#dwarfism 101

[a-little-revolution]

Have you ever made any posts about short-trunk dwarfism?

I have a friend at my therapy center with Morqiuo syndrome and I wanted to know more about things like how they fit her wheelchair because it looks so much more different then mine but she has ID like me and she didn't really know and I like how you explain things it makes sense

Hello and welcome!! On this blog I speak on dwarfism culture, history, sexuality, representation, the works! But when it comes to specific types of dwarfism, I speak from a perspective of Achondroplasia as that is the type that I have. I am familiar with growth disorders such as Morquio syndrome that result in a shortness of stature, growth abnormalities, spine issues, etc. but have not spoken on them specifically as of yet!

There are many universal experiences that bridge the 500+ types of dwarfism including abnormal bone growth, shortness of stature, arthritis and joint pain, club foot and leg bowing, spine issues, breathing conditions, access issues, the use of mobility aids, and so many more - but for more information on other forms of dwarfism outside of Achondroplasia, here are some resources!

For 101: Little People of America's "Dwarfism Types" including "Morquio Syndrome" (2018)

More 101: Aubrey Smalls (who has Diastrophic Dysplasia)'s video "Exploring Different Types of Dwarfism" (2024)

Some other educators with dwarfism other than Achondroplasia that i would personally recommend are: Best selling author and content creator Casidy Huff (she/her) who has Conradi-Hünermann syndrome and Aubrey Smalls (he/him) of Dwarfism History of course with Diastrophic Dysplasia.

[a-little-revolution]

If someone was staring at you but then came up to you and was like ‘sorry I just love your hair/aesthetic you look dope’, would that be okay? I know this is a weird question but I’m also disabled and have a tendancy to stare when I think people look really cool. I try super hard not to but usually I find if I run up to the person and go ‘hey sorry you’re super cool ignore my staring’ they take it okay but I have no idea if that would be rude still to someone w very visible disabilities.

Sorry again I know this is probably weird and feel free to ignore, and I hope you’re having a good spoons day whenever you see this!

Hello! No I don't think it's a weird question at all! In fact, I would much rather people do that - I would much rather people make that distinction. I imagine people stare at me for many reasons, mostly for my height, mobility aids, and weight, but I also have burgundy hair, tattoos, and a wicked sense of style lol - so I'm very happy when folks compliment that specifically.

For me, it is also okay to break the ice if you Are staring because of my disability lol I'm fine with saying hi and answering the occasional (appropriate) question. I think I've said it here before, but if you're not sure if the person you're interacting with is open to questions about their disability, gender, race, etc. start with an opening question! A simple"Can I ask you about your disability?" before lunging into questions that could come across as invasive gives the power back to the respondent.

Elliot (they/them)

[a-little-revolution]

Do you know if the word "dwarf" originally referred to actual little people or if it originally referred to fairytale dwarves? My assumption is that the legend and the real people evolved alongside eachother and were the same thing in most peoples eyes. I would guess that people saw little people, came up with the fairytale dwarf legend based on their preconcieved notions of them, and then that "dwarfism" as a medical term was coined later. But, I don't actually know.

Hello! The term "dwarf" stems from the old English "dweorg", describing the small/short statured beings of Germanic folklore. I couldn't find from my research whether the mythology predated the people - but rather than evolving alongside each other, I would say that the mythology set the stage for the treatment and early interpretation of real little people. Since many cultures had their own depictions of various small magical beings, a variety of views impacted our treatment.

Aubrey Smalls does a great "The History of Dwarfism" here:

[a-little-revolution]

How do you feel about people using "little" or "the littles" to refer to kids? Been hearing it used more frequently in this way recently. Do you think it contributes to infantilization of Little People?

Hello! I have no issue with people using little ones, the littles, etc. - I don't think the Little people/dwarfism community has any claim over the word "little" since it is an everyday adjective.

I have however had people call me a "little fellow" or "little guy" in an age regressed, mocking sort of way that I do not appreciate.

Additionally, what I do Not appreciate is people using "munchkin" for their children since the word holds a lot of weight re: racism, ableism, colonialism.

