Stereotypes of the deaf and hard of hearing

SJCSue · 06-14-2006, 07:35 AM

Every Tuesday night, I go to group counseling. Last night, I brought up that people stereotype me as being stupid because my speech is not always clear.

What are stereotypes for the deaf and hard of hearing?

neecy · 06-14-2006, 03:49 PM

One of the stereotypes i came up against time and time again was the assumption that deaf people are also all mutes.

gnulinuxman · 06-14-2006, 04:25 PM

Some stereotypes I've come across (note that some of these are opposites):

All deaf people can lipread and speak
All deaf people who can speak can hear the speaker.
All deaf people know ASL
All deaf people are stupid
All deaf people with hearing aids can hear

Of course, none of these stereotypes are true, but there are hearing people I've met who consider them to be true.

SB_GB_4ever · 06-14-2006, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SJCSue

Every Tuesday night, I go to group counseling. Last night, I brought up that people stereotype me as being stupid because my speech is not always clear.

What are stereotypes for the deaf and hard of hearing?

I hate stereotypes in general. People need to get to know others befor the judge. And i understand that there is a communication barrier between alot of deaf and HH and hearing but the is still no reason to judge. My girlfriend can talk and it may not be the best speech but she is very smart and has alot to offer the world.

Murasaki · 06-14-2006, 08:12 PM

here's a stereotype i was thinking about... was going to start its own thread....

Deaf Standard Time....
Deaf are late for everything? if it's true... why?

deafdyke · 06-14-2006, 08:25 PM

Quote:

people stereotype me as being stupid because my speech is not always clear

I get that a lot too......I am DEAF. I can't modulate my voice for crying out loud! I hate having a deaf voice.

ksbsnowowl · 06-15-2006, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murasaki

Deaf Standard Time....
Deaf are late for everything? if it's true... why?

Oh Jeez; this drives me (hearing) and my fiancee (deaf) crazy.

One time we showed up on-time to a local deaf get-together that was supposed to start at 7 pm. The people who were running the event didn't even show up until 8:00. Drives us both nuts.

R2D2 · 06-15-2006, 06:51 PM

The most common stereotype that comes out to me is the surprise I get sometimes that I drive. Grrr! It's only my ears that don't work not my hands, eyes or feet.

sr171soars · 06-15-2006, 06:58 PM

In my HA days, it was the fact they thought I heard everything because I spoke so well. Of course, not all of them knew I was HOH either... The ones that did still made that mistake from time to time.

With my CI, I catch most everything now...

jazzy · 06-15-2006, 07:56 PM

I get this steroeptype of being stuck up often when they drive by and beep at me, they did not know I can not hear them.

farmerjoe · 06-15-2006, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deafdyke

I get that a lot too......I am DEAF. I can't modulate my voice for crying out loud! I hate having a deaf voice.

People will label you as stupid if you reply incorrectly to a question or if you ask them to repeat themselves. Even if you had a "perfect" voice they'd still call you stupid.

Also there are those that think "deaf and dumb" whenever they hear "deaf" and then they think "dumb = stupid" not dumb = mute.

pek1 · 06-15-2006, 10:52 PM

My mother told me that I had either said to her sister (my aunt) or grandmother, when the remark was made that I was 'deaf and dumb' that I said, "I am not dumb." If I could remember who I said it to, it would help. It would be noteworthy to say that my aunt (mentioned) was a first grade school teacher and always referred to her kids as "dumb dumbs."

Ariakkas · 06-15-2006, 10:58 PM

ima hearie, and one sterotype i see that hasn't been mentioned, is people say deaf people don't tip well.

stereotypes in general are bogus, but they are a part of society, so all we can do is try not to stereotype others.

Sunshine1 · 06-15-2006, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ariakkas

ima hearie, and one sterotype i see that hasn't been mentioned, is people say deaf people don't tip well.

stereotypes in general are bogus, but they are a part of society, so all we can do is try not to stereotype others.

Ariakkas ... that's because deaf people don't realize how much an hour do writers/writresses get paid and that they usually have to tip bartenders and bussers. I'm hearing impaired and used to work restaurants so I know about tips. In the past I usually paid at least 20% tips.

