC.com blogger:
There’s a lot of mixed views of what exactly defines Gallaudet. “An inclusive deaf university of academic excellence,” [Fernandes] said. That’s what it’s all about, people. Academics. You’re not at school to make friends or participate in deaf-rights rallies. You’re there to learn. This is a very important message I’m saying here. Gallaudet University is not the Washington, D.C. Deaf Club.
In typical fashion, some of those Deaf people insist that Deaf culture remain exclusive to only those who agree to become sheeple – part of herd of people continually told what to do, how to do it, and most unfortunately, how to think. If you want to be part of a cult that smiles 24/7 and never criticizes its leaders, and wages unholy wars against those with different opinions, be my guest. Or move to Sudan.
I’m Deaf. I seek to make the Deaf community better, more inclusive and proactive as we head into the future. If my opinions and insights are viewed as “negative,” so be it. I would rather face problems head-on than to be told to not worry about anything and to simply smile and always pretend there’s no problems.
Denial ain’t another river in Egypt, you know?
Be good .. or be good at it.
Paotie
Sphere: Related Content
interesting comments. I take it with a grain of salt since nobody can really speak for a group of people.
hi paotie
above the quote u lifted from my blog u wrote:
One Deaf blogger listed why Fernandes was removed from Gallaudet:
this is inaccurate – that passage you lifted is stating why individuals teaching in the field of Deaf Studies and ASL signed a petition objecting to Dr. Fernandes teaching in the Dept of ASL and Deaf Studies this spring – it is not asking for her removal from the University
i dont really understand how the passage itself relates to the premise u r trying to put forth but i respect ur right and desire to use it – just ask that u properly entitle it
peace
patti durr
Patti ..
Semantics .. semantics .. semantics.
And your quote IS contextually accurate given the focus of my article.
One other thing: if your petition was focused solely on Fernandes’ professionalism, then you wouldn’t have regressed to signing a petition that in essence, criticizes Fernades for having a vision – and that vision is what caused the uproar at Gallaudet. If inclusion is such a bad thing, why sign a petition criticizing Fernandes’ vision of inclusion?
So yes .. semantics, Patti .. semantics.
Respectfully,
)
Paotie
Above sentence should’ve read: “… if inclusion wasn’t such a bad thing, why sign a petition criticizing Fernandes’ vision of inclusion?”
Paotie
scratching my head still
peace
p
*laughs*
Well, if I MUST state the obvious: you’re not happy with Fernandes being ousted as possible president, so you want more blood. You want Fernandes completely eradicated from Gallaudet.
Your little petition was just an extension of what happened at Gallaudet. And actually, come to think of it, your petition is proof that Fernandes wasn’t “Deaf enough,” because you don’t happen to like some things she had to say about Deaf culture, ASL and … Gallaudet.
How much longer will you continue to lynch Fernandes?
Paotie
There’s a big difference between what one says and what one does.
Fernandes spoke of a vision of inclusion for Gallaudet and was never given a chance to act on that vision, because she didn’t have the right Deaf attitude. That’s Deaf attitude with a capital D. Hmmm, the “right Deaf attitude” seems an unspoken rule within the deaf community, another hoop a deaf person must jump.
Fernandes is a deaf woman who was oral throughout her young life, but as a young adult, she embraced ASL while in Iowa and was instrumental in the interpreters program there. She jumped plenty of hoops, IMO, same as any deaf person who had been oral and tried to become part of the deaf community. Instead she got vilified and pilloried for having a unique and all-embracing vision for Gallaudet. Just “not deaf enough” was a slap in her face for all her efforts as an educator and for her independent, creative thinking for the future of Gallaudet and the D/deaf community at large, not just for one small “exclusive country club”.
Interesting and provocative article, Paotie.
Wonderful post, keep it up!
I think it is GREAT that Jane is moving on… to a different world that is challenging, that a FEW deaf people could succeed and be one of the increasing number of deaf people who could succeed in the hearing world. I notice that the *D*eaf do not see that way, which is a pity.
