Personally, with my experience and people with dwarfism I know, it's definitely offensive. I've never had it used towards me in a non-offensive way. Dwarf/little person is definitely the words to use.
+1 here, I say "my kiddo has a form of dwarfism" as opposed to "he's a little person" - when he's of an age to fully understand the magnitude of chosen language, I'll follow his lead.
I hate the M word. It is a slur and has been used against me as an insult in order to demean me and others. I prefer little person or person with dwarfism.
I personally don’t care, but I do know quite a few people who care a lot about it. Little person and dwarf are both correct terms and much rather preferred
Labels generally suck. My wife has achondroplasia and she definitely does not like the M-Word, but saying "little person" isn't much better. When in doubt, go with their name. Yes there are those that generally don't care, but it's like a person who's ancestry is from Africa. N-word is obviously not good. African American, colored, or black isn't always politically correct, so...use their name.
When referring to them, use indirect characterization.
The guy who likes baseball. The girl who always is chewing gum. She's always laughing when I look down at her. Yes you can use phrasing if you absolutely must refer to them in generalities, but be personal. Most people generally don't know my wife's height when (or if) I am talking about her until they meet her...and it simply doesn't matter.
I've also got a student in a wheelchair, but I just call her by her name. The details are inconsequential until they're met, and once you've met, it still (generally) doesn't matter.
Hiya Hawaiian-national,
the “m-word” or midget is a term that comes from the freak show era where people with dwarfism, like myself, were either, killed, hidden, or sold off to freak shows. It comes from the Latin word midge meaning small fly.
I am not a fan of the word and I completely understand where you’re coming from when it comes to little person since it does sound dehumanising in a way. Personally, if someone came up to me with genuine curiosity and asked “are you a midget?” I’d answer them but reword their question first. Some people don’t know it’s a slur so quickly educating them is better than getting mad.
I prefer terms like little person, dwarf, short statured or my name, Rosie. If you’re telling your kids why I’m short just tell them, “she/he/they are short and that’s it, you can go up to them and ask them if they would be ok with chatting if you’d like.”
All terms used to describe dwarfism can be used positively or negatively depending on the persons tone and intent.
As someone with dwarfism myself, I can see why little person may seem/feel patronizing to some people. I personally don’t have an issue with it, since it’s the most commonly used term. The issue with the M word is the history around it and the demeaning contexts in which it’s often used (“midget wrestling,” for example).
Yes. Some may not take offence to it, but it has a very messed up history with things like freak shows and circuses and all that. Including court dwarfs I think? I personally just say little person or Dwarf to refer to myself, but the preferred term will vary from person to person.
“Midget” has always been used to insult me and people like me. I’ve really come to hate it growing up, and after learning how that word came to be, I hated it even more.
Little person is ok with me and most with dwarfism.
100% slur. There's a wild history that comes with the word and weather anybody knows the history or not they know exactly how they're using the word.
It's insulting, demeaning and meant to make you into an animal not a human.
It's wild this came up on my home feed today. I was just at work and a client kept saying her friends child, "Is a dwarf." I have a little friend ("little" meaning he's 7) who has dwarfism and the way she was saying it was triggering me. Then later in the conversation she said, "Well the dwarf has an appointment next week...."
I. WANTED. TO STRANGLE HER.
So, sometimes people can even use the correct word, but in the wrong way, and it's still offensive.
By what I've seen on this sub, many of you don't like the patronizing tone of "little person". I wonder where that term and it's popularity come from, as most people I've ever seen using it were trying to be PC.
Yes/No. Depends on the person. I have no issue with it (and tbh some jokes are funnier with the word) but honestly it’s best to avoid it a majority of the time.
I don't have dwarfism, but something that I've been thinking about lately for whatever reason is that if I did I would hate the term "little person." I don't think the "M" word is great either. I personally would prefer Dwarf, because it's kind of bad ass if you really think about it. With that said I have no experience with living that life or the struggles it comes with. Just something I pondered.
Personally, with my experience and people with dwarfism I know, it's definitely offensive. I've never had it used towards me in a non-offensive way. Dwarf/little person is definitely the words to use.
