Intersectionality, Inequality, & InclusionIf you have yet to see my initial review of the new CODA film, please click here to start with part 1. Then click here to find part 2 of my review. Going in chronological order of my reviews of the CODA film will allow you to find out more about my background. Yes! I'm a Coda, with three Deaf parents, and five other Deaf members in my family such as grandparents on my mom's side, aunts, uncles, and so on. At the end of my second review, I discussed inclusion. However, one really can't examine inclusion without looking at intersectionality and inequality. In this third review of CODA, the most awarded film in Sundance history, I share insights and themes I've learned about my identity, as well as factors related to intersectionality and inequality that have impacted Deaf families and their children. As I mentioned in part 1 of my review, I must share A to Z! This blog represents some real facts about Codas and Deaf people, so I invite you to consider what it means to be a Coda from an authentic perspective. So, join me here for part 3! Let's explore some factors that have contributed to the Rossi family's dynamics and how Ruby has also been impacted as a "Coda." (I put parentheses here because I'm referring to the fact that she is an actress who plays a Coda, but does not authentically represent Codas).
Codas = Resistance to Eugenics!So, you may gather by the images of the scenes above, I'm going to talk about sex. Parents have sex...Deaf people have sex. Whoa! Say what?! Let me go even further... Disabled people have sex. Why am I emphasizing this? Because I'm attempting to co-construct some normalcy for those who are able-bodied to consider reality. Please note that I am not the first, nor the author of constructing normalcy around sex and disability. Google it, seriously! My hope is that you will find beauty in love, in all types of love and sexuality. You may find documentaries or films like Sins Invalid or Somebody to Love - Sex and Disability just to name a few. And you may discover beautiful principles such as disability justice that can guide our society to cross-disability solidarity, interdependence, collective, access, and collective liberation as outlined by Patty Berne here in this document (click here). Disability justice means looking at the inequality and intersectionality of us all. The scenes above are also most likely why this film is rated PG-13. Outside of the obvious fact that parents have sex, here's something that you may not know... Eugenics was developed during the 20th century to "improve the human race." Sir Francis Galton, largely responsible for developing eugenics, stated that human reproduction needed to be arranged or controlled to decrease the characteristics of the "undesirables." Eugenics was adopted as Nazi doctrine as a justification for murdering Jews, disabled people, queer folx, and other minority groups. Have your doubts about eugenics and how they were adopted by Nazi Germany? Read Crying Hands by Horst Besold, and you will find a lot of heart-breaking history on how eugenics devastated the Deaf community...not just the Deaf community...personally, some of my family didn't survive. However, that's another story for another time. In a nutshell, eugenics basically stated Deaf people, disabled people, and other "undesirables" should not have sex to eliminate genetic deafness or other characteristics from the future of the human race. Eugenics resulted in the sterilization of Deaf men and women, including deaf children. The very existence of Codas...my body and existence of Codas is proof that eugenics is false! This is something that makes me beam, cause they were WRONG! A shout out here to Erik Witteborg for planting the origin of this thought in his poem, Painting Apples (2016): My Body is De’VIA My body is resistance art. Coda bodies are resistance pieces, in a society that tried to prevent Deaf people from marrying Deaf people, or marrying Hearing people, or marrying, or being people. I am a product of resistance. I am a resistance piece borne from the labor of love, which then had to ironically labor for love. So I am a resistance piece twice made. (This is only an excerpt of Witteborg's poem, please click here to see the entire poem)  Inequality & Socioeconomics In my first review, I reference this scene where Frank and Jackie are arguing. The one thing I left out was that the argument was over finances. This type of argument may be commonplace for blue collar families that struggle to make ends meet, however, there is another layer of intersectionality when it comes to the inequality of workplace opportunities here. Deaf people and the community around the world often face audism, behaviors, or attitudes that illustrate negative stigma or discrimination toward anyone who does not hear. American society and many others around the world value how much a human can "produce." And disabled people are seen as undesirable or challenging to work with, so more often than not, opportunities and resources are given to able-bodied people. In 2019, the National Deaf Center reported that Deaf people face many disparities when it comes to employment in comparison to hearing people. Hearing individuals are more likely to have full time jobs, higher employment rates, and typically, higher earnings than Deaf people. And when one looks at the intersections of race, gender, age, and other disabilities in addition to deafness, there are even larger disparities. Check out this video to see more about the study released by the National Deaf Center in 2016: Can't Afford School...This awareness of not being able to afford college is reality for many Codas worldwide. Whether it is just a feeling or awareness of reality, it is an overlapping financial outcome that occurs due to the disparities in employment for Deaf people. This is not me asking for pity for Ruby or the Rossi family. It is simply a reality that many Codas face, feel, and/or accept. Some of us, such as myself, take out loans for hopes that we can pay them back someday. However, other Codas have expressed to me that it is not financially feasible to take on the risk of loans or in many cases, financial aid is not available to Codas worldwide. The Origin of CODA & the Millie Brother Scholarship When Ruby's choir teacher, Mr. Bernardo Villalobos said, "They have scholarships!" I grinned from ear to ear. While it made me smile, it also made me realize that there are two MAJOR things that the CODA film missed the boat on!