We NEED more role models who could function in the hearing world so that our future generations of deaf people would know how to function in the hearing world… and that it does not have to be *D*eaf all the way (deaf family, deaf school, deaf college, deaf marriage, deaf job, etc… pretty insular.) Also, they can be our advocates to teach us how to function in the hearing world, not to preach anti-CI, anti-AGBell, pro-ASL… we need a BALANCE. We can embrace *D*eaf and at the same time embrace deaf people and be able to thrive in the hearing community. It is sad to see two polarities fight against each other.
A challenging task… Jane is rising up to it, so hats off to her.
I just read with interest, the transcript, of Jane’s interview that you’ll find in Amy Cohen Efron’s latest blog. It appears that Jane’s view MAY be in tune with the future of the deaf community, but, because of questions about her credibility, she failed to convince the deaf community her worthiness to lead Gallaudet. Jane seems to accept that she did screwed up and lacked being “in tune” with Gallaudet community.
butter cakes, yup, we all want to fit in to conform to the group’s philosophy or choose not to fit in just to grab attention, to challenge one’s thinking.
It’s called judging…. sometimes some of us have not been given a chance due to our failure to conform.
Say… my 10-year-old son who is late-deafened did attend a deaf bi-bi school for a few months, but he had a hard time with ASL (his first language is English and he speaks it very well and he knows ASL, but not fluent.) The kids quickly picked on it and gave him hard time, making him a scrapegoat, having a parent going to principal and administrators to report against him behind our backs, etc. So we pulled him out and mainstreamed him.. he is thriving in the hearing world now. So he failed to conform to the deaf school’s philosophy.
I find it a little hypocrisy that *D*eaf people are nitpicking on JFK still… Peace Patti Durr did write a petition and then she complained that we were mud sludging… I was like, huh, patti durr wrote the petition; she did judge harshly even at the same time waving “peace” sign, give me a break.
So I am standing up and clapping for JFK… go, girl! We need more people like her.
C -
I think it takes great humility to admit that you could’ve done something differently. It also takes skill to reflect – not many people can do that – and Fernandes does by admitting she could’ve done things differently.
Frankly, Deaf political leaders who think YouTube is the investigative equivalent of DNA-testing present more of a threat to Deaf culture than Fernandes.
*laughs*
Paotie
You hit the nail on the head. Your examples show why my two implanted boys will never be accepted by the (D)eaf culture. Since their native language is English and they were implanted, they are immediate outcasts. We will avoid all contact with the people who would treat them so poorly until they are old enough to know about such cruelty and decide for themselves how much they really want to be involved in groups which reject based on medical devices or language used. I’ve seen and heard firsthand what they think about my kids… we have received hate mail. However, people like you remind me that there is sanity in places, and that the small, vocal group doesn’t stand for every single person with hearing loss or deafness.
mother of CI kids… there will always be MANY deaf people who are like your sons… unfortunately, the majority of DeafRead v/bloggers comes from the cultural *D*eaf minority and I feel bad that you got subjected to the scorn… when people (not only deaf, but hearing also) don’t understand something, they react based on their ignorance, which make certain issues “controversial.” Remember the AIDS back in 1980′s, when there were many myths about it back then… a few activists fought back, educating (Ryan White, for an example…)
I believe that the *D*eaf people are resisting the fact that their own culture is undergoing the evolution (or revolution, depending on one’s point of view… technology, medical advances, etc. are seen as threats), so they are fighting to preserve their cultural “image” which is believed based on American Sign Language.
So we have to familiarize ourselves with cultures, technology, medicine, etc., to learn to look at BOTH sides.. pros and cons, realizing that while some factors might work for some, they don’t work for others and it is OKAY!
One more thing… I notice that paranoia is rampant in the *D*eaf culture, due to the ignorance. That is where education comes in, so we need to learn to listen to ALL sides of any situation and appreciate the bigger picture.
Paotie is quick to recognize this and he gently pokes fun at it, making us aware of our weaknesses so that we could laugh and acknowledge that things are not what they seem… I like that.