Ariakkas · 06-15-2006, 11:34 PM

my mom was a career waitress, so i make sure to tip well. but i understand the arguement on both side, for people who dont believe in tipping. the worker gets paid an hourly rate, if its not enjough they should find another job...but if they did that then we wouldn't have any waiters/waitresses. im loose with my wallet tho so i always tip way more than i should.

sr171soars · 06-16-2006, 06:33 AM

I'm with you there. Just because they get an hourly (rather low) rate is a bogus issue. The whole idea of the job is that the tips would make up for the low hourly rate and the better one works typically the better the tip. Nothing wrong with that... If tips should be eliminated, then the hourly rate has to go up and some restaurants go out of business.

highlands · 06-16-2006, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farmerjoe

People will label you as stupid if you reply incorrectly to a question or if you ask them to repeat themselves. Even if you had a "perfect" voice they'd still call you stupid.

...

I'm hard of hearing and I almost always face the stereotype mentioned in this quote.. I cannot understand and so cannot correctly reply to what hearing persons say to me ... so I'm considered to stupid at times... it's really boring and drives me mad

ksbsnowowl · 06-16-2006, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sr171soars

Just because they get an hourly (rather low) rate is a bogus issue. The whole idea of the job is that the tips would make up for the low hourly rate and the better one works typically the better the tip. Nothing wrong with that... If tips should be eliminated, then the hourly rate has to go up and some restaurants go out of business.

Not that I'm saying waitresses, etc should not be tipped, but you do know that if the sum total of their hourly wage ($2.70, or somewhere around that) plus their tips does not add up to the Minimum wage, the employer must pay them the difference, so they are making at least minimum wage, right?

Now, if that continued, an emlployer would not like keeping that employee on his staff, as he is costing the owner money (theoretically) because of the server's poor service to customers (as evidenced by not getting many tips).

Again, not against tipping, just pointing out that they will get minimum wage, one way or another.

jazzy · 06-16-2006, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ariakkas

ima hearie, and one sterotype i see that hasn't been mentioned, is people say deaf people don't tip well.

stereotypes in general are bogus, but they are a part of society, so all we can do is try not to stereotype others.

I tipped them well.

ismi · 06-16-2006, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ksbsnowowl

Not that I'm saying waitresses, etc should not be tipped, but you do know that if the sum total of their hourly wage ($2.70, or somewhere around that) plus their tips does not add up to the Minimum wage, the employer must pay them the difference, so they are making at least minimum wage, right?

This is an unfortunate myth. If you don't earn the minimum wage, that's tough luck; employers aren't required to make up for it. Not that the minimum wage is enough to live on anyway (at least, in the US).

DeafSCUBA98 · 06-16-2006, 01:49 PM

some stereotypes i get..

deaf parents want to have a hearing kids
deaf people can't work
deaf are gays/lesiban
deaf are poor

these are all not true.. yet some true.. but they think one person who is poor then they think all are poor.

this saddens me.

Sunshine1 · 06-16-2006, 01:57 PM

Yes, back years ago, the writers/writresses have to pay like 8% of their sale receipts to IRS for tax purposes rather they get enough tips or not. The owners of restaurants have to report to IRS of all sale receipts. That is why we all need to understand about tips.

tobieblue · 06-16-2006, 02:45 PM

How about that any who is hard of hearing is elderly? So not true!

SB_GB_4ever · 06-16-2006, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deafdyke

I get that a lot too......I am DEAF. I can't modulate my voice for crying out loud! I hate having a deaf voice.

Dont ever say that i am hearing and i love deaf voices. They are cute and a special tone to them. One of the things i would miss the most is my girlfriends voice.

Murasaki · 06-16-2006, 05:05 PM

i, too, love the deaf voices. it's charming

the deaf= dumb thing bothers me a lot

along with hoh= old people.... in hearing aid ads, it's a bunch of old men

i dont know if it fits in with stereotypes... but i hate it when i'm signing to somebody and somebody else comes up and says, "hey! i know sign language, too!" and then they just hold up the middle finger *grumble*

tobieblue · 06-16-2006, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murasaki

i, too, love the deaf voices. it's charming

i dont know if it fits in with stereotypes... but i hate it when i'm signing to somebody and somebody else comes up and says, "hey! i know sign language, too!" and then they just hold up the middle finger *grumble*

Hahaha - I don't know if it fits in but I like it! It is amazing what people do and say!!

tobieblue · 06-16-2006, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SB_GB_4ever

Dont ever say that i am hearing and i love deaf voices. They are cute and a special tone to them. One of the things i would miss the most is my girlfriends voice.

I have had several people say they like my voice. They say it sounds southern?! I don't have a severe accent at all but when people say things about it they almost always mistake it for a regional or even foreign accent than one caused by my hearing.

LuciaDisturbed · 06-16-2006, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deafdyke

I get that a lot too......I am DEAF. I can't modulate my voice for crying out loud! I hate having a deaf voice.

When I was a kid, my stepmother would scream at me "SHUT UP, I HATE YOUR VOICE!"

signer16 · 06-17-2006, 02:24 AM

Oh, let me count the stereotypes....
As for the ones that haven't been mentioned:
-All deaf people can lipread
-All deaf people have interpreters all the time
(I know these are somewhat contradictory, but most hearing people seem to believe either one or the other)
-Deaf people with cochlear implants can hear (perfectly, or near it)

One big one: All deaf people are just like the one deaf person that hearing person has met. It is true that one deaf person can really influence hearing people's beliefs about deaf people. This can and does cause SO many misunderstandings!

zookeeper4321 · 06-17-2006, 09:44 AM

What about pity. Little G is still so little that everytime he goes out with his hearing aides on everyone looks at him like "That poor little boy." I don't feel sorry for him. He is fine just the way he is. He is a typical active toddler who enjoys life to the fullest. He is still not proficient with sign but we have our own ways to communicate.

06-14-2006, 07:35 AM	#1 (permalink)
SJCSue A Dog Lover Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 425	Stereotypes of the deaf and hard of hearing Every Tuesday night, I go to group counseling. Last night, I brought up that people stereotype me as being stupid because my speech is not always clear. What are stereotypes for the deaf and hard of hearing?

06-14-2006, 03:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
neecy Use the Google, Luke! Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Beautiful British Columbia Posts: 1,405	One of the stereotypes i came up against time and time again was the assumption that deaf people are also all mutes. __________________ Friends are angels that lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.

06-14-2006, 04:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
gnulinuxman Bannned Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 1,740	Some stereotypes I've come across (note that some of these are opposites): All deaf people can lipread and speak All deaf people who can speak can hear the speaker. All deaf people know ASL All deaf people are stupid All deaf people with hearing aids can hear Of course, none of these stereotypes are true, but there are hearing people I've met who consider them to be true.

06-15-2006, 06:51 PM	#8 (permalink)
R2D2 Retired from All Deaf! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 2,605	The most common stereotype that comes out to me is the surprise I get sometimes that I drive. Grrr! It's only my ears that don't work not my hands, eyes or feet. __________________ Left ear implanted 9th June 2006 Activated 29th June 2006 Right ear implanted 31st August 2007 Activated 18th September Both Nucleus Freedom Cochlear implant myths

06-15-2006, 06:58 PM	#9 (permalink)
sr171soars Cyborg since March '05 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 2,628	In my HA days, it was the fact they thought I heard everything because I spoke so well. Of course, not all of them knew I was HOH either... The ones that did still made that mistake from time to time. With my CI, I catch most everything now... __________________ But trailing clouds of glory till He comes... Foolishness is not a virtue

Today
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06-14-2006, 08:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
Murasaki Blue Aes Sedai Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 33	here's a stereotype i was thinking about... was going to start its own thread.... Deaf Standard Time.... Deaf are late for everything? if it's true... why?

06-15-2006, 07:56 PM	#10 (permalink)
jazzy Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: High desert in Calif Posts: 3,773	I get this steroeptype of being stuck up often when they drive by and beep at me, they did not know I can not hear them.

