Confidence and Ddeaf people
"The great appear great because we are on our knees. Let us rise!" (Inscription on the O'Connell Street statue of Jim Larkin in Dublin. The source of the slogan isn't clear, but it has been attributed to both Camille Desmoulins (1760-1794), the French revolutionary, and to Louis-Marie Prudhomme, editor of ‘Journal des Révolutions de Paris’.)
Ddeaf people often lack confidence – but is it any wonder?
Is it any wonder Ddeaf people may lack self–esteem and confidence when negative attitudes and beliefs about Ddeaf people and their abilities, characterized by aversion and distaste, are deeply embedded in society and culture!
The Ancient Greeks believed that an inability to communicate by speech indicated a diminished ability to think – hearing was important for the development of the intellect.
Greeks and Romans enacted laws to weed out those who could not fully contribute to the strength of the state – newborn babies were examined for their fitness for citizenship. Those who might become a burden on society were left to die or killed outright. Some were tolerated if they could be of economic or social value.
Early Christianity denied full church membership to deaf people because they could not hear the teachings and were unable to confess their sins.
Early legal codes in almost all European countries discriminated against and excluded disabled people. Civilization was believed to be only possible through spoken language – therefore potential to become civilized required hearing.
People seen as different (including disabled and deaf people) were feared. ‘Different’ people represented evil and were seen as public threats. Their lives were severely limited by superstitions and myths that justified prejudice and cruel and callous treatment – they were exploited, exorcised or exiled.
Late Middle Ages saw the beginning of institutions to protect society from all those considered to be different, deviant, defective or dependent – all those who might threaten the established order were incarcerated.
Despite successful examples of educating deaf people which showed that they could learn and achieve using the sign language monks used between themselves when under vows of silence, subsequent educators of deaf children tried to maintain the primacy of spoken language.
By the late 19th century sign language was widely condemned.
It was believed that only a purely oral education would lead to the proper assimilation of Deaf people including into work. The use of sign language was identified as promoting a separate, different ‘foreign’ community. National unity and social order could only be achieved by everyone using the same language and having the same culture. Oral education was also cheaper. This remained the dominant view until the mid 20th century.
Disabled people and Ddeaf people were regarded as a social problem. Increasing separation between work and home resulted in families not being able to manage having disabled people live at home. Patterns of avoidance and aversion towards disabled people became embedded in society. Disability became a stigma and shameful.
Ddeaf people in society now
Traditionally disability and deafness has been understood as a medical matter. The focus is on what is medically ‘wrong’ with the Ddeaf person – their medical impairment – and how this can be fixed – to make them ‘normal’ using medical intervention and tools, to enable them to participate equally in society. If disabled people cannot be made ‘better’ – ‘normal’ – then the ‘solution’ historically has been to remove them from mainstream society to institutions. They must expect to be discriminated against and excluded, because they cannot do what able–bodied people can do.
Disabled people, including Ddeaf people, have one of the highest rates of unemployment, welfare dependency and poverty. Only in exceptional circumstances such as major wars did the employment of disabled people significantly increase. Disability has been used to screen out potential employees.
Facts and figures
- 54% of the population agree with the statement – "Most people treat deaf and hard of hearing people as though they are stupid".
- Ddeaf people are 4 times as likely to be unemployed than hearing people.
- Almost one third of all deaf people will experience mental health problems at some point in their lives.
- 1 in 12 deaf people aged 25 to 34 are the victims of violence every month because of their hearing loss.
- 2 in 5 deaf people avoid meeting new people if they can, and 90% say people do not understand the difficulties they face.
- 40% of deaf people have experienced abuse when using public transport.
Many hard of hearing and deafened people try hard to hide their hearing loss and ‘pass’ as hearing. This is a deliberate strategy often involving expecting and accepting less. As former hearing people they have internalized society's negative perception of deaf people.
Hearing loss in adulthood can be accompanied by a marked loss of confidence and self–esteem and that there is a strong correlation with good self–esteem before hearing loss resulting in more positive adjustment after hearing loss. Hearing impaired people tend to be passive and accepting rather than, in their perception, ‘causing a fuss’.
Women may more readily accept the label of dependence with its undertones of incompetence. Men are more likely to expect people to put themselves out in order to accommodate their needs. Women are less likely to expect people to change their behaviour to suit them. Women report receiving less encouragement to wear their hearing aids than men report, as well as reporting perceived less understanding.
Racist stereotypes held by professionals and institutional racism hamper access to services for Black and ethnic minority Ddeaf people. The racism experienced by ethnic minority deaf people and their families results in barriers to support and information.
So, it's not surprising we lack self-esteem and confidence when negative attitudes to Ddeaf people are so embedded and entrenched in society, the hearing world has low expectations of Ddeaf children's abilities and achievements and does not provide an equal education, especially in teaching English, and the hearing world lacks confidence in Ddeaf people!
But!
Throughout history Ddeaf people have fought back against society's negative attitudes and time and time again proved their abilities.
When educators of deaf children endeavoured to maintain the primacy of spoken language, this was undermined by the special schools which brought Deaf children together who naturally communicated using, and developing, sign language.
Deaf people have a long and honorable history of asserting themselves and fighting for official recognition for their sign languages.
Other deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people have also tackled discrimination and attempts to sideline them from equal participation in mainstream society.