*Grin*
It may be that Fernandes was a horrible administrator, and did not lead well at Gallaudet, given the reports I’ve heard about her from Deaf students there. However, I’ve also heard the “not Deaf enough” arguments from the Deaf community about Fernandes, and it makes me empathize with Fernandes because I’ve been called “not Deaf” growing up, and being judged for being a cochlear implant and being able to speak. Whenever I point out their bigotry in doing so, they say it’s because of the hearing community in implanting me and making me speak. They call it post-colonialism, and say it’s why the deaf/Deaf community is so divided. The thing is, I don’t think it’s a bad thing to have a CI, and to speak, because I benefit very well from it in the hearing world. I like not having to rely on an ASL interpreter just to get around in the hearing world. I consider myself to be a very self-reliant, tolerant person.
There are many others like me who wonder why the Deaf community is so defensive on this issue. I don’t think of myself as hearing, “hearie wannabe,” or Deaf. I just think of myself as deaf, and I do see that as a part of Deaf culture because of the experiences I’ve had. However, they don’t see ME as a part of their Deaf culture because I represent a threat to them. The truth is in order for Deaf culture to stay solvent, they’re going have to accept others like me. If they continue to resist…….then ASL will die away, and so will their culture.
paotie
the petition was objecting to Dr. Fernandes teaching in a field she was not demonstrating competency in – it was not advocating for her to be run off the campus
there is a huge difference
i do not support lynching or mob mentality
im a bit worried that the tone and spirit of ur posting is a bit guilty of what u r accusing others of – offered in a very mean spirited and vengence type way
i think u have valid points but hard to receive them with the “kettle black” component
the same is true in terms of “hearing” for folks in the other camp
dont support any of this bashing
peacefully yours
pdurr
*laughs*
Well, okay .. your petition states:
“While I understand all of your points regarding a professor’s right to free thought and speech, it is in congruent to have a professor at a university professing statements to the public via the media that are not academically sound or valid.”
and ..
“The petition is objecting to Dr. Fernandes teaching in the dept of ASL and Deaf Studies due to the inaccurate and damaging statements she has made regarding Deaf culture, ASL, Bilingualism and Deaf Studies to the press.”
and ..
“Furthermore, please note the irony in which you hail and protect Dr. Fernandes’ right to say and do as she pleases as exemplifying the University’s tolerance and embracing of diverse ideas …”
I saw nothing about “competency.”
*laughs*
Paotie
Paotie
u r lifting from my email response to Dr. Davila’s response to the petition
the actual petition is posted below
while the word competency might not be used – several words r comparable – semantics semantics semantics smile
in terms of the above statements u lifted from my response to Dr. Davila – the terms that relate to competency are:
- not academically sound
- inaccurate
again – i dont have issues with u lifting and pasting – just hope u understand the context of things and have followed the full thread
be well
peace
patti
———————-
We, the undersigned, object to Dr. Jane Fernandes’ appointment to teach in the Department of American Sign Language and Deaf Studies at Gallaudet University.
Our objection is based on the following reasons:
Dr. Fernandes has continually misrepresented to the media ASL users as being monolinguists and exclusionary.
Dr. Fernandes has maligned ASL and Deaf culture by spreading myths and misunderstandings about ASL and Deaf culture.
Dr. Fernandes has regulated ASL to be a self-help tool and an aid to militancy. And in doing so has disputed any academic value of ASL.
Dr. Fernandes has not demonstrated currency in the field as evident by the faulty information she gives to the media on the topic of bilingualism and biculturalism.
It has been a long and hard journey to have American Sign Language be recognized as a full-fledged language. It has continually been difficult to have ASL be taught for academic credit in various schools and universities. Professionals have had to educate academia and school boards on how a visual language can still have written components and how testing can maintain proper rigor with other languages in the curriculum. Having a professor in this field who is actually promoting and perpetuating an inferior view of ASL is harmful to the socio and linguistic study of American Sign Language.
