Have you ever seen two people speaking to each other in sign language and wondered what it would be like to be deaf? You may joke about how nice it would be to not have to listen to your kids screaming all afternoon or how being deaf would save you from having to listen to your professor drone on in the most monotone voice you could think of. However, hearing is a privilege, and I think it’s one that many people take for granted. Just like in all aspects of life though, you never know what you have until you lose it, right? What if you never had it to begin with?
You may have seen the trending hash tag, “#HearingPrivilege” on your timeline. This is what deaf people have been using as an opportunity to share a glimpse of what type of experiences they encounter in their lives daily that the hearing community may have been oblivious to or just plain ignorant. These posts are not necessarily bitter posts, rather just a reflection on the privileges that are associated within the hearing community. I am not deaf myself, although I am a Child of Deaf Adult (CODA), which means I too have either (directly or indirectly) experienced or witnessed “#HearingPrivilege” in my own life.
I scrolled through different media sources and compiled 40 powerful posts on #HearingPrivilege that maybe you never realized had an effect on those involved in the deaf community or had even thought of in general. It’s estimated that around, if not over, 90% of deaf children are born to hearing parents, yet hearing people are either unaware of or choose to lack an understanding of the daily challenges that are accompanied with being deaf. With that being said, I hope these give just a little bit of insight on the privilege that you truly have, as I am sure a lot of these barriers have never been one you have had to encounter.
1. #HearingPrivilege is when everyone has seen the latest movie and you can’t because it isn’t shown with subtitles.
2. #HearingPrivilege is not needing a stranger present while giving birth to your child so you can understand the doctor and nurses.
3. #HearingPrivilege is getting to decide whether providing accessibility options (captions, interpreters, etc) is “in the budget” or not.
4. #HearingPrivilege is not having to worry about picking a significant other and stressing whether they will learn sign language and accept your Deaf parents.
5. #HearingPrivilege is hearing your child’s first words, and hearing your mother’s final words.
6. #HearingPrivilege is not having children and adults mock one’s speech/sound.
7. #HearingPrivilege is being able to continue to higher levels of education without worrying about sign language interpreters’ level of expertise in your field.
8. #HearingPrivilege is having your hearing sibling interpret at family functions because no one is keeping you in the loop.
9. #HearingPrivilege is when you can take notes and listen to the teacher at the same time. You can take advantage of incidental learning.
10. #HearingPrivilege is being able to use the drive thru with ease.
11. #HearingPrivilege is being able to hear the “loud and verbal commands” given by cops before they shoot.
12. #HearingPrivilege is when you can easily find a counselor who speaks your language fluently, is in-network with your insurance company & you don't have to fight to see a Deaf counselor via special accommodation.
13. #HearingPrivilege is being able to choose your class options based on interest, not interpreter availability.
14. #HearingPrivilege is being taught to apologize for your disability in an effort to assimilate and fit in. 'I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you (for the 3rd time) would you please repeat yourself?'.
15. #HearingPrivilege not having to think about your child getting their whole world, their life in school through the lens of one person, an interpreter.
16. #HearingPrivilege is being educated in your own language; alongside people you can actually understand.
17. #HearingPrivilege is not being told, “Oh, I am so sorry” every time you tell people you are deaf.
18. #HearingPrivilege is being able to choose your friends. My friendships with non-signers are based on whether they are willing to communicate with me.
19. #HearingPrivilege is never having my intelligence or work ability questioned based on my language modality.
20. #HearingPrivilege is having the choice not to listen, like other forms of #privilege.
21. #HearingPrivilege is being able to sit in on a class or simply drop in at a colloquium or lecture without advance notice for interpreters.
22. #HearingPrivilege is being able to wake up to the alarms and have the opportunity to evacuate in the event of a dormitory or apartment fire.
23. #HearingPrivilege is watching almost any video on the Internet that I want, captioned or not.
24. #HearingPrivilege means being trusted to sit at the exit row on a plane. You are automatically considered capable of being heroic.
25. #HearingPrivilege is doing a presentation and worrying about looking stupid because you weren’t prepared, not because of a bad interpreter.
26. #HearingPrivilege is not being questioned on your ability to care for and raise a child.
27. #HearingPrivilege is signing up to join the US Army/Navy/Marines.
28. #HearingPrivilege is not being able to call 911 in an emergency.
29. #HearingPrivilege is not worrying about group calls or dim lighting when talking to someone.
30. #HearingPrivilege is being able to buy a mobile phone contract and use the inclusive call minutes and listen to voicemails too.
31. #HearingPrivilege is being able to have police communicate with you when they arrive at your door instead of through your hearing abuser.
32. #HearingPrivilege is not being forced to wear colored vests or arm patches to tip off other prisoners that you are D/eaf.
33. #HearingPrivilege is assuming hearing aids or cochlear implants provide the same access as “typical” hearing does.
34. #HearingPrivilege is not when your Uber ride cancels out on you because the driver keeps on calling you, not answering your texts.
35. #HearingPrivilege is having the ability to respond to customers’ requests to move their cart instead of crashing them into yours and ignoring them.
36. #HearingPrivilege is not missing bits and pieces of conversation and not wanting to intrude because there will be a simple, “never mind”.
37. #HearingPrivilege is being able to know what today’s specials at a restaurant are when the server shares them at your table.
38. #HearingPrivilege is having access to other people’s conversations when you pass them on the street.
39. #HearingPrivilege is being able to see your doctor when you need it most, not when an interpreter is available.
40. #HearingPrivilege is believing that it’s okay to close Deaf schools and support total inclusion.
Again, “#HearingPrivilege” is not trending to exemplify any anger or frustration toward those who can hear, rather this is simply to show both blatant and subtle deaf accessibility challenges and the social isolation that surrounds hearing loss. I hope a couple of these posts were able to put that in some perspective for you. I also attached a link to a video that illustrates hearing privilege in an academic setting if you were curious. Check it out! http://powderroom.kinja.com/deaf-space-illustrates...
