Minna: Here is Patrik Nordell from Sweden. I want to ask what “Deafism” means.

Patrik: Deafism is like that other people see me, as I want to be Deaf. Many people don’t understand the “Deaf” word; it is very confusing, either labelled as medical or Deafhood. I give people my defination of “Deaf”. “Deafism” is “a study of deaf” as well a strong belief, just like “Socialism” or “Feminism”, those relates well politically.

It was hearing people who invented “Deaf” and gave us that label. We accepted and accepted for many years. Their clear defination of “Deaf” is “a person who cannot hear”; again, Deaf people accepted that. Now I tell them that I do not accept it and chose a new view, it is more of polities and open view. Each Deaf person have their defination of “Deaf”, I just widen their definations to make it clearer. It is similar with “Audism”, but it is different from “Deafism”. The best label would be “Deafism” because we are actively working on our future. Therefore in other known labels such as “Deaf World” are recognised as “Deafism”.

Minna: Who was the inventor of the “Deafism” word?

Patrik: Well, my friend once told me that hearing people have 5 senses, hear, see; smell etc. and Deaf only have four, therefore accepting the theory as disabled. It is also noted that it is not possible to say Deaf and sign language are good. Those are not good arguments. It got me thinking and I realised that it was from hearing’s view, which is positivism. It is not possible for Deaf people to discuss the 5 senses within the Deaf Community normally. Hearing people did not see us on that topic.

From that, the idea of “Deafism” was born.

Minna: What would you like to say to the Deaf world, to Deaf and youths?

Patrik: It is ideal to follow your feeling; from there you will be able to find out the meaning of “Deafism”. It is not ideal to measure the deafness within Deaf people like “You are hard of hearing, you are Deaf, and you are not” etc. It is helpful to study about Deafism. In fact there are only two terms – Deaf OR hearing.

Minna: Thank you coming for the interview.

Patrik: Thank you for inviting me here.