Values and Norms of the Deaf Community

Topic 1

­   Values of the Deaf Community

Key Concepts

­   Values are a part of cultural differences

­   Differences between values of Deaf and hearing people

Definition of Values

­    Values consist of shared ideas about the kinds of goals or lifestyles that are desirable or worthwhile for individuals, groups, or society as a whole.

­    Generally values are profound although partly unconscious.

­    They represent qualities people believe are essential to maintaining their way of life.

­    Values are the ultimate standards tat a people believe must be upheld under all circumstances.

Values Characteristic of the Deaf Community

­   Deaf people have many values that are different from hearing people. Some of them are in harmony with these of hearing people.

Examples of Values within the Deaf Community

­   Deaf schools over mainstreaming schools

­   Cochlear implants (pros vs. cons)

­   ASL over Signed English oralism

­   Bilingual education over English only education

­   Deaf clubs over mainstreaming social outlets

Deaf Schools over Mainstreaming Schools

­   The video “So long Silence”

–  Take notes for Exam

Topic 2

­   Norms of the deaf Community

Key Concepts

­   Norms as a part of cultural differences

­   Differences between behavior norms of Deaf and hearing people

Definition of Norms

­    Norms are shared ideals or rules about how people ought to behave or act in certain situations, or about how particular individuals should act towards a particular individual.

­    Norms differ for values in the following KEY terms:

–   ideals

–   rules

–   ought

–   should

What do NORMS imply?

­   There is a widespread agreement that people OUGHT to adhere to certain standards of behavior.

­   Other people judge the behavior of an individual according to how closely it adheres to those standards.

­   Individuals who repeatedly fail to follow the standards face some kind of negative reaction from other members of the group.

Examples of Deaf Norms

­   Behavior norms

–  Related to the behaviors of Deaf people. Sometimes they are aware or unaware that they “adhere to certain standards of behavior.”

Examples

­    Teasing with physical contact

–   Back slapping

–   Touching more casually

­    Code Switching from ASL to Signed English with hearing people. Keep power within the Deaf Community by using ASL for themselves.

­    Deaf norms with Grammar

–   Use of tongue with speech

­  “I have not done it yet.”

–   Facial expressions

­  Frowning with “wh” questions

More Behavior Norm Examples

–  Pointing for spatial use and pronouns

–  Eye contact

–  Straight forward talking

­ “You have gotten fat, what happened?”

Deaf Norms

­   Group Norms

–  Deaf people, as a group, believe that members of the Deaf community should adhere to certain standards of behavior.

Examples of Group Norms

­   Deaf/Deaf Marriages

–  Deaf community frowns on Deaf/hearing marriages

­ Feel betrayed but possible to accept if hearing person earns way into Deaf community

­ REASON: Feel it is a weakening of the Deaf Community.

Group Norms Cont.

­    Loyalty to the Deaf Community

–   Deaf people will cover and help other Deaf people.

­  Ex. Deaf worker helping another Deaf worker keep a job. If one Deaf worker makes mistake, the other Deaf worker with try to talk the hearing boss into giving another chance. If that chance is blown. The Deaf worker will not help out again.

­    Privacy issues are complex

–   Don’t like Deaf people “whispering”. Signing under the table or writing notes. If you have private things to discuss, go outside or in a private room to discuss them.

­    Details in explanations

–   Start with a rhetorical question or the point and then give details and close with point and answer a rhetorical question.

Rules of Social Interaction

­    How Deaf people go through the rituals of “getting together” in group settings.

Examples of Social Interaction Norms

­   Deaf Clubs

–  Deaf people go through greeting rituals of hugging and asking questions such as “how are you?” or “what’s up with you?” or “long time no see.” They figure out when the last time they saw each other and “catch up.”

Introductions between hearing people and Deaf people

­    Start with

–   Hi, I want to introduce myself. My name is “BOB”, I’m hearing.

­  Important to Deaf community to know if you are hearing or Deaf.

    Reason to provide boundaries

    Deaf people control who is within and outside the boundaries

    Feel invaded if the hearing person does not id themselves ad hearing

    Certain set of questions are asked to hearing and Deaf people. They are different.

    Usually Deaf people can pick up “a hearing accent”

Social Interaction Norms cont.

­   Attention Getting

–  Shoulder taps

–  Waves

–  Stomping ground

–  Flashing the lights in the room

–  Banging a table

Social Interaction Cont.

­   The Deaf Goodbye

–  Prolonged goodbyes at the end of a social event

­ Reason – Deaf people don’t get to see each other often and they want the fullest opportunity to catch up on news and share information.

–   Deaf Goodbyes can last hours

Conclusion