Deaf President Now

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Is it easy for a collection of individuals to follow a leader who does not represent the same values within the culture? The United States is generally thought of as a liberated and progressive country. If the president does not stand for the citizens the expected outcome is a reduction in support. This example creates a foundation for understanding the Deaf President Now protest. To completely explain the battle for this way of life it is necessary to explore the Deaf culture. In Gallaudet University’s history of 124 years they never had a Deaf president, only hearing individuals had held the position. The protest in 1988 for a Deaf president at Gallaudet University, the only liberal arts college for deaf and hard of hearing students, impacted the legacy of Deaf culture in more ways than one.
The Deaf President Now protest used a few theoretical concepts covered in lecture and the readings. The first concept applied is tactic which also unites well with another concept, political opportunity. The tactic Gallaudet students used is called the ACT-UP disruptions. Meyer (2007) describes the ACT-UP tactic, “…it also demands a response from authorities. The disruptions are impossible to ignore because they interrupt the everyday routine of both targets and bystanders, and they often involve explicit transgressions of the law”. The protestors projected change in the structure of leadership and took advantage of political opportunity and the use of contentious politics. Meyer explains that tactics can be an attempt at change or an outlet to send a message to an extensive community often through the attention of media. This movement utilized the resources of formal organizations as well as the use of informal social networks within the c...

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...people making decisions for the deaf community. The past resulted in the strengthening of unity in the culture. “They claim the right to “personal diversity”, which is “something to be cherished rather than fixed and erased” (Tucker, 1997).

Works Cited

Anderson, N. (2013, February 11). Deaf President Now, 25 years later. The Washington Post.
Christiansen, J. B. Barnartt, S. N. (1995). Deaf President Now! : The 1988 Revolution at Gallaudet University. Washington D.C., USA: Gallaudet University Press.
"Gallaudet University." Gallaudet University. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2013.
Hamill, A.C. & Stein, C.H. Culture and empowerment in the Deaf community: An analysis of internet weblogs. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, Volume 21, Issue 5, (Sept/Oct 2011), p. 388–406.
Tucker, B.P. The ADA and Deaf Culture: Contrasting Precepts, Conflicting Results.

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