Why is "midget" an offensive term to little people?
by 
Aristocles
ANSWERS: 7
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It never used to be. As time goes by, little people, just like everyone else, keep hearing it over and over, and decide they don't like it anymore, so they come up with a new word, in which catches on, and is spread through without. It is okay, everyone is that way.
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I could go back to the circus sideshow term that was used for little people.It showed them as some sort of oddity. Now that sideshows are passe the term is outdated as well.
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"little people" is more offensive
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Wouldn't short people be more offensive like when used in this instance: http://www.randynewman.com/tocdiscography/disc_little_criminals/lyricslittlecriminals
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I don't know why certain words have a stronger negative connotation than others. Slim, slender, and skinny all mean the same thing - which one has the negative connotation? Swine and pork? You get the idea.
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The origin of the word midget is "little fly". Same for the word dwarf. I'm curious who coined "little people". But, it does sum things up. Billy Barty corrected Goldie Hawn in the 70s film "Foul Play" when she called him a dwarf. Verne Shroyer (Mini Me) said midget was sideshow term. It is unfair to call someone that if they're not in a sideshow. "Gidget" was a nickname given to the fictional character because she was a short girl or a girl midget.
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I think the term "little people" is actually more patronising than midget or dwarf, were I not a strapping 5"7', I would rather not be called a "little person", it makes you sound like a child, at least midget and dwarf have the mental image "small adult" attached to them. Personally, I do not associate either word with sideshows. Obviously I have never experienced height prejudice, so have little idea of the difficulties experienced by people of diminutive stature, but surely there is a less demeaning term? Feel free to correct me!
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