The Notion of Deaf People as Disabled and the Emergence of Deaf Culture in China

Abstract

This chapter explores the emergence of Deaf culture in China and the roles of the media and education in improving the social status of deaf people. Traditionally, deaf people have been regarded as bearing a physical disability and this has led to paternalistic views of deaf people in accordance with the pathological perspective. China’s commitment to protecting its vulnerable citizens is commendable and comes from a position of caring and goodwill, but this has unintentionally led to assumptions that all deaf people require care and support in order to function in daily life. Social care and employment policies are effective in many contexts but can lead to forms of oppression by reinforcing notions of disability. The longstanding association of deaf people with disability is considered in this chapter in relation to the struggle for the rights of the Chinese Deaf community, and attention is paid to the importance of government administration and disability organizations’ support in all aspects of social inclusion. In addition, the relationship between the education of deaf children and societal attitudes towards deaf people is discussed and the vital role of the family in the well-being of the deaf child is highlighted. Misconceptions of Deaf culture in China have led to a belief that all deaf people are skilled in art and drawing. Deaf children are often regarded as best expressing themselves through the medium of art, and colleges and universities readily offer art courses to deaf applicants, assuming some form of innate skill and pleasure in this field. However, there is no basis for assuming that deaf people are any more or less likely to excel in art than their hearing counterparts.