“The Silencing of the Death” is an article that criticizes the use of hearing aids and cochlear implants as interventions to help deaf people. Gupta, the author, asserts that individuals with hearing loss should be treated as if they do not belong to the human race. In the introductory section of the article, she states that “the lack of hearing is an identity to be celebrated, not a disability to be cured” (Gupta). This statement shows that she is a strong advocate of the deaf. Gupta maintains that forcing these people into the hearing world is equivalent to separating them from their inherent deaf culture. The author uses interesting facts in support of her argument.
Children with hearing loss should be taught sign language as their mother tongue. According to Gupta, deaf individuals “Love sign – its cadence, its use of facial expressions, its reliance on three-dimensional space – in a way that hearing people struggle to comprehend” (Gupta). However, most parents with infants who cannot hear focus on finding biological solutions such as cochlear implants. Gupta argues that this practice is a way of denying these children their freedom of choice, since “every implanted child is a child stolen from the deaf culture” (Gupta). The author pays attention to Charles-Michel de l’Épée, who was among the first renowned people to introduce deaf education and set a strong foundation for modern-day sign language (Gupta). This form of communication is instrumental in helping deaf children to enter into the deaf culture. The author argues that deaf schools are gradually reducing as governments have cut budgets and students with hearing loss are being sent to mainstream schools (Gupta). She concludes by saying that forcing the deaf to live through the lives of hearing individuals is oppressive as it is equal to silencing them.
Gupta’s arguments on the plight of deaf people resonate with my belief that women should not be objectified in modern society. Since childhood, I have experienced the escalation of gender stereotypes through numerous media such as television and magazine advertisements. I believe that there is a significant difference between how males and females are depicted in visual ads. Typically, men are represented as confident, intelligent, strong, and rational. On the other hand, females are treated as objects in most commercials. The camera focuses on strategic body parts such as their thighs, neck, and tummies. Moreover, beauty products are promoted using women who are extremely thin, creating an impression that slim girls are prettier than their thick counterparts. Such a depiction has made females direct much attention to their physical appearance, which can cause depression and unpleasant feelings such as anxiety and shame.
After reading Gupta’s article, I have learned the importance of using advocacy to champion the rights of people who face certain forms of discrimination in society. I will use this lesson to fight against women’s objectification. Gupta successfully convinces the audience that it is high time that parents should stop implanting their children and let them enjoy the deaf culture. Likewise, girls should no longer be made to feel as if they are objects. Just like Gupta, I plan to use various platforms, such as articles and the Internet, to advocate for a fair society. In my opinion, having stereotypic beliefs that foster bias against women is a form of discrimination that should not be tolerated.
Reference
Gupta, Sujata. “The Silencing of the Deaf.” Medium, 2014. Web.