The word "midget"

[DizBelle]

I understand that "midget" is no longer acceptable to refer to little people. But it used to be didn't it? Why is not longer acceptable? Is the same thing going to happen to "little people"?

Are there any little people on the DIS that could enlighten and educate us?

 

[gwynne]

I understand that "midget" is no longer acceptable to refer to little people. But it used to be didn't it? Why is not longer acceptable? Is the same thing going to happen to "little people"?

Are there any little people on the DIS that could enlighten and educate us?

From the Little People of America website. They have a whole page of info for you in their article:
LPA issues statement to abolish the "m" word
http://www.lpaonline.org/the-m-word

 

[pryncess527]

I understand that "midget" is no longer acceptable to refer to little people. But it used to be didn't it? Why is not longer acceptable? Is the same thing going to happen to "little people"?

I can't speak to this word specifically, but in general there tends to be a lot of evolution in language. How we have referred to people with mental handicaps has changed a lot over the years -- some words that fell out of favor resurfaced later no longer having any connotation to the disabled -- like imbecile.

Things tend to fall out of favor not because of a problem with the definition, but because usage becomes pervasively used in a negative or demeaning way leading others to seek out alternate words which grow in popularity. "midget" in particular, in my mind, is so often associated with performers, circuses, and demeaning wrestling events and so I'd choose to use a different word if I had to refer to a "little person" for a specific reason, to avoid having my listener conjure images of midget circus peformers.

 

[Klayfish]

As a serious answer, I agree completely with pryncess527, very well said.

More tongue in cheek...the next person who calls me bald will get an earful. I'm follicle challenged.

 

[leebee]

I think "midget" is basically a slang word for dwarfs/little people, originally used in association with "show" events such as circuses or wrestling. I understand not wanting to be identified via derogatory terms!

 

[cornflkgrl]

I think the best way to refer to anyone is by their name...unless they ask you to call them something else.

 

[pryncess527]

I think the best way to refer to anyone is by their name...unless they ask you to call them something else.

I agree!
I had a college professor who would always ask us to consider, "Is this a distinction of relevance to the matter at hand" -- if a persons race, gender, age, or some other distinction is not relevant, then we are better off not muddying the conversation by including it.

Unless I'm discussing a medical condition, in most cases it's probably not necessary for me to use the word midget, or dwarf, or even "little person"

 

[Magpie]

I think the best way to refer to anyone is by their name...unless they ask you to call them something else.

But if you don't know their name, and you want to point them out to someone else, you do have to have something to fall back on.

My son, 14 at the time, was stopped by a police officer. The officer began asking him his name, where he had come from, where was he going, etc... Then, a moment later, another police officer pulled up in a squad car and leaned out the window, saying, "Not that kid, THAT kid!" and pointed down the road at another boy.

Both boys were young teens. Both were tall. Both had curly dark hair and neither was wearing a jacket on that cold winter's night. However, there was one critical difference between them - my son is white and the other kid was black. Whomever had called the police had very politely refrained from mentioning the ethnicity of the young man, even though, in our town, "black" is something that sets you apart from 98 percent of the rest of the population (I looked up the demographics!). They probably felt it'd be rude to mention race.

With regards to the OP, "Little person" or "dwarf" works just fine. Though, I only use "dwarf" to describe people who are actually dwarves - ie, shortened limbs, average size torso and head (ie, the spectacular Peter Dinklage ). If I'm not sure, "little person" is the fall back descriptor. "Midget" has far too many negative connotations to use these days, although I've always rather liked the phrase "mental midget" as applied to certain politicians who will not be named here.

 

[gwynne]

I agree!
I had a college professor who would always ask us to consider, "Is this a distinction of relevance to the matter at hand" -- if a persons race, gender, age, or some other distinction is not relevant, then we are better off not muddying the conversation by including it.

Unless I'm discussing a medical condition, in most cases it's probably not necessary for me to use the word midget, or dwarf, or even "little person"

Wise words.

 

[lizabu]

I think if someone says that they find the title insulting or offensive or if they say they don't like it that should be good enough. I remember when I was a kid hearing adults say "Oriental" or "Colored" when describing a person of a certain race. But language evolves and we've come to find that there are words that are better and more accurate and don't make the person being described feel bad. And I think we should honor that because I know I wouldn't want someone to describe me with a word that makes me feel bad so I wouldn't want to do that to anyone else.

 

[pryncess527]

I think if someone says that they find the title insulting or offensive or if they say they don't like it that should be good enough. I remember when I was a kid hearing adults say "Oriental" or "Colored" when describing a person of a certain race. But language evolves and we've come to find that there are words that are better and more accurate and don't make the person being described feel bad. And I think we should honor that because I know I wouldn't want someone to describe me with a word that makes me feel bad so I wouldn't want to do that to anyone else.

