Can hearing people typically become core members of the deaf community?

In the context of Deaf culture, being a core member of the deaf community often implies a shared experience of being deaf, including a deep understanding of the cultural norms and values that come with that identity. The essence of being part of this community is closely tied to the experience of hearing loss or being surrounded by individuals who are deaf.

While hearing individuals can certainly engage with the deaf community—through learning sign language, working with deaf individuals, or having deaf family members—they typically do not experience the same cultural and social nuances that come from living as a deaf person. This distinction often leads to a feeling of exclusion from the core aspects of the community, as the cultural identity of the deaf community is fundamentally based on shared experiences of deafness.

Overall, while inclusivity is a significant aspect of many deaf communities, and hearing individuals can often find meaningful ways to connect and contribute, they are generally not considered core members due to the lack of shared experiential identity.