AUDISM Meaning and
Definition
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Audism is a term used to describe discrimination, prejudice, or marginalization against individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, based solely on their hearing abilities and their use of sign language as a primary means of communication. The term encompasses the sociopolitical ideology that places superior value on hearing and regards it as the norm, while viewing deafness as a deficiency or a disability that needs to be fixed or eliminated.
Audism can manifest in various ways, such as the denial of access to education, employment opportunities, or services for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. It can also be observed when hearing individuals impose their perspectives, beliefs, or cultural norms on the deaf community without considering or respecting their unique linguistic and cultural identity.
Audism perpetuates a form of ableism, implying that individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing are inherently inferior or less capable compared to those who can hear. This viewpoint disregards the strengths, resilience, and diverse contributions that members of the deaf community bring to society.
Efforts to combat audism involve raising awareness about the rights, needs, and experiences of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, advocating for inclusive policies and legislation, promoting sign language as an essential means of communication, and challenging societal stereotypes and misconceptions surrounding deafness. The goal is to foster equality, respect, and equal opportunities for all individuals, regardless of their hearing abilities.
Common Misspellings for AUDISM
- zudism
- sudism
- wudism
- qudism
- aydism
- ahdism
- ajdism
- aidism
- a8dism
- a7dism
- ausism
- auxism
- aucism
- aufism
- aurism
- aueism
- audusm
- audjsm
- audksm
- audosm
Etymology of AUDISM
The word "audism" was coined in 1975 by Tom Humphries, a Deaf scholar and writer. It is derived from the Latin term "audio" meaning "to hear" and the "-ism" suffix indicating a belief system, practice, or ideology. Therefore, audism refers to the discrimination, oppression, or prejudice against deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals based on their ability to hear, or lack thereof.
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