[a-little-revolution]

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A post shared by Cassidy Huff (@cass_huff)

Cassidy Huff's (she/her) video "The Word Midget Is a Slur"

Video description: Cassidy is a white woman with long blond hair and dwarfism. The video is a montage of her traveling in public using her wheelchair, black lab service dog, and standing with her prosthetic that adds a second foot below her forshortened right leg. She wears glasses and we see her in multiple outfits including a tshirt and jean and full glam with a dark blue full length dress. She says:

"The M-Word is a slur, here's why! I know a lot of us have heard the word as an insult to someone of shorter stature. However, using this term is actually ableist. The origin of the word is "midge" which is a small fly. The term "midget" was coined in the year 1865 and it was being popularized because people with dwarfism were being sold and forced to perform in freakshows and circuses. Usually they were sold by their family members and were forced to work in very poor conditions for little or no pay at all. This word has been considered a slur since at least the 1990s. And the most preferred term for a person with dwarfism is either "little person" or "little people".

A lot of peopld argue that when they're using this word they are not using it in a derogatory way. They are usually referencing their friend or family member who is of shorter stature, and sometimes not even a little person. But I'm here to tell you that even if you are using this term in the way it was originally intended, by using this word at all you are still playing into the negative history and connotations behind it. And before all you non-disabled people come at me in the comments, I don't care if you think this is stupid - if you don't have dwarfism your opinion doesn't matter on this issue. Don't be ableist!"

[a-little-revolution]

Hello! i was wondering- what kind of things one should avoid doing when interacting with little people? and what things would be kind to do? other than being polite like one would be with anyone else, and not touching someone without permission, of course. As an example: a handshake, should the squeeze be lighter than usual? i assume since the hands are smaller, they might be more sensitive? or is that incorrect? Another example, would it be polite or rude to offer to sit down somewhere, so the other person and i can be at eye level? or is that not particularly important? I'm worried about being rude or hurting someone by accident. sorry for any confusion, english isn't my first language.

Hello! I may have discussed etiquette like this before, so do please check out my faq tag and dwarfism 101 tag, but I'm happy to revisit!

Handshakes with little people can certainly be impacted by the small hand size, but for the most part it is the same and their hands are not more sensitive. (Unless of course they have arthritis, or an additional condition that would effect that)

Taking a seat is indeed a great way to be eye level with someone of short stature. Most little people find it rude when tall folks choose to bend over, squat, or take a knee when talking to us. (It is of course still up to personal preference) I do not mind simply looking up to speak to people when standing, it is very normal for me, but for longer conversations it can be tiring on my neck, so sitting together is a great solution.

When in doubt, don't be afraid to ask questions on an individual basis. It's great to lead with "Can I ask you some questions about your disability?", "I want to make sure you are comfortable, what can I do to ensure that?", etc. Hope this helps!

[a-little-revolution]

Do you know of any resources where I may be able to find visual references of people with proportionate dwarfism, particularly of the pituitary variety? I keep mainly finding medical diagrams of children while trying to search myself, which is a bit frustrating while trying to figure out how to accurately draw a character who is not only an adult but, yknow, a person..?

Hello! For any unaware, while most types of dwarfism are disproportionate (such as with Achrondroplasia - where some parts of the body like the arms and legs are short, while the trunk is average sized), proportionate dwarfism is usually caused by a growth hormone deficiency and is either a primordial dwarfism or seckel syndrome. See my previous post on types of dwarfism for more info!

So indeed it is hard to find good references for primordial dwarfism, particularly in adults, but I did find Shauna Rae!

Image Description: Shauna Rae, star of TV 14's "I am Shauna Rae" sits on a blue plush chair during an interview. Her small frame takes up only a third of the chair, and legs are just the length of it. She is white, with wavy brown hair and blue eyes. She wears a pink long sleeve shirt, blue jeans, and brown lace up boots. Her frame is small but proportionate, skinny, and her height is 3 foot 10.

Image Description: Here Shauna Rae sits next to a statue of young girl wearing a dress and holding a present in her lap. Shauna sits with her legs crossed and her hands on her lap, looking to her left into the distance as the statue is. She is the same size and height of the child statue at age 25. She wears black leggings with horizontal slits up them, with an oversized grey t shirt with similar slits on the chest. She wears golden flip flops and a turquoise anklet. Her hair is dirty blonde and shoulder length.

I cannot speak to her as an individual, but she does have an instagram account that could be helpful for photo references. Hope this helps!

[a-little-revolution]

great fashion! /pos

why is midget considered a slur? /genq

Hello, the m slur is an outdated, discriminatory term to describe someone with dwarfism and is considered a slur by the bulk of the community. The word was popularized by P.T. Barnum, describing the little people he exhibited in his freak shows/circuses; it a word rooted in slavery and abuse, not dissimilar to the f word or n word.

Like all slurs, reclamation can happen case-by-case, but for the most part the m slur is highly offensive to the LP community.

P.s. Thank you!!