DEAF-MUTE FOR A DAY: A Social Experiment Experience

SOCIAL EXPERIMENT IN UP DILIMAN

For our group's social experiment, we chose to pretend to be deaf-mute people, and observe the responses and attitudes of people around U.P. Diliman towards deaf-mutes, and if the facilities and services around the campus are deaf-mute friendly. Dominique and I, pretended to be deaf-mute friends touring the campus. Pauline, made observations and notes during our social experiment. We didn't really master sign language conversations, but we do studied some basic sign language words. Basically, we just enumerated some sign language expressions and words all throughout the social experiment. Amazingly, our conversation skills was convincing.

Behavior of people when they see you using sign language





Before starting the social experiment and also based from my previous experiences, I expected that people around us would be quite intrigued and be staring at us. However, it was quite surprising that only a few stared or glared at us. There was even an encounter with someone who knows how to use sign language (that story was embarrassing hehe). But still, there are some people who are still very intrigued, and see deaf-mute as unusual. Like, the woman in Shopping Center who stared at us while we are having a sign-language conversation. When we asked her after the experiment, she told us that she seldom see people talking in sign language and thought of it as something "not normal". 








Priority given to you by others

We didn't have much interaction with other people, but Dom's experience with ordering food at Area 2 showed how most establishments and personnel are aware of the needs and assistance of deaf-mute people. Menus are posted and the cashier let Dom point-out her order. Jeepneeys in UP Diliman are also PWD friendly, because there are buzzers to push and strings to pull to stop. Unlike other disablities, deaf-mute people are more free to move and do the usual things, but it is good to see establishments and people in UP who are accommodating and kind to them.

Which of your expectations were met?

Before the start of our social experiment, I expect that most people we would encounter will be helpful an would give us assistance. True enough, people were able to help and give a helping hand to us (when Dom ordered  at Area 2, when Dom rode a jeepney and the kuya told Manong Driver that papara na si Dom). I believe more and more people are now aware of the needs and nature of deaf-mute people, and I hope this kind of attitude stems out to more communities outside UP. 

What experiences went to counter to your expectation?

Surprisingly, we didn't really expect that we can encounter someone who knows how to use sign language. We were so embarrassed when that lady tried to have a conversation with us with sign language, but we can't respond. We immediately get down from the jeep. It was a funny experience, but we were also delighted to see that there are people, even though not deaf or mute, who study and know sign language, and mingle with deaf-mute people. That was a super thumbs up!