Children of a Lesser God – Deeper Meanings…

1. Name in SW Hand in this page Children of a Lesser God – Deeper Meanings… After watching the first portion of “Children of a Lesser God”, list three reasons you believe James (main male character) would want Sarah (main female character) to speak: • . • . • . Now list three reasons Sarah may have for preferring to sign: • . • . • .

2. Audism About.com:Deafness • A negative or oppressive attitude towards deaf people by either deaf or hearing people and organizations, and failure to accommodate them. People who have audist attitudes are considered to be audists. For example, the refusal or failure to use sign language in the presence of a sign language-dependent person is considered audism. – Gallaudet University FAQs: Audism – • The notion that one is superior based on one’s ability to hear or behave in a manner of one who hears. (Humphries 1977: 12) • … an attitude based on pathological thinking which results in a negative stigma toward anyone who does not hear; like racism or sexism, audism judges, labels, and limits individuals on the basis of whether a person hears or speaks. (Humphrey and Alcorn 1995: 85) Examples of Audism: (http://new.vawnet.org/category/index_pages.php?category_id=973) • Jumping in to help a deaf person communicate. • Asking a Deaf person to read your lips or write when s/he has indicated this isn’t preferred. • Making phone calls for a deaf person since they "can't." • Refusing to call an interpreter when one is requested. • Assuming that those with better speech/English skills are superior. • Asking a Deaf person to "tone down" their facial expressions because they are making others uncomfortable. • Refusing to explain to a Deaf person why everyone around him is laughing – "never mind, I’ll tell you later, it doesn't matter." • Devoting a significant amount of instructional time for a Deaf child to lipreading and speech therapy, rather than educational subjects.

3. Racism • [n] discriminatory or abusive behavior towards members of another race . ⇔ Synonyms[ racialismracial_discrimination ] ⇑Broader[discriminationfavoritismfavouritism ]⇓Narrower[racial_profiling ] • [n] the prejudice that members of one race are intrinsically superior to members of other races . Ethnic - Ethnicity • [a] denoting or deriving from or distinctive of the ways of living built up by a group of people ; "influenced by ethnic and cultural ties"- J.F.Kennedy; "ethnic food". ⇔ Synonyms[ culturalethnical ] Similar to[social ] • [a] relating to or being a member of an ethnic group ; "ethnic frontiers"; "ethnic Chinese in San Francisco". • 3. [a] not acknowledging the God of Christianity and Judaism and Islam . Definitions from www.lookwayup.com

4. Vocabulary • Oppressive – marked by unjust severity or arbitrary behavior; “tyrannous disregard for human rights” • Accommodate • Make fit for, or change to suit a new purpose. (adjust, adapt) • Make compatible with. (reconcile, conciliate, harmonize) • Pathological – Caused by or altered by a manifesting disease or pathology. (diseased, unhealthy) • Stigma – a symbol of disgrace or infamy (mark, brand, stain, tarnish) • Justify • Show to be a reasonable or provide adequate ground for. (warrant, confirm) • Show to be right by providing justification or proof. (vindicate, uphold, excuse, legitimate) • Autonomy • Immunity from arbitrary exercise of authority: political independence. (liberty, emancipation) • Personal independence. (self-reliance, self-direction, self-sufficiency)

5. Name in SW After reading the definitions of audism, how do you think James and Sarah view their own and other’s language preferences? (list at least three different descriptions) I think… Sarah views sign language as… 1. 2. 3. Sarah views speaking as… 1. 2. 3. James views signing as… 1. 2. 3. James views speaking as… 1. 2. 3.

6. “Isms” Is there a connection?

7. Name in SW Hand in this page Audism & RacismComparing two “isms” Record behaviors, events or comments that could be considered part of one of the “isms” in the appropriate circle. In the center, record a person’s attitudes or views that are common to any “ism”. Audism Racism

8. Name in SW Hand in this page Audism: Justifications or Excuses? If a person or institution exhibit signs of audism or racism, how might or might not these be justified? Are there “good” reasons for restricting or oppressing a group of people’s language use or the curriculum that is taught to groups of students? How might these reasons outweigh an individual’s rights to self-expression, need for autonomy, or curiosity about a broader view of history or the world? Record at least four events from the information you have received in the readings above or the movie that could be considered audist. Whether valid or not in your opinion, explain how the people or institutions exhibiting audism justified or excused their behavior or statements. Justification/Excuse Justification/Excuse Examples of Audist views throughout U.S. deaf history Justification/Excuse Justification/Excuse

9. Links to Websites That Explain or Give Examples of Audism • Gallaudet University FAQ:Audism • VAWnet • About.com:Deafness • Wikipedia • Mfeedia/audism-television • Deafhoodfoundation • Keynote by Paddy Ladd: Deafhood