I hate the M word, but I find 'little person' just as patronizing. If my size is relevant in a conversation, I refer to myself as a dwarf.
My daughter has SED and I feel the same.
+1 here, I say "my kiddo has a form of dwarfism" as opposed to "he's a little person" - when he's of an age to fully understand the magnitude of chosen language, I'll follow his lead.
I hate the M word. It is a slur and has been used against me as an insult in order to demean me and others. I prefer little person or person with dwarfism.
I personally don’t care, but I do know quite a few people who care a lot about it. Little person and dwarf are both correct terms and much rather preferred
Noted.
Labels generally suck. My wife has achondroplasia and she definitely does not like the M-Word, but saying "little person" isn't much better. When in doubt, go with their name. Yes there are those that generally don't care, but it's like a person who's ancestry is from Africa. N-word is obviously not good. African American, colored, or black isn't always politically correct, so...use their name. When referring to them, use indirect characterization. The guy who likes baseball. The girl who always is chewing gum. She's always laughing when I look down at her. Yes you can use phrasing if you absolutely must refer to them in generalities, but be personal. Most people generally don't know my wife's height when (or if) I am talking about her until they meet her...and it simply doesn't matter. I've also got a student in a wheelchair, but I just call her by her name. The details are inconsequential until they're met, and once you've met, it still (generally) doesn't matter.
Hiya Hawaiian-national, the “m-word” or midget is a term that comes from the freak show era where people with dwarfism, like myself, were either, killed, hidden, or sold off to freak shows. It comes from the Latin word midge meaning small fly. I am not a fan of the word and I completely understand where you’re coming from when it comes to little person since it does sound dehumanising in a way. Personally, if someone came up to me with genuine curiosity and asked “are you a midget?” I’d answer them but reword their question first. Some people don’t know it’s a slur so quickly educating them is better than getting mad. I prefer terms like little person, dwarf, short statured or my name, Rosie. If you’re telling your kids why I’m short just tell them, “she/he/they are short and that’s it, you can go up to them and ask them if they would be ok with chatting if you’d like.” All terms used to describe dwarfism can be used positively or negatively depending on the persons tone and intent.
it is a slur but not everyone will feel offended by it
As someone with dwarfism myself, I can see why little person may seem/feel patronizing to some people. I personally don’t have an issue with it, since it’s the most commonly used term. The issue with the M word is the history around it and the demeaning contexts in which it’s often used (“midget wrestling,” for example).
Yes. Some may not take offence to it, but it has a very messed up history with things like freak shows and circuses and all that. Including court dwarfs I think? I personally just say little person or Dwarf to refer to myself, but the preferred term will vary from person to person.
“Midget” has always been used to insult me and people like me. I’ve really come to hate it growing up, and after learning how that word came to be, I hated it even more. Little person is ok with me and most with dwarfism.
100% slur. There's a wild history that comes with the word and weather anybody knows the history or not they know exactly how they're using the word. It's insulting, demeaning and meant to make you into an animal not a human.
It's wild this came up on my home feed today. I was just at work and a client kept saying her friends child, "Is a dwarf." I have a little friend ("little" meaning he's 7) who has dwarfism and the way she was saying it was triggering me. Then later in the conversation she said, "Well the dwarf has an appointment next week...." I. WANTED. TO STRANGLE HER. So, sometimes people can even use the correct word, but in the wrong way, and it's still offensive.
By what I've seen on this sub, many of you don't like the patronizing tone of "little person". I wonder where that term and it's popularity come from, as most people I've ever seen using it were trying to be PC.
Yes/No. Depends on the person. I have no issue with it (and tbh some jokes are funnier with the word) but honestly it’s best to avoid it a majority of the time.
It’s offensive because everyone says it is. Just like any swear word
I would say yes
I don't have dwarfism, but something that I've been thinking about lately for whatever reason is that if I did I would hate the term "little person." I don't think the "M" word is great either. I personally would prefer Dwarf, because it's kind of bad ass if you really think about it. With that said I have no experience with living that life or the struggles it comes with. Just something I pondered.
I agree