We, the undersigned, know of no University in this country that would employ a professor who has misrepresented, tarnished, and undermined the field in which s/he teaches in. For these reasons we request that Dr. Fernandes NOT have an appointment as a faculty member in the Department of American Sign Language and Deaf Studies at Gallaudet University
Patti ..
I still see nothing about her competency or any other comparable words. All I see is the same thing you posted in your response: Fernandes’ needs to be lynched for her vision of inclusion.
Ironically, I could state same the same things about YOU as you’re claiming against Fernandes. I’ve seen nothing from Fernandes that would harm the Deaf community – if anything, she sought to PROTECT it.
Here’s a sample of quotes I “lifted” from an interview Fernandes had earlier this year:
“During the [Gallaudet] protest, blogs were used to spread falsehoods. I was shocked and hurt at what was said.” (You might want to check out an article I wrote, “Are Blogs Academic Journals?”)
and ..
“The shift away from deaf schools poses a threat to Deaf Culture.
But I believe Deaf Culture is here to stay. It will adapt to new social forces exerting pressure on it as it has done many times before. To survive, Deaf Culture needs to stay true to its beliefs, language, and principles—and expand to include people who are different.”
and ..
“My efforts to expand the core of the university were perceived as a threat to ASL. I believe that expanding the core by becoming more inclusive of all deaf people is the best way—and perhaps the only way—to keep Gallaudet University a strong and viable institution of higher education.”
So, where exactly is she wrong? I happen to agree with Fernandes. Perhaps I should feel that YOU are harming the Deaf community. Perhaps YOU should resign.
Of course, I’m not attacking you personally, much like you’re not attacking Fernandes, personally. I’m just using the same mechanisms that you are: perhaps I could state that if you’re an educator at Gallaudet and continue to preach exclusion, then you need to get the hell out of Gallaudet because you’re harming Deaf culture.
*shrugs innocently and kicks a small pebble*
Paotie
Crud.
I forgot to post the Fernandes interview.
Here it is.
Paotie
Yes, butter cakes, we all do a certain amount of hoop jumping to join a group, a church, a political party, a school, a workplace culture. However, when a certain hoop jumping requires that you give up your brain, it’s called “brainwashing”. That’s when a group culture, whatever it is, becomes a cult.
If you step out of the *cult*ure’s line, you end up getting judged and criticized for independent thinking, or for thinking only of yourself, or just because you get a CI/ hearing aid or prefer to speak instead of signing, you’re “not deaf enough”. In Fernandes’ case she didn’t have the “right Deaf attitude”, which is a good descriptive term for all the excuses that certain proponents of the Deaf culture have judged deaf people on.
Ann ..
You might be thinking of groupthink.
Below is a definition:
“Groupthink, a term coined by social psychologist Irving Janis (1972), occurs when a group makes faulty decisions because group pressures lead to a deterioration of “mental efficiency, reality testing, and moral judgment” (p. 9). Groups affected by groupthink ignore alternatives and tend to take irrational actions that dehumanize other groups.
A group is especially vulnerable to groupthink when its members are similar in background, when the group is insulated from outside opinions, and when there are no clear rules for decision making.”
Reference is here.
Paotie
thanks for posting the link to the article from last year
the petition was in response to statements dr. fernandes made to the Chronicles for Higher Education in Oct 2007 (ONE month ago)
if i was proclaiming falsehoods about my discipline and could not substantiate them then yes i should not be teaching in that dept. again the petition did not state that the professor must leave the Institute but rather that specific dept. – her degree is in comparative lit
re: ur comments on blogs – blogs, vlogs, and postings r only as good and as responsible as their makers
i think u and i r largely in agreements in some areas yet there seems to be alot of hostility and anger coming out so i will bid u farewell and welcome further dialogue when we can find that common ground that i believe we do share
much peace
pdurr
Paotie,
Groupthink is a close term, the difference is that groupthink’s irrational actions “dehumanize other groups” while the cult ostracizes their own when a member doesn’t follow the cult’s party line. Dehumanization is a common tactic of both those insular groups.
