Teresa Garratty: There’s nothing wrong with deaf people being interested in ‘undeaf’ things

If I had a penny for every time a deafie made a joke about me being more of a hearing person…

I would take those pennies, place them all in a sack and beat said person profusely with it.

Just kidding! That would be illegal and we don’t promote that sort of thing here! (Sorry boss!)

So the jokes continue to flow and whilst I’m partial to the odd chortle at my own expense, sometimes it can get old. Really. Freakin’. Old.

Trust me. I’m all for banter. I live for the banter!

But there have been a few occasions where I’ve clocked someone else take a hit and you can almost see a part of them get chipped away in the process. You know that ain’t cool.

It usually revolves around a hobby or passion that’s rooted more toward hearing culture, something like music or dance etc. Sly comments are made and then before you know it Deafie McDeaferson from Deafshire gives you stink eye, like you’ve just taken a massive sh*te on one of his profoundly Deaf ancestors.

And for what?

Since when was exploring other cultures a bad thing? What’s wrong with taking an interest in something that society has deemed “not for you”? Why should that make you more “hearing”?

The talents of deaf people stretch far and wide. If someone wants to pursue something that’s not traditionally geared towards deafness, why not let them get on with it? Or here’s a radical idea…why not even support it?

Think of all the wonderful things deaf people could be achieving with just a little more encouragement instead of thinly veiled side eye…

We’ve already got some fantastic pioneers out there in predominantly hearing related roles. Just take a gander at Chris Fonseca (deaf dancer), Peter Jackson (deaf factual author) Deaf Rave (deaf rappers/DJ’s), Vilma Jackson (deaf sign song artist) and of course all of the lovely deaf writers here at The Limping Chicken, taking on the hearing world with their own damn written English!

So if you’ve got a passion for music, radio plays, dancing, English literature or any other “hearing” related activity, don’t let the judgement of others hold you back. Throw those shapes, pen that novel, tickle those ivories (not a euphemism) and lose your mind at those cheesy teenybopper concerts!

Remember this isn’t about oppressing Deaf culture or promoting hearing culture. It’s about representing #DeafTalent and supporting the aspiring individuals who ask for more and dare to dream.

Anyone who still has a problem with that can come talk to me and my sack of pennies…

Read more of Teresa’s posts (with cartoons!) by clicking here.

Teresa is a freelance film maker, photographer and full time cynic. At school, she was voted “Most likely to end up in a lunatic asylum”, a fate which has thus far been avoided. Her pet hates are telephones, intercoms and all living things. Follow her on Twitter as @TGarratty