First, when you think of CODA, please know that this term was not coined by Sian Heder, the Director and screenplay author of this new release. I share with you the name of a legend in the Coda community... Millie Brother, a Coda who established an organization for Codas worldwide known as CODA International in 1983. In her first newsletter (*please see correction below) to the members of CODA International, Millie Brother coined the term CODA = "Children of Deaf Adults” referring to hearing offspring of Deaf parent(s). I believe that Sian Heder missed a huge opportunity with this film by not sharing the origins of CODA or at least sharing CODA International's website at the end of the film with its audience. Many Codas even today are still learning about the term "CODA," and that they are not the only one with this unique identity and experience in the world. Lastly, the other issue that I believe the film missed the boat on is sharing with the audience that there are INDEED scholarships for Codas! This is known as the Millie Brother scholarship and it is one of the main reasons, we gather as a Coda community as often as we can to raise funding for the Millie Brother scholarship. If the new release CODA made any impact on you....I ask that you consider donating to CODA International here. Attending a CODA International conference was absolutely life changing for me, and I know that CODA International has touched and inspired the lives of many Codas worldwide. When considering causes to support this year, this scholarship fund and organization is worthy of your consideration. For parents of K/Codas, there are also other resources that I would like to share with you: www.kodaheart.org Koda camps A Blog for Parents and Teachers of Codas If you've made it this far, thank you for your interest in my BLOG and for taking a moment to consider an authentic perspective of what it means to be a Coda! I wish I had more time to write about the rest of my "A to Z" thoughts about the new CODA film. I have an amazing opportunity this week to be involved with facilitating a virtual conference for Codas seeking to become professional interpreters in the U.S. I may return to writing next week, SEE SEE (ASL phrase meaning, this has yet to be determined). So grateful for life, so grateful to be a Coda, last, but never least, I'm so grateful for my Coda & Deaf family and community who have inspired me. I hope this BLOG inspires you to reflect, to question, to get involved, to seek out authenticity, and to take action toward collective access and liberation! Viva La Resistance! Taking steps toward liberation, one step at a time... I'd love to hear your thoughts in response to my part 1, part 2, or part 3 of my review of CODA (the film that is, wink wink)... *In my initial article, I stated that it was in a thesis in the early 1980s that Mille Brother coined CODA. This was an error on my part. It was in her first newsletter to the members of CODA International, Millie Brother coined the term CODA = "Children of Deaf Adults” referring to hearing offspring of Deaf parent(s). Click here to see the origins of CODA and CODA International. Much love and Coda hugs! ~ Rose Clifford
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Film Review, Perceptions of Codas, & ResearchIn my initial review of CODA (the recently released film), I shared some of my background and discussed various scenes, lines, and themes that resonated with me. In this review, I share supplemental observations and thoughts as they pertain to the film. As far as my background, another lens that I would like to offer here regarding the film are some parallels with my research. In 2019 (Voss), I conducted an ethnographic study of Perceptions of Codas in leadership positions within the Deaf community", where I gathered perceptions of two groups: Deaf individuals and Coda individuals. While Ruby, the main character, portraying a Coda in the film, isn't necessarily a "leader in the Deaf community," there are themes in the film that I find that align with some common perceptions of Codas found in my study. My study revealed some negative perceptions of Codas, which were divided into 4 themes: Dismissive, egotistical, entitled, & paternalistic (somewhat defined later in this review). However, it's not all negative! Throughout my study, I found there were actually MORE positive perceptions of Codas than negative ones! The positive perceptions of Codas were also divided into 4 categories: "Collaborative Coda," the "communication facilitator," "DEAF-HEART", and "promoter." Thank you for joining me in this second part of my review! Let's take a look at how Ruby's behaviors and choices illustrate some of these common perceptions... Egotistical PaternalismAt first glance, it appears Ruby is simply trying to prevent her brother and family from getting ripped off. This is almost inevitable as a child language broker who has learned to navigate and resist the oppression