For the following vocabulary I used Alcorn and Humphrey's, So You Want to be an Interpreter, as a reference. The definitions chosen cover a wide variety of topics, and are not necessarily in alphabetical order but more in category based order.
Audism: an attitude based on pathological thinking, which results in a negative stigma toward anyone who does not hear; like racism or sexism. Audism judges, labels, and limits individuals on the basis of whether a person hears and speaks.
Ethnocentric: an attitude that one's own race or Culture is superior to all others.
Myth of the Misguided Child: a belief by members of a majority group that individuals in the minority group don't know what is best for them and thus require "guidance" by the majority group. (This is just as it says - a MYTH - deaf individuals are perfectly capable of making their own decisions and leading a productive life just as anyone else).
Need for Approval from Marginalized Group Members: the expectations and need for some expression of appreciation and gratitude by the majority group from the minority group. Failure to receive approval often results in a sense of victimization. What this means is that for years the deaf have been oppressed and told repeatedly they must learn to function in a hearing world, thus when not accepted or treated respectfully they can feel this sense of victimization.
Negative View of the Oppressed Group: the phenomena of stigmatization of members of the minority group by members of the majority group because they do not measure up to standards established by the majority. The stigmatized group is marginalized - systematically shut out of opportunities that lead to inclusion and equality.
Oppression: unjust or excessive exercise of power or position; most people do not consciously or deliberately hurt malign, or oppress others; the people we describe are benefactors, doing what is "best" for those "poor unfortunates" they encounter.
Pathological view of d/Deaf people: For years, Deaf individuals were viewed as disabled, imperfect human beings. When we view others as disabled, rather than different, we take on a pathological view of that group. This pathological view of d/Deaf people is reflected in the stereotypical labels assigned to d/Deaf in professional literature through the years.
Paternalism and Possessive Consciousness: a care-taker attitude by members of the dominant group toward members of the oppressed based on the assumption that they are unable to make appropriate decisions and need to be taken care of group. Again, do not have this attitude, not all deaf people are mentally retarded or have brain damage or have a psychiatric disability where they might need some guidance, the only difference is they cannot hear.
Reciprocity of Perspectives: an assumption that the experiences and values of another group are identical to your own; thus if they traded places, members of the second group would come to view the world like them and develop concomitant values. Based on a failure to appreciate the degree of difference between each cultures world view and the uniqueness of the experiences and values of each group.