Note that in Fernandes’ interview that she said “To survive, deaf culture needs to stay true to its beliefs, language, and principles–and EXPAND to include people who are DIFFERENT.” I think Ms. Fernandes was trying to say something about tolerance here, and instead she got judged and criticized for her creative thinking. Leadership does require vision to look ahead, and she got flak for not toeing the “status quo” line that some Deaf culture members want maintained at all costs.
*shrugs*
Makes me wonder: what does Patti teach her students with regard to ASL and Deaf culture if she advocates exclusion?
Paotie
Ann ..
You make a very good point. The definition of cult is as follows:
“”A cult is a group or movement exhibiting a great or excessive devotion or dedication to some person, idea, or thing and employing unethically manipulative techniques of persuasion and control (e.g., isolation from former friends and family, debilitation, use of special methods to heighten suggestibility and subservience, powerful group pressures, information management, suspension of individuality or critical judgment, promotion of total dependency on the group and fear of leaving it, etc.) designed to advance the goals of the group’s leaders to the actual or possible detriment of members, their families, or the community.” (West & Langone, 1986)”
Reference is here.
Paotie
My Body,
Entertaining,
It never stops on me,
Fun to do on a boring day,
Make love.
I was in my living room,
I was reading when I felt a BOOM!
I went outside, out of reach,
That was when I saw the messed up leech!
What if I am red?
What if I am blue?
What if I am crazy, crazy like you?
Before I was born,
I was a figment of life.
Now I’m Deaf, why not?
Am I seeing double here? Right on Paotie! SIMPLY OUTSTANDING!
Suppose one subscribes to audism.
Mark 7:31-37 in the Bible describes Jesus curing/healing a deaf man’s deafness and made him able to speak after previously being mute.
I guess Jesus is an audist.
Does that make a “Deaf Christian” an oxymoron?
*laughs*
Good thing I’m atheist.
Paotie
Karen,
You said–
“We NEED more role models who could function in the hearing world so that our future generations of deaf people would know how to function in the hearing world… and that it does not have to be *D*eaf all the way (deaf family, deaf school, deaf college, deaf marriage, deaf job, etc… pretty insular.) Also, they can be our advocates to teach us how to function in the hearing world, not to preach anti-CI, anti-AGBell, pro-ASL… we need a BALANCE. We can embrace *D*eaf and at the same time embrace deaf people and be able to thrive in the hearing community. . . ”
I’m getting a sense that historically Deaf people did whatever they could to get ahead. That doesn’t seem to be the case now. As I’ve pointed out several times, many “Deaf” heroes of our past were actually deaf– either late-deafened or oral-deaf. Those who learned to speak have always functioned better in a hearing world. Those who were taught to speak were grateful for that education. I realize it’s an impossibility for some. Does that mean the rest of us should NOT speak, or pretend it’s better not to speak, and go along with the Deaf culture mindset? I wouldn’t be working in my present job if I weren’t oral. I honestly don’t know what I’d do for work.
Yup, you have a point. Deaf people, back in time, learned to thrive in a bit more hostile environment (less accessibility, etc.) Now we have things easier, but there are certain expectations (must know ASL, etc.) in order to *succeed* in the *D*eaf niche/culture, but we don’t hear that often in the *hearing* world… it is rare. I do recall you mentioning this part about oral/late-deafened people’s success stories (IN THE HEARING WORLD) and I know a few of them… all of them had professions (deaf doctors and deaf dentist in Rochester, NY… both of them grew up oral. A deaf data archectict at Xerox was late-deafened and possesses an excellent speech. I can think more successful deaf people… I am NOT talking about successful deaf people in the *D*eaf world, which are plenty. Even my husband is a Delphi programmer at Iasta Inc., a lone deaf employee and it is RARE to find deaf people NOT working or volunteering at ISD on a daily basis.