toward her Deaf family her entire life. Her circumstances have led her to believe that she has the privilege of hearing things that her family cannot hear and to "fill in the gaps" as a communication facilitator or protect and shield them from stigma or common misunderstandings about Deaf culture and sign language. However, as you can see from Leo's reaction (Ruby's brother), he's furious with her for not providing him the space to exercise his authority, autonomy, and agency. Ruby's behaviors illustrate that she believes that she has no choice but to step in and fix things. Throughout the film, Leo exhibits disdain and frustration with the family's reliance on Ruby and how Ruby chooses to assert herself into nearly every situation. In my research, Codas and Deaf individuals described how there are instances where they have very similar experiences, where Codas have exhibited an egotistical attitude or behaviors of being "all knowing." Paternalistic behaviors or attitudes were described as having to take care of Deaf people, fostering reliance as opposed to independence, often resulting in taking over, or controlling a situation. While Ruby is attempting to be a communication facilitator, she is also illustrating some egotistical paternalism as well. What am I really saying here? I'm saying that Deaf people, just like Leo asserted, can take care of themselves! They don't need Codas to take care of them or fight their battles unless they ask us to, then we are working side by side to collaborate with them. Table Syndrome, Loneliness, & InclusionWhen Leo goes to the bar, he tells his father that he doesn't need Ruby to go with him because he can handle himself. All the guys in the bar carry on and talk as if basically as if Leo doesn't exist. They could have opted in to acknowledge his presence and include him in their conversations by gesturing, writing, or using their cell devices to type out notes. But they didn't... they excluded him. This exclusion, also known as Table Syndrome, which often occurs when Deaf people are perpetually left out of conversations. The moment I saw Leo holding his beer, watching people talk all around him, being utterly left out of the conversation, it reminded me of my father. He often experienced this growing up in a hearing family that was told, "do not sign with him, he has to learn how to read lips!" This was legitimately a doctor's words to my grandmother's ears. And as a new mother in 1945, who was she to question the doctor; she assumed he was the expert. This meant a lot of lonely days for my father, often feeling isolated, even when surrounded by people at the table, attempting to grasp conversations being exchanged, coping through avoidance, reading, or even getting angry when being told, "I'll tell you later." Gertie, Ruby's friend, and Leo's romantic interest (turned girlfriend) shows a different approach. Yes, besides the fact that she had a romantic interest in Leo, she took genuine interest in trying to communicate directly with him. She used whatever method she could, such as gesturing, smiling, and using their cell devices to acknowledge his presence and communicate. Inclusion begins with recognition of each other's humanity. However, recognition and genuine interest are only the beginning... True inclusion requires action. InclusionInclusion is defined by Google's dictionary as:
"The practice or policy of providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized, such as those who have physical or mental disabilities and members of other minority groups." Don't get me started on the scene where the on-boat observer calls the coast guard. If this had been reality, I would have been livid! I would have been in her face to discuss discrimination, reasonable accommodations according to the ADA, and some choice swear words for what she did! In my opinion, she displayed outright audism! However, beyond that scene, I want to pose a question for all of us.. Consider the questions and the statements shared in the above scenes... Frank Rossi asks, "Who's going to support us?" Followed by an ironic reminder that they're the Deaf guys and that the community they live in, comprised by a majority of hearing people, see them as a joke. Later in the film, when the Rossi family is entertaining the idea of starting their own business, Marlee Matlin's character, Jackie expresses, "Those hearing bitches want nothing to do with me." Whether you are hearing, a Coda, or Deaf, in what ways do you seek to provide access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized? Clearly, the Rossi family needed allies to make their business work! They needed local fisherman, they needed their community to step-up and buy from them, they needed the local TV station, and so on. How are you taking action to actually support the Deaf members of your community and their children? Throughout the scenes illustrated above, Frank, Leo, and Jackie Rossi, as the Deaf members