When you have a society where the greater majority of the general population do not even know its existence or even understand its way life like, for example, a society of people with hearing loss. It becomes a "hidden society" no matter what that society is like. It wouldn't matter if that "hidden society" is a Deaf community, deaf and hard of hearing community, a cued speech community or a community of late deafened people. But a "hidden society" can also have a "closed society." That's when it becomes a double whammy because a "closed society" removes itself even further from the general population and sometimes even from the sub-population.
Certainly I am a part of that "hidden society" of people with hearing loss. So are the people in the Deaf community. So are the people at Gallaudet University. So are the people who are late deafened. So are the people at AGBell. So are the people with hearing aids. So are the people with cochlear implants. So are the people who sign in ASL, SEE, or use cued speech. So are the people who are oralists. Those are examples of people that live in a "hidden society" because hearing loss is an unseen condition not always readily recognized, seen or necessarily understood by the larger general population.
But out of that "hidden society" is a society that can have an "open society" or "closed society" type. I am for a more "open society" type when it comes to dealing with people with hearing loss rather than for a society that's controlling and restrictive. Diversity of hearing loss and preferred mode of communication are wide ranging among people with hearing loss and does not fit the "closed society' model. An "open society" is not a culture with a rigid structure and little freedom but rather a society of people that is open, understands the differences and uniqueness of each person with a hearing loss along with greater freedom to do what we do with our choices. Our common bond in our "hidden society" deals with issues on communication access to language, the ability to communicate and to strive for better equality, not about Deaf culture or ASL.
9 comments:
I wouldn't say I was 'hidden' more like not part of the 'in' crowd ! With these little clubs and clique's they can just freeze you out, and it's all above board and under free speech and choice.
Hell, we even support their right to do it. Certain sectors of the signing community very much operate on a strictly conformist basis. However even HI and hard of hearing groups will deter signer involvement.
The whole 'community' is a fragmented, 'I wuz here first' set up. Play their games you are OK, don't play them, you are out. The ego has landed.... the only validity now is being yourself. Still for those who acquire deafness, it has always been our lot.
There are communities and small groups of people to even separate individuals who relate to others. When I say "hidden" it's to mean that their hearing loss are not always that obvious to the rest of the general population. And many of them do function very well with the hearing crowd. My step-father has a hearing loss from years of being a trucker. He wears a hearing aid but before that he had to crank up the tv volume to hear but he does have a hearing loss and though he's on his own he can understand and relate to others with similar hearing loss.
the way you say 'society' it literally means a group of people joining together in mutual fashion. the hearing loss is very personal thing just as filling in a tooth. those people with hearing loss do not join together to form a 'closed society'. they just keep it to themselves without acknowledging others.
I can relate to them, it's bluddy COMMUNICATING to them that is proving the issue, and then conforming to their set ups. Can't, won't do it. You are right about DENIAL, many with hearing loss do not know how bad their hearing is, and resisting finding out.
Your buddy Barry seems to be at the center of his own closed and hidden society, but his closed society needs to be hidden because his activities don't dare see the light of day.
But this time, Barry got caught red handed:
http://theterlinguan.blogspot.com/2010/10/here-is-to-questionable-behavior.html
anony 11:34 AM,
Barry may be a part of a "hidden society" like you, anony, but in no certain terms is he a part of a "closed society" since he is open, an independent thinker, and do not discriminate based on mode of communication preference or amount of hearing loss. If you take the time to understand the meaning of a "closed society" then you wouldn't be using that term against him.
Your discussion about the hidden society is well-put but I beg to differ about the deaf culture.
The deaf culture has no bearings to the closed or open society. It is matter of the individual preference. Look at the hearing people who love to be in deaf culture society which means, in your definition or Barry's, a closed society? That's full of trash.
Barry is definitely an imbecile.
Phil
This goes back to the adage that hearing loss is an invisible disability. I hate to keep harping about ALDA and HLAA. Sometimes groups of people will use the ALDA or HLAA platform to reconnect with their own small groups and that's OK. Both orgs try to cultivate a culture of acceptance. While you may find the occasional individual who is closed-minded about something, it's nearly unheard of in their leadership.
Which is why ALDA and HLAA are such attractive organizations to join. You don't have all that political and emotional baggage you'd see in some Deaf organizations.
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