to be shocked and upset to see the term "midget" used in reference to one of the alleged new BB housemates

[emkana]

The woman the media are talking about didn't actually go in tonight, but in all the papers, even the bl*dy Independent, they call her a "midget belly dancer".

My ds has dwarfism and it makes me feel very to think that he will come across terminology like this...

[emkana]

Just me then.

I've written a letter to the Independent.

[Desiderata]

I'm sorry it's upset you, em. I guess that, unless you have some experience, it's just a term that's been used for an awful long time.

I'm not sure, tbh, that the media would have been so insensitive if the person in question was not a willing contestant on Big Brother.

Out of interest, how do you describe your son's condition ... or how would you like it to be described, if at all?

[zippitippitoes]

that programme is so crass i dont know why they put it on

and it is so hard to avoid

i dont watch tv or read crappy papers or any papers much and yet it still infiltrates

[emkana]

Well to be really technical ds has a undiagnosed skeletal dysplasia.

Or you could say he has dwarfism.

A person of short stature.

[Desiderata]

I agree. The programme is a Big Problem.

[wannaBe]

big brother appeals to the lowest common denominator. Sadly the people who go in are thickoes as are the people who watch it. Ghastly, ghastly programme.

As an aside, did you watch beyond boundaries on bbc2 over past few weeks? they had a girl on there with econdroplasia who did remarkably well.

[emkana]

Yes I watched it and found it very cheering.

I don't expect anything from the makers of BB or certain parts of the media, but the Independent???

[Desiderata]

I have little doubt that he will become a person of huge stature.

I guess your comfortable with the term dwarfism, but I'm also guessing that you would feel uncomfortable with dwarf.

When you describe his condition ... when you have to describe it .. what's your choice? What are you most comfortable with?

[Desiderata]

!!

[DirtySexyMummy]

Midget is not a derogatory word for a small person, surely?

I would never have thought it was offensive.

[zippitippitoes]

well journos just regurgitate stuff from press releases and the internet dont they

[DirtySexyMummy]

Emkana - I just looked at your profile.. your DS is gorgeous. Those eyes! Beautiful.

[zippitippitoes]

im sure people would like other programmes tho if they had the imagination to create them

[zippitippitoes]

i am guessing that the woman who is going to be on is happy to be picked for her five minutes of fame just like anyone else who goes on it

it doesnt attract people who are actually interesting rather than off the wall celebrity seeking

[emkana]

Thank you for your kind comments.

Here's an explanation from the Little People of America website on why the term "midget" is not acceptable:

"In some circles, a midget is the term used for a proportionate dwarf. However, the term has fallen into disfavor and is considered offensive by most people of short stature. The term dates back to 1865, the height of the "freak show" era, and was generally applied only to short-statured persons who were displayed for public amusement, which is why it is considered so unacceptable today."

[emkana]

Thank you for your kind comments.

Here's an explanation from the Little People of America website on why the term "midget" is not acceptable:

"In some circles, a midget is the term used for a proportionate dwarf. However, the term has fallen into disfavor and is considered offensive by most people of short stature. The term dates back to 1865, the height of the "freak show" era, and was generally applied only to short-statured persons who were displayed for public amusement, which is why it is considered so unacceptable today."

[emkana]

[madamez]

Emkana, I may be wrong on this and I really don't mean to be insulting and upsetting, but I thought that 'dwarf'; and 'midget' are correct terms for two different conditions.
In the case of the woman on BB maybe she refers to herself as a midget, which she is surely entitled to do.

[Desiderata]

My dh has a form of dysplasia. He's had two hip replacements, and his shoulder comes out of joint more times than I've had hot dinners. We say he's dysplastic (I know the end result is very different, but I'm trying to focus on an acceptable term).

Could you say he was dysplastic? Ahh, so unfortunate that you have to say anything at all. He's such a gorgeous boy.

[zippitippitoes]

i can understand why a lot of people would say midget and dwarf because it probably isnt something which a lot of people have learned could be unacceptable

but surely this is where responsible journalism could take a different angle and discuss it

and thus start to educate people who are wanting to know better

[emkana]

madamez, considering I'm only just over two years into this area I'm still kind of new to all this, but my understanding is that "midget" is not acceptable, for the reasons given in my post just below, while "dwarf" has become somewhat acceptable insofar as people of short stature have decided to use the term themselves to feel more empowered.

But really if you were to describe somebody you had seen for example it would be far preferable for you to say "a person of short stature" or "a person with dwarfism".

It's similar to the difference between "a Down child" vs "a child with Down syndrome"

[zippitippitoes]

it is also a strange epithet to use

i hate the shorthand

pick a physical characterisitic to sum up the person

its a bit odd

you wouldnt say the brunette soldier

[emkana]

exactly zippi

desi, possibly, but I think I'd have to explain some more because it's rather complex.

[zippitippitoes]

the whole way of looking at people so that to be on tv you have to have a hook so that people can tell the difference at a glance between twelve people or however many there are is just so lazy