Little People: "Midget" Just as Bad as a Racial Slur

July 7, 2009

The group Little People of America wants the FCC to ban the word "midget" from television, claiming that the word is just as offensive as a racial slur. The community maintains that "midget" carries a history of objectification of people who have been used as a visual gag because of a physical difference.

An episode of The Celebrity Apprentice, which aired this past Spring, has prompted the latest call for a ban. During the episode, contestants suggested washing "midgets" in All "small and mighty" detergent, and then hanging them out to dry. One contestant said: "They know that people point and laugh at them and they are comfortable within themselves and they have fun right back."

Whenever I see commercials or movies treating little people as props rather than people, I wonder two things. First: does anyone actually find it enjoyable to laugh at people just because they're different? And second: why is it still acceptable to ridicule little people in a so-called "politically correct" society that allegedly discourages degrading people for characteristics or circumstances they cannot control?

Do you support a ban on the word "midget"?

Source: Flickr User Alan Light's

43 Comments

2 years

I feel that Little people should receive the same respect that any other group would want in their own cause. Hearing these little people say that the "M" word makes them as offended as I being called the "N" word has really brought light to my own ignorance. For God's sake if the "M" offends them then by all means it should stop and at least address them by the title that they want and do deserve. It just makes me think that I could have been born vertically challenged(I hope this is correctly stated) and being black to!! My big hope is that little people will get better and more dignified roles in all facets of this like because sometimes I really get pissed(excuse my English) when they're playing these horific parts as someone funny or the like. They may be short in statue but not on intelligence.God bless all little people.

sham28 3 years

Annie875, thanks for offering your experience. I understand that it is important to promote compassion and tolerance, and that de-humanization takes many forms, often in the form of stupid, stupid humor.

chatondeneige 3 years

Bella - I don't like the term "sorostitute," and most sorority girls don't. People still use it. Frat boys HAAAAAAAATE the word "frat," and people still use it. Some servers don't like the terms waiter/waitress, and people still use them. I feel like your reasoning would be great in a Utopian world, but that isn't the world we live in.

POPSUGAR Beauty 3 years

I think "midget" is an inappropriate and often offensive term, and since many little people don't like it, shouldn't that be enough for people to stop using it?

imdamoos 3 years

I don't think you can really make that decision until you've actually been a little person.

staple salad 3 years

I think the most important thing to do in any situation is to be able to laugh at yourself. Everyone has something funny and odd about themselves, and everyone has something teasable... either physically or personality-wise. I've always thought that "midget" was just a branch of abnormal growth... like "dwarf" was one category, "midget" was another. "Midget" being the more fun one to say. And if this has to do with "making fun of people based on physical characteristics" or whatever, then we have to ban jokes about people with glasses from being on TV, or blondes, or burly women, or steriotypical nerds... Aside from hair color (and in most cases, glasses, and in some cases, fatness), these aren't changeable characteristics. And for the record: If I were a "little person" the first thing I'd do is sign up for a career in showbiz. Money, and being able to do some of the most fun jobs in showbiz? Sign me up!

staple salad 3 years

I think the most important thing to do in any situation is to be able to laugh at yourself. Everyone has something funny and odd about themselves, and everyone has something teasable... either physically or personality-wise.I've always thought that "midget" was just a branch of abnormal growth... like "dwarf" was one category, "midget" was another. "Midget" being the more fun one to say.And if this has to do with "making fun of people based on physical characteristics" or whatever, then we have to ban jokes about people with glasses from being on TV, or blondes, or burly women, or steriotypical nerds... Aside from hair color (and in most cases, glasses, and in some cases, fatness), these aren't changeable characteristics.And for the record: If I were a "little person" the first thing I'd do is sign up for a career in showbiz. Money, and being able to do some of the most fun jobs in showbiz? Sign me up!

3 years

"Political correctness is tyranny in disguise. " Wow, CG you're so clever!

