The medical model of deafness.
The medical model of being deaf.
The pathological model of deafness.
The pathological view of people who are deaf.
The "box over the ear" sign can be thought of as a double set of "blinders" that
create a box around the ear. Blinders (such as those used on horses) result in a
narrowed focus. By forming a box around the ear the box-over-the-ear sign
depicts a narrow focus on the ear.
Or the sign can be thought of as "walls" around the ear -- to the exclusion of
the rest of the person.
The box-over-the-ear sign can be used in context to mean "the medical model of
deafness" which refers to the attitude adopted by many medical professionals
that being deaf is a medical or pathological condition in need of curing.
The word pathological means (among other things) "caused by or involving
disease."(1)
The box-over-the-ear sign can be used to indicate that a person or organization
is overly (or even obsessively) focused on treating or curing hearing loss
rather than adopting a more holistic approach to what it means to be Deaf.
An alternative model of being Deaf is the "Cultural Model" which refers to
approaching being Deaf as a form of ethnicity centered on language and culture.
"Ethnic" here being defined as "the ways of living built up by a group of
people."(2)
The box-over-the-ear sign often shows up in discussions regarding "audism" or "audistic
attitudes." There is however a common sign for audism that consists of
pointing to the ear and then doing the OPPRESSION sign.
Notes:
1."pathological." Random House Unabridged Dictionary. Web. 22 Sep 2019
<http://dictionary.infoplease.com/pathological>.
2. "ethnic." Memidex Dictionary/Thesaurus. Web. 22 Sep 2019 <http://www.memidex.com/ethnic>.
Also see:
audism-[EAR -OPPRESSION] sign
Notes: