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Audism: exploring the metaphysics of oppression
1Gallaudet University, Department of American Sign Language and Deaf Studies, 800 Florida Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002, USA. h-dirksen.bauman@gallaudet.edu
Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education
|August 12, 2004
Summary
Audism, a system of oppression, is explored through individual, institutional, and metaphysical dimensions. This study reveals how Western language constructs, termed phonocentrism, underpin audism and its harmful effects on identity.
Area of Science:
- Sociolinguistics
- Philosophy of Language
- Disability Studies
Background:
- Audism, defined as discrimination based on hearing ability, has been analyzed through individual and institutional oppression.
- A metaphysical dimension of audism, rooted in language and identity constructs, remains underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To trace the development of audism from the 1970s.
- To introduce and explore the metaphysical dimension of audism.
- To examine how Western philosophical constructions of language contribute to audism.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of audism.
- Application of Jacques Derrida's deconstruction of Western language notions.
- Philosophical inquiry into language, identity, and oppression.
Main Results:
- Audism manifests in individual, institutional, and metaphysical forms.
- Western philosophical traditions have constructed language and being in ways that promote phonocentrism.
- Phonocentrism, the privileging of speech, creates a foundation for audism.
Conclusions:
- The metaphysical dimension of audism, linked to phonocentrism, is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of this oppression.
- Derrida's work offers valuable insights into the linguistic underpinnings of audism.
- Addressing audism requires challenging deeply ingrained beliefs about language and identity.