of the community share that they don't have much faith in their hearing community members. Even Ruby illustrates some dismissive behaviors during the TV interview. In my study, dismissive behaviors of Codas were "neglectful of other's needs or input." However, in regards to Ruby, I pose a question... In the TV interview, is she being included or excluded? When hearing people rely on Codas to broker conversations, it is my opinion that this type of "inclusion" of Codas is superficial. Susan O'Reilly, a Deaf mother, from the Irish documentary Mother, Father, Deaf (2019), states, "Hearing people often wouldn't look at us as his parents...they would look at Shayne (son) or daughter...because it's easier to communicate with them. I was willing to write with them (hearing people), but they wouldn't even make eye contact with me.... Just look to the children." Shayne, Susan's son (a Coda), shares in this documentary that hearing people would often talk about his parents right in front of his parents without directly acknowledging them, where he watched them "being robbed of their authority, their integrity, and dignity." He also shares how as a child language broker, he felt that he had a part or played a role of taking away his parents' authority, integrity, and dignity. Being a child language broker (CLB) has benefits, it also has downsides. When hearing people rely on K/Codas to broker/interpret conversations, there is often a high risk of further marginalization for Deaf parents and their K/Coda children. The practice of providing access and equal opportunities requires action. Action to communicate with Deaf people and K/Codas directly! Actively seek their input regarding access, equal opportunities, and resources. Bring Deaf people and Codas to your tables at home, to your board meetings, to councils, town halls, and provide access by being willing to provide interpreters, so that K/Codas can actually participate with their families! So that's part two of my review of the newly released CODA film. However, I still have MORE thoughts to share, so if you're interested.... Keep an eye out for part 3 of my CODA film review! You can click on the subscribe button (under categories on the right column off the website), so that you are notified when the next article is released! Thank you for joining me as I explore identity, intersectionality, inequalities, and inclusion! AppleTV+ introduces CODA... |
| | "Socially Challenged" |
Politeness & Loud Music | My whole ass is vibrating! |
Codas = Negotiators | Codas ≠ Interpreters |
All people get frustrated...
This is a universal theme, at least from my experience, regardless of intersectionality, identity...we all have moments where we become frustrated and vent. One question that I often would get asked by peers who did not understand Deaf culture or my childhood, do your Deaf parents yell? Um, YES! Of course they did and still do! Just like any other parent who might be frustrated with a child or with a situation. Mine just happen to use sign language, and on some occasions their voice. Deaf, Coda, or hearing, we are all human individuals with a full range of emotions.
Have a second? | Interpreters & Vulnerability |
The only way people thought I was cool...
I lost count how many times my peers and my friends asked me how to sign some dirty word or concept. THIS IS a common theme among Codas and it is one that I still have to put up with from time to time. When people not affiliated with the Deaf community find out that my parents are Deaf, the first reaction is often pity. First off, no need for pity! I, like many other Codas, are DAMN proud of having Deaf parents...they are our family, sign language and Deaf culture are our heritage, and we celebrate the many nuances of being in a home where we navigate both hearing and Deaf culture.
After the initial pity reaction, then people often move on to the stage of curiosity... what did you do when you ran out of toilet paper in the bathroom? What if you broke a bone and screamed out for help? Do you parents drive? (UM, YES, please stop asking this question!). Do your parents read? (YES! Please also stop asking this question!). Okay, you can ask those questions... but honestly, they just make you seem completely clueless about Deaf people!
Once the initial questioning and answer session was nearly over, then my friends or peers would say, "Wait! How do you sign #&*$&^?" [insert any swear word or sexual concepts here]. And like, Ruby, I would resist, but finally I would give in because I knew that if I did, they would think I was cool and a little less socially awkward!
 My mother and I during her first Washington ferry ride last month (July 2021). | More to come! |
Purpose
This page is dedicated to sharing experiences and reclaiming what it means to be a hearing person with at least one Deaf parent, where a fishbowl approach is used to create a safe space.
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