What can be done? – building self-esteem and confidence
We must really believe that we as Ddeaf people are equal if we are to have real confidence in ourselves. Believing is different to knowing. We can ‘know’ in our heads that Ddeaf people's capabilities are just as good as a hearing people's – but still not really feel and believe this in our tummies! We need to have a ‘gut feeling’ that Ddeaf people are equal – not just know it in our heads.
It is not for nothing that it is said that information is power. The more we know the more we can believe. The more we learn the more knowledgeable we are – and the more confident we are! Information is available from libraries, TV programmes, videos, books - and from training courses! Local colleges run lots of useful courses.
If we need to take action to get our rights it is essential to have good quality advice and information. This is available from Citizens Advice Bureaux(CAB), disability groups, Deaf Clubs, hearing impaired groups, hearing therapists, equality officers, law centres, trade unions. If you are not a member of a trade union join one and many trade unions accept unemployed members. Trade unions have trained representatives who are used to negotiating with employers and you get free legal advice.
At school we were probably not taught about Ddeaf people and their history – especially their history of fighting for their rights. We need to learn about our history so that we can see what needs to be changed.
We need to find positive images of Ddeaf people so that we have strong role models to inspire us!
Speaking up for ourselves at home, at work, when we are out and about can be hard when we are not very confident. Assertiveness training can help.
Us and the image we project
What image do you present to the world? Do you stand tall? Sit up in your chair? Is your face relaxed, open, smiling? Are you happy and comfortable with your clothes? Or are you bending over slightly, eyes down, head down, hunched over or slumped down in your chair, is your hair hiding your face? Our body language – how we stand, sit, our facial expressions, how we hold our heads, how we move, how we wear our clothes – can tell the world how we really feel about ourselves.
Are you fidgeting? Is your breathing short and shallow? Have you thought about what you want to say before you say it? Do you think you look confident and calm? What can you do to make yourself feel more secure and calm when dealing with hearing people?
We may need to take an honest look at our own attitudes. Often people who have low self–esteem victimize, scapegoat and look down on other people blaming other people for all the difficulties they may face. For example, Ddeaf people may look down on disabled people - saying "Oh we are not like them. We are not disabled. We just have a different language", or "We are not disabled – we are just a little hard of hearing".
If we do not believe other people are equal, or if we believe being Deaf is better than being disabled, or being hard of hearing is better than being Ddeaf – than we cannot possibly believe we are equal!
The Disabled People's Movement
We can learn a great deal from the Disabled People's Movement (and other movements for peoples''rights such as the Women's Movement and the Black People's Civil Rights Movement). One of the most important things we can learn about is how the Disabled People's Movement understands disability.
The Disabled People's Movement understanding of disability:
- Looks at what is wrong in society that prevents Ddeaf and disabled people participating equally.
- Not at what is ‘wrong’ with an individual Ddeaf or disabled person.
- The focus is on the barriers to equal access and participation and on how to remove or change these.
- What dis–ables a disabled person is not their individual impairment, but the lack of equal access. This is not just about changing the physical environment, but also about challenging the myths and stereotypes that are believed about disabled people.
Example:
- Traditional medical perspective would say "I could not apply for that job because it says oral communication skills are required and I am Deaf".
- Disabled People's Movement would say "I could not apply for that job, because the employer was not prepared to make reasonable adjustments to enable me to do the communicating part of the work – so I am taking them to court!"
More information and learning from the Disabled People's Movement:
- The process of attitude change starts with disabled people: their attitude towards themselves and their own disability. [But] surely it is able-bodied people who have to alter their attitudes first?
- The reality is that if disabled people see themselves as victims, then they will be treated as victims; if they are sunk in self–pity, they will be perceived as pathetic; if they are hostile towards non-disabled people, they will be shunned.
- But if they refuse to see themselves as victims, if they claim their own dignity, see themselves as positive and able to contribute, they will be seen as positive and able to contribute.
- This is not the same as saying that disabled people should be quiet, stop complaining, and settle for some kind of half–life. Absolutely not!
- The issue for disabled people is ultimately one of self–esteem, of refusing to accept the role of victim. There are many different ways of expressing that dignity, but it lies at the heart of whatever choice disabled people make, whether strongly militant or quietly persistent.
(Taken from: Coleridge P. (1992). Development, Liberation and Disability. Oxfam)
Where to Get Support, Information and Advice:
- Confidence Building – Contact local adult education colleges or careers services for advice on courses. Contact national and local disabled or deaf people's organisations about specialist groups or courses.
- Support – Contact local disability, Ddeaf or hearing impaired groups. Contact your trade union representative and ask to be put in touch with other disabled or Ddeaf members.
- Advice and Information – Ask your local library or CAB for addresses of local deaf centres and groups of deaf people or the local CAB, the Law Centre, or your trade union.
Adapted from the DdEF course – "Taking Action to Increase our Confidence". For more information on DdEF courses, see the training section of the site.
Information from RNID and from:
The Disability Studies Reader, ed. Lennard J. Davis; pub. Routledge 1997
The Politics of Disablement, Michael Oliver; Macmillan 1990
Words Apart, Losing Your Hearing as an Adult; Lesley Jones, Jim Kyle, Peter L. Wood, Tavistock Publications, 1987
Deafness and Ethnicity, Services, Policy and Politics; Waqar Ahmad, Aliyar Darr, Lesley Jones, Gohar Nisar, Policy Press 1998
