Ableism vs. Audism — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 9, 2024
Ableism discriminates against people with disabilities, favoring able-bodied individuals. Audism specifically targets the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities, discriminating against them for not hearing or using spoken language.
Difference Between Ableism and Audism
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Ableism is the discrimination against people with disabilities, emphasizing the superiority of able-bodied individuals. Audism, on the other hand, targets individuals based on their hearing ability, treating those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing as inferior.
In ableism, societal norms and structures often prioritize able-bodied individuals, limiting accessibility and opportunities for disabled people. Whereas audism specifically impacts the deaf community by stigmatizing sign language and promoting spoken language as superior.
Ableism can manifest in various forms, from subtle attitudes to outright exclusion. Meanwhile, audism appears in biases like assuming deaf people should learn to lip-read or speak instead of embracing sign language.
Legal frameworks and social policies often ignore the needs of disabled people due to ableism. Audism, conversely, might shape educational and healthcare systems that discourage the use of sign language or limit access to Deaf culture.
Ableism can be ingrained in language, infrastructure, and societal expectations, affecting diverse disabilities. In contrast, audism focuses specifically on diminishing the identity and communication preferences of the deaf and hard-of-hearing.
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Comparison Chart
Scope
All disabilities
Deaf and hard-of-hearing
Discriminatory Attitude
Prioritizes able-bodied people
Prioritizes spoken language
Manifestation
Societal norms, infrastructure
Bias against sign language
Legal Implications
Limited accessibility and support
Education and health biases
Cultural Impact
Neglects diverse disabilities
Diminishes Deaf identity
Compare with Definitions
Ableism
Social structures that favor certain physical or mental conditions.
Ableism often excludes those who require adaptive technologies.
Audism
Discrimination against people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Requiring all employees to answer phone calls shows audism.
Ableism
Attitudes that ignore the potential of people with disabilities.
Ableism assumes individuals with disabilities are less capable.
Audism
The belief that spoken language is inherently superior to sign language.
Policies requiring lip-reading classes reflect audism.
Ableism
Treating people differently based on their abilities.
The ableism in the hiring process left qualified candidates out.
Audism
Beliefs that consider hearing people more competent or capable.
Audism leads to negative assumptions about the deaf community.
Ableism
Systemic biases that create barriers for people with disabilities.
Ableism in education can prevent equal learning opportunities.
Audism
Social prejudice against the use of sign language.
Audism often pressures deaf people to conform to speech norms.
Ableism
Discrimination favoring able-bodied individuals over those with disabilities.
The office's lack of ramps reveals a culture of ableism.
Audism
Cultural norms that dismiss Deaf identity or language.
Audism in education may discourage using American Sign Language.
Ableism
Ableism (; also known as ablism, disablism (British English), anapirophobia, anapirism, and disability discrimination) is discrimination and social prejudice against people with disabilities or who are perceived to be disabled. Ableism characterizes people as defined by their disabilities and inferior to the non-disabled.
Audism
Audism is discrimination against deaf people whether they identify as culturally Deaf or not. Tom L. Humphries coined the term in his doctoral dissertation in 1975, but it did not start to catch on until Harlan Lane used it in his writing.
Ableism
Discrimination or prejudice against people with disabilities, especially physical disabilities.
Audism
The belief that people with hearing are superior to those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Ableism
Discrimination against persons with disabilities or favour of those without. th c.}}
Audism
Discrimination or prejudice against people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Ableism
Discrimination in favor of the able-bodied
Audism
(sociology) The notion that one is superior based on one's ability to hear or behave in the manner of one who hears.
Common Curiosities
What is ableism?
Ableism is discrimination that favors able-bodied people over those with disabilities.
What are common examples of audism?
Requiring deaf people to rely on lip-reading and discouraging the use of sign language.
What is audism?
Audism is prejudice against deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.
How does audism affect the deaf community?
Audism can marginalize deaf people and suppress Deaf culture.
Is ableism systemic or individual?
Ableism can be both systemic (policies, infrastructure) and individual (attitudes).
Is sign language an essential aspect of audism?
Yes, audism often involves bias against sign language and promotes speech.
What are some signs of ableism in media?
Portraying characters with disabilities as less capable or needing "fixing."
How does ableism affect daily life?
Ableism can limit accessibility in infrastructure, job opportunities, and social inclusion.
How can audism be challenged?
By recognizing and valuing sign language and Deaf culture.
Can people be unaware of their ableist behavior?
Yes, ableism can be implicit, rooted in societal norms.
Can someone experience both ableism and audism?
Yes, a deaf or hard-of-hearing person with additional disabilities can face both.
How can workplaces prevent ableism?
By implementing accessible infrastructure and inclusive policies.
What is the difference between ableism and audism?
Ableism broadly targets disabilities, while audism specifically focuses on deafness.
How does audism impact education?
Audism can lead to education systems prioritizing speech over sign language.
How do accessibility laws address ableism?
They aim to create environments and policies that provide equal opportunities.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
