Notes on Culture: Deaf Community, Identity, and Societal Perspectives

  • Defining Culture: Culture is understood as what is important to an individual's way of life or a group's shared identity. Examples provided include:
    • Vegetarianism: Living a vegetarian lifestyle can constitute a personal culture.
    • Growing one's own food: This can also be seen as a cultural aspect.
  • Deaf Culture and ASL: Culture is closely associated with American Sign Language (ASL) within the deaf community. This is recognized as a distinct culture, not a disability.
    • Cochlear Implants and Identity: The discussion raised the question of whether people who wear cochlear implants form their own culture. The speaker noted that some individuals might associate wearing a cochlear implant as part of their personal culture.
  • Community Perspectives on Cochlear Implants:
    • Hesitancy within the Deaf Community: Some members of the deaf community, particularly deaf parents with hearing children, express hesitation regarding hearing aids or cochlear implants for their children.
    • Concerns about Cultural Assimilation: This hesitation stems from a concern that the children might join a different cultural group, potentially distancing them from deaf culture and their deaf family.
  • The Movie "CODA" as an Example:
    • Overview: The film "CODA" (Children of Deaf Adults) is recommended as a great story illustrating these dynamics.
    • Plotline: It features deaf parents with both a deaf child and a hearing child. The hearing child pursues music, a passion their deaf parents cannot fully appreciate due to the sensory difference, highlighting a cultural and communication gap within the family.
  • Broader Cultural Elements: The concept of culture can extend to other aspects of life:
    • Age-based Culture: For example, identifying with a "senior culture" where one spends time and shares experiences with other seniors.
    • Language Barriers: Language differences can create a cultural barrier. An example given is family members living in Canada whose English proficiency creates a communication challenge with others.