Nativity portrayal of Dwarves

[ChristmasTreats]

Just been to see this years school play, Snow White. Very good, lots of effort gone into it and the kids all enjoyed themselves.

I was a bit taken aback when the seven dwarves came out though as they paraded round the stage several times walking on their knees.

I'm interested to know whether I am being unreasonable to think in this day and age children should not be encouraged to imitate a disabled group of society.

The original poster wasn't complaining about them being dwarves though, she was asking if it was necessary for them to walk on their knees.

Again, we have comparisons being made to racist offensive language but if I posted is it ok that people mock my daughter's spastic walk (it happens often) you would all (hopefully) say no, it is not ok. Is this the same thing? Is the argument no because they are historically mythical creatures? Or is it yes because people of restricted growth (thanks for that, I didn't know the correct term) May be offended? I don't know as I have no actual experience.

I'm quite interested in hearing people's take on this. My own opinion is to err on the side of caution not shout that it is pc gone mad or there is no such thing as disabilism (casual or otherwise) as that's not true.

A few people have said that it's fine because dwarfs appear in mythology, and the seven dwarves are from this background rather than 7 people with dwarfism.

But surely the reasons there are stories about dwarfs is that there have always been people with dwarfism who historically would have been seen as different an otherworldly?

Soup

I'm not saying people don't know the actual difference between mythical creatures called dwarves and people who have PORG/other suitable terms

I'm saying they use them interchangeably and I think that's disablist.

But surely the reasons there are stories about dwarfs is that there have always been people with dwarfism who historically would have been seen as different an otherworldly?

I can't see that is the case. Goblins, unicorns, trolls, water spirits etc all from legend as are dwarfs.

But surely the reasons there are stories about dwarfs is that there have always been people with dwarfism who historically would have been seen as different an otherworldly?
Tbh I wondered about that too. You only have to look at Victorian travelling circus acts!

But unicorns are real :(

But surely the reasons there are stories about dwarfs is that there have always been people with dwarfism who historically would have been seen as different an otherworldly?

I don't think so; there are other mythical creatures such as brownies, leprechauns, elves, pixies etc. that are also traditionally small in stature. Stories of dwarves date back as far as these other creatures, but people with dwarfism seem to have been referred by that term more recently, perhaps because they are now more likely to survive into adulthood.

I'm so sorry, Puremince

My FIL was in an amateur panto a few years ago and he was one of the dwarves. My FIL is at least 5' 10", as were all the other "dwarves". They did not play it on their knees. The moment when Snow White came on and said "Oh! Little men" brought the house down

What do you expect them to do?

It's better than the Nativity at our kids' primary school one year which featured a Transformer, a Power Ranger and Ariel from the Little Mermaid at the birth of Jesus.

SirChen the step mother was evil and also cross dressed, my brain was doing somersaults.

I'm saying they use them interchangeably and I think that's disablist.

And I don't think that they do at all.

Err, do the dwarves actually need to be shorter than everybody else? It's a kids play not a bit of theatre realism. I can see why it bothered you OP.

I can see why it bothered you too OP.

ITCouldBeWorse But there are lots of occurrences in literature where "dwarves" are mythical creatures, the same as there are goblins, pixies and elves. These dwarves are quite distinct from people with dwarfism. For a start they are usually male, bearded and love gold!

When portrayed on stage I suppose it is not surprising that they are often played by shorter people.

I don't see that the children being on their knees to play these roles is offensive really. They are not making fun of people with dwarfism they are pretending to be a mythical creature who happens to be called a dwarf.