Look at Jane K. Fernanedes… she is a success story, even with her flaws… I am guessing that *D*eaf people are jealous of the deaf people who could function better in the hearing world, so they put down on these people. What bothers me is how *D*eaf people set up expectations, according to their culture (for an example, one *D*eaf commenter from DeafDC strongly believes that one is automatically accepted into the culture if born deaf or become completely deaf by the age of 5… that is a stupid rule I have ever heard one and sadly, it is a very discriminating rule against the majority of us, as well as the knowledge of ASL also a measuring yardstick.)
So, it is better NOT to join the Deaf culture mindset… because then we’d never learn how to function in the hearing world.
Geez, I sound like Elisabeth A. Zinser who said deaf people could not function in the hearing world. But she had a good point. Think of how easy it is for deaf people to get jobs at deaf schools, deaf agencies, deaf companies, etc. than at the hearing companies, hearing schools, etc. Yup, it is an impossibility for some deaf people to function in the hearing world.
Whoa, Karen – while there are some a**holes out there, it’s really unfair to agree that had a d/Deaf not being able to speak, they wouldn’t be working in that position Kim mentioned. Or to even warn being in the “mindset” of a Deaf Culture. That is to say they all are the same and at risk of fitting in the “hearing” world.
That is arguing that if one cannot speak and thinks like a deaf person, therefore that person is unable to work in the hearing world.
It is discrimination that even some oral people face that as well. Heck, even CI folks who can partially speak. So your argument does not make sense at all. Some of the Culturally Deaf do make adjustments on the job when hired. We all share some similarities in facing some sort of discrimination and attitudes from the hearing people to varying degrees.
And to conclude that *D*eaf people are simply jealous of Jane – that’s a false assumption as well.
Karen, some of them may have been too strong against her, but if you recall during the protest where, for example, MishkaZena had covered especially on JKF. She never once attacked her for being “not deaf enough” but rather focused on her management skills and the wrongdoings she had done by talking to students, faculty, and PARENTS (even hearing ones!). I think that it was some of the people’s inability to express their frustrations and anger with how the system was operated under her without directly attacking JKF herself.
Regardless of how you thought we were attacking JKF personally and despite the rough times during the protest, we really ARE glad for her to be working at UNC. It is, as one commentator said on MZ’s blog, a “win/win” situation. Everyone’s happy and especially a deaf person working at a HEARING university is pretty damn impressive!
Oy vey. I’m shocked here and I’m NOT even a “D” person.
Well, Paotie – you really have no need to counter-attack my comment ‘cause I’m gonna be sleeping on MY couch. And it’s really pretty and big, too!! Besides, I’m not supposed to be visiting blogs until I was out of school… toodles-doo!
*shrugs with head slanting towards shoulder, grins innocently with fingers waving*
There’s but one problem with your entire comment, IamMine:
You seem to believe you can speak as a non-Deaf person for Deaf people.
Fernandes was viewed as a non-Deaf person.
Your logic is contradictory towards Deaf culture.
I agree with Karen – many Deaf ARE jealous of Fernandes. If you want to win a little bitty point for pointing out generalizations don’t work, I’ll give you a cookie – except you ended up doing the same thing.
Your logic is self-defeating.
Mishka is NOT a reporter. Asking a few friends for their opinions hardly qualifies as legitimate investigative reporting. It is called, hearsay.
Nice try.
*laughs*
By the way, someone once said imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
*blushes and kicks a small pebble*
Paotie
Come to think of it: the petition that Patti is seeking to have Fernandes lynched is based on Fernandes’ desire for an inclusive university.
IamMine claims that Mishka asked faculty at Gallaudet about Fernandes.
OF COURSE Mishka would blog against Fernandes. Just look at Patti’s petition.
Need I say more?
*laughs*
Paotie
Kim’s remark, “I’m getting a sense that historically Deaf people did whatever they could to get ahead. That doesn’t seem to be the case now…” has had me thinking. One wonders why it’s different now.
Is it that some culturally Deaf feel “entitled” to benefits and get into a hissy fit if anybody so much as challenges their definition of deafness as a cultural aspect of their lives, when benefits are based on the definition of disability?
Is it citing 1880 Milan Conference history?
Is it the threat of technology?