3 years

It has been interesting reading all these comments. I happen to be a little person. While I certainly cannot speak for all other little people the majority do find the term midget offensive. Personally I understand that most people do not realize it is offensive so I don't get offended each and everytime I hear the word. It is when people know that they are making fun of someone who is different and just choose not to care. While yes is true that some choose to make a living being ridiculed it isn't something that most want. Little People Big World has done wonders in educating people. I think it is great when now I hear a kid yell out "look there's a little person!" rather than "look there's a midget!" For me even though I find the term "little person" a bit too cutesy, I prefer it because it leaves "person" in there. Dwarf is the correct medical term, but I'd rather be described as a person with dwarfism. Just saying dwarf or midget makes me feel less than human and like another species or something. The reason midget is so offensive is because it dates back to the "freak show" era when little people were displayed in circus sideshows for amusement.

imdamoos 3 years

Weren't those munchkins?

imdamoos 3 years

Weren't those munchkins?

FaerieBlu 3 years

We were all brought up on hearing the word midget when we watched the Wizard of Oz for the first time and our parents said they are all midgets, and we thought how cute. I never knew this was a slur? Little people sounds more of a slur like your putting someone down.

mix tape 3 years

To be honest I never realized that midget was an offensive word. I just thought of it as another slang term. Thanks for bringing this topic up, I would never want to offend anyone. However, banning a word will not stop discrimination if the actions are still continuing on tv.

imdamoos 3 years

There are many different types of dwarfism. Some of them cause disproportionate bodies, and some of them cause very small, proportional bodies. Medically, they're dwarves, but they prefer to be called little people, and they find "midget" offensive.

imdamoos 3 years

There are many different types of dwarfism. Some of them cause disproportionate bodies, and some of them cause very small, proportional bodies.Medically, they're dwarves, but they prefer to be called little people, and they find "midget" offensive.

CaterpillarGirl 3 years

I mean Gidget was a girl-midget because she was short.

xxstardust 3 years

Skigurl brought up what I was thinking - I was under the impression that dwarves and midgets are not necessarily the same. Dwarfism is a condition which can cause disproportionate bodies/limbs and other physical conditions, while midgets are just really sort, but otherwise normally proportioned. Am I wrong in thinking this?

skigurl 3 years

dwarfs and midgets aren't the same thing

sham28 3 years

14, she SPECIFICALLY said "I really don't support the banning of the word," but doesn't like that the little people are dressed up in costumes riding tiny horses to make people laugh at them. If you think the only point at which we should raise an eyebrow is the use of "midget chicken sandwiches," that actually strikes me as more ridiculous. Additionally, changing the channel doesn't change an opinion.

leslievanhouten 3 years

great, another post flagged

leslievanhouten 3 years

great, another post flagged

leslievanhouten 3 years

Political correctness is not tyranny in disguise Political correctness, in its most basic form, just means not being an asshole Are there little people that go on tv to be the butt of jokes and get paid cash? sure. and I will admit, I love watching Weeman on Jackass. But that doesn't mean every single little person out there wants to be the butt of jokes...looked at, laughed at, or picked up and tossed out of the blue (which I have seen happen at bars).

leslievanhouten 3 years

Political correctness is not tyranny in disguisePolitical correctness, in its most basic form, just means not being an assholeAre there little people that go on tv to be the butt of jokes and get paid cash? sure. and I will admit, I love watching Weeman on Jackass. But that doesn't mean every single little person out there wants to be the butt of jokes...looked at, laughed at, or picked up and tossed out of the blue (which I have seen happen at bars).

Smacks83 3 years

"Look, you can ban the word all you want, won't stop people from saying it. I'm short, I get called midget and I'm 5'3" and it doesn't bother me, so why would it bother a little person? " Um, I'm going to guess because you aren't actually a little person so you know it doesn't really apply to you. To me it would be like if someone called an Asian person a "sp*c" (don't know if that word is allowed on these boards) because they were tanned. That Asian person would just be like "What? Whatever" and roll it off because they aren't Hispanic, but call them something that does degrade Asian people and suddenly now it means something (and now they are mad). Just my two cents.

Smacks83 3 years

"Look, you can ban the word all you want, won't stop people from saying it. I'm short, I get called midget and I'm 5'3" and it doesn't bother me, so why would it bother a little person? "Um, I'm going to guess because you aren't actually a little person so you know it doesn't really apply to you. To me it would be like if someone called an Asian person a "sp*c" (don't know if that word is allowed on these boards) because they were tanned. That Asian person would just be like "What? Whatever" and roll it off because they aren't Hispanic, but call them something that does degrade Asian people and suddenly now it means something (and now they are mad).Just my two cents.

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43 Comments