This is what it has always come down to for me. It's not about being "overly PC" or anything like that -- it's just the Golden Rule. I would never want to use a word that I know made someone else feel bad. It doesn't matter if I think they are right or wrong, I can't think of a word I need to say so badly I'd hurt another human beings feelings over it.

I don't cuss in front of my mother for the same reason

 

[Coonhound]

I think if someone says that they find the title insulting or offensive or if they say they don't like it that should be good enough. I remember when I was a kid hearing adults say "Oriental" or "Colored" when describing a person of a certain race. But language evolves and we've come to find that there are words that are better and more accurate and don't make the person being described feel bad. And I think we should honor that because I know I wouldn't want someone to describe me with a word that makes me feel bad so I wouldn't want to do that to anyone else.

I don't think that's quite true, that "we've come to find that there are words that are better and more accurate and don't make the person being described feel bad". Words like idiot or imbecile used to be scientific terms for those with developmental delays and similar problems. They were not derogatory at all, they were the accurate terms- just like the word ******** was once the medical term, no negative connotation at all.
The problem is not with words- the problem is with people.
People have always made fun of people with these disabilities. There is a reason why the word for people with such disabilities must change every few years/decades.
Whatever word is the scientific or medical terminology for people with these disabilities, in a few years it becomes considered derogatory because people begin to use it as an insult.
When the accepted word changes, it too becomes an insult, then it will change once again...and begin to be used as an insult.
People make fun of those with disabilities, and so they use whatever word is associated with them, as an insult to others.
Every time we change the word, it isn't long before people begin to use the new word as an insult.
The problem isn't with the words. The problem is people always taking the current word and making fun of people with disabilities by using whatever current word is being used to describe them.

 

[lizabu]

I don't think that's quite true, that "we've come to find that there are words that are better and more accurate and don't make the person being described feel bad". Words like idiot or imbecile used to be scientific terms for those with developmental delays and similar problems. They were not derogatory at all, they were the accurate terms- just like the word ******** was once the medical term, no negative connotation at all. The problem is not with words- the problem is with people. People have always made fun of people with these disabilities. There is a reason why the word for people with such disabilities must change every few years/decades. Whatever word is the scientific or medical terminology for people with these disabilities, in a few years it becomes considered derogatory because people begin to use it as an insult. When the accepted word changes, it too becomes an insult, then it will change once again...and begin to be used as an insult. People make fun of those with disabilities and use whatever word is associated with them, as an insult to others. Every time we change the word, it isn't long before people begin to use the new word as an insult.

That makes a lot of sense.

 

[ariel71]

Words matter. I think whomever came up with the "sticks and stones" chant was downright wrong. I'd rather be punched than subjected to slurs or taunts.

If a person or group requests a certain name, especially to counter one that's seen as derogatory, it shouldn't be a big deal. This dig-in-your-heels rail-against-PC attitude that many people have is ludicrous. It costs you nothing but might mean everything. It's unfortunate that more people don't have glue sticks instead of chapstick, right OP?

 

[BunsenH]

Is Munchkin acceptable?

 

[jevs]

Like cornflake girl I agree with you call someone by their name.

As an aside, I've never understood why people persist in using derogatory terms just because it was acceptable 100 years ago.

 

[pryncess527]

People have always made fun of people with these disabilities. There is a reason why the word for people with such disabilities must change every few years/decades.
Whatever word is the scientific or medical terminology for people with these disabilities, in a few years it becomes considered derogatory because people begin to use it as an insult.
When the accepted word changes, it too becomes an insult, then it will change once again...and begin to be used as an insult.
People make fun of those with disabilities, and so they use whatever word is associated with them, as an insult to others.
Every time we change the word, it isn't long before people begin to use the new word as an insult.
The problem isn't with the words. The problem is people always taking the current word and making fun of people with disabilities by using whatever current word is being used to describe them.

I agree with you about how the evolution occurs, but until we can get people to cease being mean, I think it's going to continue. And I'm not sure what choice people who don't want to be mean have other than to accept the evolution of language and acknowledge that the connotation of words changes. I personally do not want to use a word to describe people that has developed a negative connotation, so I try to be respectful and open to learning what words have started to deviate too far from their original intent.

So yeah, people ruin the words, it wasn't the words fault -- but I still don't care about any word enough to knowingly hurt the feelings of a human being

 

[kerry1379]

I like to think most people don't mean to hurt with their words. I think the hard part for many (myself included) is I am not always sure what is the appropriate term is.

 

[JoeA]

I heard "Short People" on the radio yesterday. Can you imagine if he wrote that song today!

"They got grubby little fingers...and dirty little minds..."

 

[L&Lfan]

I will always refer to the Munchkins as the Singer Midgets. That's my favorite part of the film. That and Garland's Over the Rainbow.