Deaf Culture
In this section, I reflect on Deaf culture and the unique perspectives and understanding I have gained from my Deaf professors and Deaf culture immersion experiences. I also reflect on my study abroad experience in Gwangju, South Korea and how it has influenced the way I view Deaf culture. Cultural immersion is a powerful and formative experience that allows you to understand how everyday people perceive the world around them and their relationships with insiders and outsiders of their culture.
Deaf culture celebrates a resilient community, visual language, and history, and is rooted in shared values, traditions, and identity. Past centuries have been steeped in oppression and cultural struggles for the deaf community. The enforcement of oralism on deaf individuals and the subsequent ban on sign language from their most formative years to adulthood suppressed deaf culture and identity for generations. Without sign language, deaf individuals were prevented from forming their own culture due to limited access to language. With little to no access to communication, deaf individuals were unable to express themselves, much less their culture. While deaf individuals' history is marked by oppression and suppression of their culture, the deaf community has an incredible legacy of resilience and tenacity.
Deaf History
Culture is rooted in a community's way of communication. Deaf culture is founded on visual communication; thus, sign language is the only true means of natural expression for deaf individuals. Amid the suppression of sign language, the deaf community persevered by creating and preserving cultural traditions rooted in sign language. For the deaf community, sign language is a source of pride and joy, and from it most deaf art forms flow. A few examples of deaf art forms are ABC stories, poetry, and storytelling. ABC stories are a play on the manual alphabet, in which each sign sequentially assumes the shape of each letter, creating a narrative. This form of storytelling is unique to sign language and is an excellent representation of authentic deaf cultural traditions. Poetry in sign language includes ABC stories as well as the use of movements, rhythms, and repetition to create artistic expressions. Storytelling is one of the most significant traditions of the deaf community. Masterful storytellers weave together classifiers, depiction, constructed action and dialogue, and many other visual elements to create visual narratives that readers can only dream of. Stories that embody the deaf way of life, historical oppression, resilience, and triumph over oppression are passed down through generations as a means of cultural preservation.
ASL: A Visual Language
Deaf Culture
Deaf culture and sign language shape deaf identity. The formative stages of childhood are the most important times to foster a sense of identity and a connection to deaf culture. One avenue of fostering deaf identity is deaf clubs. A deaf club is the center of cultural engagement in any given deaf community. Members of deaf clubs participate in sports, games, storytelling, and many other cultural activities. This is where deaf individuals socialize and where those with limited exposure to sign language or deaf culture can learn from experienced members of the deaf community. Deaf clubs are among the few environments fully accessible to deaf individuals; as a result, they have played a significant role in deaf culture. One unique aspect of deaf clubs is the mentorship network. Members of the deaf club and community who have experience and a full understanding of deaf culture essentially adopt other members who have limited access to or experience with deaf culture or sign language. These mentorship relationships form stronger bonds between deaf community members and create a legacy of cultural preservation.
Cultural Immersion
Although I was unable to participate in the Deaf Signers of Australia and New Zealand study abroad program, I had the opportunity to study abroad at Chonnam International University in Gwangju, South Korea, during the summer of 2025. My summer in Korea broadened my perspective on cultures different from my own and the importance of cultural immersion. I had the privilege of encountering not only Korean culture but also French, Indonesian, Chinese, Canadian, Albanian, and Afghan cultures. Many of the friends I met in the program were from all over the world. I was fortunate to experience glimpses into each of their cultures, including cultural norms, economic differences, political perspectives, world-views, humor, idioms, folk traditions, and more. For example, my French friend introduced me to the French version of “jinx”. Whenever someone thinks or says the same things as another person, they must shake hands. This is different from my culture, in which it is a race to say “jinx” before the other person. Understanding these little features of culture can make one feel more at home in or a part of a culture. I believe this is true for me in Deaf culture. I can relate more easily to members of Deaf culture once I learn and experience insider knowledge. I am excited to continue learning more of these nuances unique to deaf culture as I further immerse myself in it.
Cultural Traditions
Korean culture is steeped in tradition. Ancestors, elders, heritage, and major events in Korean history are well respected and honored through monuments, museums, and societal structures. Every Wednesday and Saturday, the study abroad group participated in cultural experiences. My favorite cultural experiences were taking a Taekwondo class, trying on a traditional Hanbok dress, and visiting the May 18th National Cemetery. On the first day of orientation, I participated in a Taekwondo class and learned about its tradition and significance in Korean history as a method of fighting and a means of maintaining control and discipline. I also had the opportunity to wear a traditional Hanbok, a notable symbol of Korean culture for centuries. Lastly, I had the privilege of observing a ceremony in honor of Korean citizens who lost their lives during the May 18th uprising, a 9-day protest in 1980 against the authoritarian government. Each of these experiences was a testament to the rich culture Koreans have created, centered around honoring their heritage. Uniqur characteristics of culture like the ones I have discussed can be found in Deaf culture as well and are pivotal in shaping its community and dynamic.
A Day In The Life
Studying abroad in South Korea has helped me develop my appreciation for Deaf culture. Through my visit with the host family and experiencing a day in their life, I have learned that every culture has its own unique practices and traditions that become unconscious habits. For example, taking off your shoes when entering a home, even your own, is expected and rude if not practiced. In my host families home, they offered me communal fabric slippers to wear throughout the house. Recognizing these little details of Korean culture has allowed me to further recognize and appreciate the same kind of cultural nuances in Deaf culture. I have noticed how members of Deaf culture are excellent at maintaining eye conact as it is important to do so when using a visual language. Diverting eye contact when communicating with a deaf individual in certain contexts can be perceived as rude. Learning and experiencing these intricasies of Deaf culture continue to develop my cultural awareness and understanding of how deaf individuals navigate the world.
Korean traditions of honoring their heritage have shed a new light on how I view the history of the Deaf community. Like Koreans, deaf individuals have faced major historical events and continue to remember them today through cultural traditions. For example, the Deaf President Now protest in March of 1988 marked a significant turning point in Deaf history. Students of Gallaudet University proved to the hearing world that deaf people are equal to hearing people and are capable of leadership. Experiencing how Korean culture ceremonially honors and remembers significant events in its history has reminded me of the importance of understanding what the Deaf community has faced to get to where they are today. Because of my study abroad experience, I can now better appreciate Deaf culture as a unique celebration of language, unity, history, legacy, and much more.
Honoring Heritage
A deaf cat I met at a cat cafe