The deaf ecosystem. Socio-anthropological approach

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to project and visualize the world of deafness or silence from a socio-anthropological perspective. Before beginning, I present a brief definition of what a Deaf community represents. Cedillo (2012), defines it as; one that is made up of a socio-cultural linguistic minority whose cohesion factor is sign language. Understanding this as a consolidated community with its own identity and worldview of the world, which coexists simultaneously within a majority hearing community, in which they fight for their social, cultural, linguistic and educational recognition. The article points out that the majority of Deaf communities in the world are very organized; they form associations with their own headquarters where their members meet, speak in their sign language, organize and exchange ideas and ways to solve the problems that affect their community. They have Deaf leaders, who represent them and guide them in the process of the struggle, to enforce their rights for a better quality of life.