Why Do Deaf People Have Privilege?

hough I am not Deaf and I have never grown up with the experiences and the oppression that Deaf people faced in their upbringing, I do know what it is like to feel oppressed and undervalued. As an interpreter, I keep that in mind when I am out on an assignment and whenever I am at a social in the Deaf community. One thing I try to do recognize my privilege as a hearing person so that I do not come off as oppressive or paternalistic toward Deaf people and lead then into reacting to me negatively. Earlier I mentioned my view on what “privilege” was and related it to how white people have privilege and how straight, white, cisgender and able-bodied men have privilege. In learning about privilege, I have come to realize that everybody has it. That
As a straight, cisgender person, I don’t ever have to worry about being discriminated against in my workplace or amongst my peers for being gay or transgender because I’m neither. As a black person, intersectionality can work in my favour if there is a need for an interpreter of colour; I can provide representation to the person requesting my services just because of who I am (the same applies for me being a male as well). As an able bodied person, I have the ability to enter walk into buildings and use washrooms that lack accessibility, and I can choose to either go floor to floor by stairs, escalator or elevator without thinking twice. As a hearing person, I have the advantage of incidental learning; I absorb information from overhearing a conversation, an announcement or a radio station, and I don’t miss out on what was said. If an announcement is made, or a specific kind of alert is sounded, I can hear it and know what to do, whereas Deaf people lack that information if those announcements are not accompanied with closed captioning or a flashing light. I can easily get a job anywhere I can apply without having my hearing status come in question or needing additional