Is it the “crab theory” nature of Deaf culture?
Historically, the deaf have always had to deal with the hearing world. The hearing world has never put out a silver platter for the deaf. The deaf have been the ones who have had to “prove” ourselves in this environment. Adversity or disadvantage can be the mother of invention.
Whatever it is, can’t quite put my finger on it…
Chuckling, I don’t know, Ann_C. Crab theory, *D*eaf culture’s rules, deafhood vs. personhood, etc., whatever is seen as controversial, worthy of being discussed.
Sure makes us sound like a bunch of crybabies. But we should be grateful for some advocates (both hearing and deaf) who helped seeing that the accessibility for us to be able to function better in the hearing community. So you are correct… adversity or disadvantage can propel to get ahead, get beyond the limitations our disability or deafness places on us.
Here we D/deaf have in this country a plethora of telecommunication technology, of language and education paths, of assistive listening devices, of hearing technology such as hearing aids and CI’s, of interpreters (in some parts of the country this service is sorely lacking for the demand and not enough trained interpreters available), of SSI benefits available to those unable to work, of government agencies that are geared to deaf/hh services, a growing awareness of ASL as Deaf culture’s language by the public, and of course, laws that enable the disabled to participate in society.
Not everything is perfect, and there is more to be done. However, we have more available to us D/deaf than at any other time historically. This country has been known for its can-do attitude and bootstrapping, doing what it takes to get an idea off the ground and running. That same bootstrapping is what we D/deaf should be doing in our lives, not whining about what the audists owe us or what they’re doing to us.
I’ve been reading protests in Deaf blogs to Fernandes statement about cochlear implants. Supposedly she said –
“Many of these children will grow up without needing ASL and without exposure to it.”
I lifted this off Mishkazena’s webpage, but Carl has referred to it and so have others. I have to admit Fernandes’ statement bothers me. I would like to see how she framed it, or what her context was. Mishkazena has a non-working link to the original. I can’t seem to find it. Since then, it seems Fernandes has expanded, or maybe softened her stance? I’m not sure if this is a case where her statement was twisted out of context, or if she really said one thing, then changed her statements. Your link seems to indicate, she’s in strongly in favor of bilingualism, but what she said above doesn’t make it sound that way.
I believe all children with CI’s should be bi-lingual. I’m a strong advocate of bilingual education for all– whether that’s ASL and English, or English and Spanish, or what-have-you. . .
“Many of these children will grow up without needing ASL and without exposure to it.”
Consider this:
If Deaf culture continues to be exclusive and isolates itself from the rest of hearing society, then the pool of Deaf people as historically defined will inevitably shrink. Modern medicine will speed that process up. Because Deaf culture refuses to change, future deaf children, ” … will grow up without needing ASL and without exposure to it.”
Paotie
Well, Kim, our politicians have done worse, whether double-talking or retracting themselves out of a mess. Take Bill Clinton, for example, landed on his feet like a cat with nine lives. And traditional media fell all over themselves to get ahead of the ratings.
For a highly public office such as candidate president for Gally, it seems anything a candidate says is scrutinized with a fine-toothed comb and then some MORE because of Deaf culture’s rules, implied or otherwise.
Perhaps Ms. Fernandes was referring to the day that CI-implanted deaf children will be implanted early enough that they develop vocal language normally at same age as a hearing child would. Would they need ASL exposure at that point? Who knows. CI technology is already evolving to that point, given the rate that technology has kept pace. I’m hearing about CI implantation at what, 18 months, huh? Yes, that would seem outrageous to me, fitted with an HA in one ear at 4 years of age, but for a deaf youngster today at 18 months– whew! That’s overwhelming for many deaf people today to comprehend. But it’s happening. And there’s no stopping it, sorry, that train has passed the station already. But you know what, that kid implanted at 18 months or before may very well be on par with his hearing and speaking friends, SO MUCH for the better because that kid will be on a much more level playing field with his hearing friends than any of us right now. Fully participating in society, not deaf culture or hearing world, but human society at long last.
