When our perspectives on disability began to evolve, so too did the language we use to discuss people who are disabled. While reading news stories about the “deaf, mute girl” in mainstream American outlets, however, I can’t help but feel like we’ve transported a half century backwards in our acceptance of deafness.
The phrase “deaf-mute” is problematic, and it is not an appropriate way to discuss a person. Calling someone “mute” silences them and strips them of their agency — it sticks a label on them that devalues their autonomy. Mute is a loaded term which carries the distinct connotation that people who are deaf don’t have anything to say.
Read the full article by clicking here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lydia-l-callis/how-the-media-mutes-deaf-voices_b_8447342.html
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Tim
November 6, 2015
Good article. The same arguments apply to the now fashionable chant of ‘hearing loss.’ A negative term invented by hearies to keep Deaf people ‘in their place.’
Cathy
November 7, 2015
I try not to make too much fuss over words. Many have distinct meanings, which are often totally lost on people, although the term “mute” means without speech, there are very few deaf people who are unable to speak at all.
Speech may not be legible and little understood by those who don’t know the deaf person, which is precisely why interpreters have to voiceover. In spite of this I see no legible reason for describing deaf people as “deaf mute”. At the end of the day it is perfectly reasonable to describe us as deaf, we do not need the extra description as this does not define us.
I notice this article is linked to America and deaf people over there are usually far more vocal than deaf people in England are! The protest march over Gallaudet University comes to mind! Deaf people made it abundandtly clear that the head of University should be deaf not hearing! And the hearing person eventually stepped down!
I could not imagine this scenario happening with deaf people in England in a million years!!! We are far less vocal than they are! So its a strange irony for deaf Americans to be described as “deaf mute!”
Any journalist worth his salt needs to learn about the American Deaf community and what a powerful part of America they are! They are way out in front in terms of making life far more accessible to the lives of Deaf Americans compared to those who are deaf in Britain.
It is time for any reporter to junk the term “deaf mute” in exchange for “Deaf Power”!