06-15-2006, 10:52 PM	#12 (permalink)
pek1 Journalist. Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: When I survey the wondrous Cross . . . Posts: 3,974	My mother told me that I had either said to her sister (my aunt) or grandmother, when the remark was made that I was 'deaf and dumb' that I said, "I am not dumb." If I could remember who I said it to, it would help. It would be noteworthy to say that my aunt (mentioned) was a first grade school teacher and always referred to her kids as "dumb dumbs." __________________ Pete

06-15-2006, 10:58 PM	#13 (permalink)
Ariakkas Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 237	ima hearie, and one sterotype i see that hasn't been mentioned, is people say deaf people don't tip well. stereotypes in general are bogus, but they are a part of society, so all we can do is try not to stereotype others.

06-15-2006, 11:34 PM	#15 (permalink)
Ariakkas Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 237	my mom was a career waitress, so i make sure to tip well. but i understand the arguement on both side, for people who dont believe in tipping. the worker gets paid an hourly rate, if its not enjough they should find another job...but if they did that then we wouldn't have any waiters/waitresses. im loose with my wallet tho so i always tip way more than i should.

06-16-2006, 06:33 AM	#16 (permalink)
sr171soars Cyborg since March '05 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 2,628	I'm with you there. Just because they get an hourly (rather low) rate is a bogus issue. The whole idea of the job is that the tips would make up for the low hourly rate and the better one works typically the better the tip. Nothing wrong with that... If tips should be eliminated, then the hourly rate has to go up and some restaurants go out of business. __________________ But trailing clouds of glory till He comes... Foolishness is not a virtue

06-16-2006, 01:49 PM	#21 (permalink)
DeafSCUBA98 my cute fish of the year! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: land of 10,000 lakes and living by one of them Posts: 4,645	some stereotypes i get.. deaf parents want to have a hearing kids deaf people can't work deaf are gays/lesiban deaf are poor these are all not true.. yet some true.. but they think one person who is poor then they think all are poor. this saddens me. __________________ Nucleus Freedom 04/18/05 activiated 05/16/05

06-16-2006, 01:57 PM	#22 (permalink)
Sunshine1 CM Punk's Godmother/Aunt Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,449	Yes, back years ago, the writers/writresses have to pay like 8% of their sale receipts to IRS for tax purposes rather they get enough tips or not. The owners of restaurants have to report to IRS of all sale receipts. That is why we all need to understand about tips.

06-16-2006, 02:45 PM	#23 (permalink)
tobieblue Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5	How about that any who is hard of hearing is elderly? So not true!

06-16-2006, 05:05 PM	#25 (permalink)
Murasaki Blue Aes Sedai Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 33	i, too, love the deaf voices. it's charming the deaf= dumb thing bothers me a lot along with hoh= old people.... in hearing aid ads, it's a bunch of old men i dont know if it fits in with stereotypes... but i hate it when i'm signing to somebody and somebody else comes up and says, "hey! i know sign language, too!" and then they just hold up the middle finger grumble

06-17-2006, 02:24 AM	#29 (permalink)
signer16 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 278	Oh, let me count the stereotypes.... As for the ones that haven't been mentioned: -All deaf people can lipread -All deaf people have interpreters all the time (I know these are somewhat contradictory, but most hearing people seem to believe either one or the other) -Deaf people with cochlear implants can hear (perfectly, or near it) One big one: All deaf people are just like the one deaf person that hearing person has met. It is true that one deaf person can really influence hearing people's beliefs about deaf people. This can and does cause SO many misunderstandings!

06-17-2006, 09:44 AM	#30 (permalink)
zookeeper4321 Madly in love Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: the planet gorgo Posts: 445	What about pity. Little G is still so little that everytime he goes out with his hearing aides on everyone looks at him like "That poor little boy." I don't feel sorry for him. He is fine just the way he is. He is a typical active toddler who enjoys life to the fullest. He is still not proficient with sign but we have our own ways to communicate. __________________ What happens if you're scared half to death twice?

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