Ann, Mostly I’m curious about Fernandes original statement and how it was framed.
I know MANY oral deaf people through my involvement in several deaf/HH organizations. Not one of them has ever said they wished they never learned to talk. I have trouble with the Deaf line of thinking on this issue and I’ve been accused of acting/thinking like a “hearing” person because of it. I think it’s a wonderful thing when Deaf people can talk and use ASL, though I realize not everyone can. I understand talking has nothing to do with intelligence. Still we can’t deny that opportunities open up for people who do talk, so it seems wrong to deny any child the possibility.
If the hearing didn’t expect anything of the Deaf at Gallaudet in terms of preparing them for future work in the hearing world–(which, lets face it, this is what colleges are supposed to do.) If they acted as if the Deaf couldn’t learn English, wouldn’t that be a form of audism? By college, all American students who want to work in AMERICA should be able to read and write in English. I guess I don’t understand why they still need instruction in ASL. Chinese students come here and get their instruction in English.
What’s going on in Deaf education? Why aren’t American Deaf college students bi-lingual by the time they’re 18? I know I’m off topic– but I just don’t understand what’s wrong with demanding that American college students know how to read and write English– even if they’re Deaf?
I also wanted to add that I agree about the pool of Deaf shrinking over the next generation. It’s inevitable and sad. I still feel those with CI’s could currently benefit from learning ASL, but as many have pointed out (mother of two boys with CI’s and Karen whose son is late-deaf), when the Deaf community itself ostracizes children, they’re more or less driving their own future generation toward the hearing community and/or ever-expanding late-deaf/oral-deaf community, both of which are much more affirming about differences in communication. We’re living in a high-tech world of Global economies now, where people are much more used to speaking to others who talk in accents. So when someone doesn’t speak English perfectly, it’s really not a big deal anymore like it might have been fifty years ago. Hearing people are much, much more forgiving and accepting of weird speech than they used to be in my opinion. So I think the HH/deaf-oral are finding their niche in hearing society, especially as their support systems continue to grow.
Kim, you have a good point about affirmation. If the Deaf culture refuses to recognize these CI-implanted or oral deaf youngsters as their future, where will these kids go?
It’s as though the Deaf culture is biting its own head off. With statistics pointing to an ever decreasing genetically deaf population over several generations, and an increasing majority of late-deafened Baby Boomers who are not going to settle for just ASL and Deaf culture only but who will also embrace hearing and communication technologies, to technology that will change the concept of deafness both medically and culturally, to rapidly changing language and education processes, and finally the youngsters who will be CI-implanted or fitted with HA’s at an early enough age to develop language/speech at the same point as their hearing counterparts. These youngsters will want to participate and work in the big world same as their hearing counterparts on a level playing field as adults.
If the Deaf culture continues on the path that it has been on and doesn’t embrace these kids, it will decline for a lack of role models and leaders to carry it into the future. It will also lose its cherished ASL language if there’s no one left to pass it to another generation or to preserve it.
So, the d*eaf and hh, as Kim has pointed out, are looking for a niche to fill in society. If the Deaf culture’s arms are closed, the d*eaf ain’t gonna beg for admission, they’ll pass by it. They’ve paid their dues in the hearing world. too. ya know.
Exactly Ann. This isn’t my battle. I am one of those ‘boomers’ who has settled into a comfortable life with both hearing and late-deaf/oral-deaf friends. I would love to make some new Deaf friends too, but I’m not looking to switch cultures. I enjoy ASL. My first language is English. I have a hearing family. My main goal is communicate with those I love any way possible.
[...] Deaf Culture Hypocrisy and Jane Fernandes [...]
[...] I do not have real proof, but word was these students were inspired by deafhood to protest against Jane Fernandes. In fact, the leaders were mostly from the Bay Area. The Bay Area is the hot bed of [...]
[...] I do not have real proof, but word was these students were inspired by deafhood to protest against Jane Fernandes. In fact, the leaders were mostly from the Bay Area. The Bay Area is the hot bed of [...]