Midget
{{short description|Term for a person of unusually short stature}}
{{About|the term "midget"|other uses}}
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File:Singer's Midgets - carnival poster.jpg toured the US from 1910 to 1935 and were "enormously successful".{{sfn|Adelson|2005|p=295}}]]
Midget (from midge, a tiny biting insect{{OEtymD |midget |accessdate=2008-04-03}}) is a term for a person of unusually short stature that is considered by some to be pejorative due to its etymology.{{cite journal |last=Miller |first=P. S. |year=1987 |title=Coming up short: Employment discrimination against little people |journal=Harv. CR-CLL Rev}}{{harvnb|Adelson|2005}}{{page needed|date=February 2024}}{{cite conference |last1=Gentry |first1=Ruben |last2=Wiggins |first2=Ruby |title=Individuals with Disabilities Are People, First--Intervene and They Will Learn |conference=College of Education and Human Development Urban Education Conference |location=Jackson, Mississippi |date=15–16 November 2010 |url=http://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED522451}}{{cite encyclopedia |encyclopedia=Webster's II New Collegiate Dictionary |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Company |edition=2nd expanded |location=Boston & New York |date=1999 |page=[https://archive.org/details/webstersiinewcol00unse/page/693 693] |title=midget |isbn=0395962145 |quote=1. An extremely small person who is otherwise normally proportioned. |url=https://archive.org/details/webstersiinewcol00unse/page/693}}
While not a medical term like dwarf (for a person with dwarfism, a medical condition with a number of causes, most often achondroplasia), midget long described anyone, or indeed any animal, exhibiting proportionate dwarfism.{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2005/bigenough/special_dwarfism_ety.html |title=What is Dwarfism? |last=Kennedy |first=Dan |date=2005-05-23 |publisher=American Documentary |access-date=2008-10-11}}
The word has a history of association with the performance arts, as little people were often employed by acts in the circus, professional wrestling and vaudeville.
The term may also refer to anything of much smaller than normal size, as a synonym for "miniature" or "mini",{{cite encyclopedia |chapter=midget |encyclopedia=The World Book Dictionary |year=2003 |publisher=World Book |isbn=9780716602996 |page=1315}} such as midget cell, midget crabapple, midget flowerpecker, midget submarine, MG Midget, Daihatsu Midget, and the Midget Mustang airplane; or to anything that regularly uses anything that is smaller than normal (other than a person), such as midget car racing and quarter midget racing.
"Midget" may also refer to a smaller version of play or participation, such as midget golf; or to anything designed for very young (i.e., small) participants—in many cases children—such as Disneyland's Midget Autopia, midget hockey, and midget football.{{cite book|last1=Driver|first1=Bruce|last2=Wharton|first2=Clare|title=The Baffled Parent's Guide to Coaching Youth Hockey|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DfWiQ1bId-8C&pg=PA15|access-date=15 January 2013|date=2004-10-20|publisher=McGraw Hill Professional|isbn=9780071430111|pages=15–}} Some sports organizations, like Hockey Canada, have committed to removing the word, recognizing that it might be considered offensive.
History
File:Charles Sherwood Stratton.png as "General Tom Thumb" circa 1861 (under P.T. Barnum)]]
Merriam-Webster states that the first use of the term "midget" was in 1816.[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/midget Merriam-Webster Dictionary Entry for midget: sometimes offensive: a very small person; specifically: a person of unusually small size who is physically well-proportioned. ] Midgets have always been popular entertainers but were often regarded with disgust and revulsion in society. In the early 19th century, midgets were romanticized by the middle class and regarded with the same affectionate condescension extended to children, as creatures of innocence.{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/withamusementfor00ashb|url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/withamusementfor00ashb/page/597 597]|quote=commodore nutt.|access-date=18 January 2018|last=Ashby|first=LeRoy|date=12 May 2006|title=With Amusement for All: a history of American popular culture since 1830|publisher=University of Kentucky Press|place=Lexington|isbn=9780813123974}} The term "midget" came into prominence in the mid-19th century after Harriet Beecher Stowe used it in her novels Sunny Memories of Foreign Lands and Old Town Folks where she described children and an extremely short man, respectively.{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2005/bigenough/special_dwarfism_ety.html |title=P.O.V. - Big Enough. What is Dwarfism? |access-date=2008-11-18 |last=Kennedy |first=Dan |publisher=Public Broadcasting Service }} P. T. Barnum helped popularize the term "midget" when he began featuring General Tom Thumb, Lavinia Warren and Commodore Nutt in his circus.{{cite book|last=Thomson|first=Rosemarie Garland|title=Freakery: Cultural Spectacles of the Extraordinary Body|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=djPCfSAsHN0C&pg=PA191|access-date=8 December 2012|year=1996|publisher=NYU Press|isbn=9780814782224|pages=191–}} "Midget" became linked to referring to short people put on public display for curiosity and sport. Barnum's midgets reached position of high society, given fantasy military titles, introduced to dignitaries and royalty, and showered with gifts.[http://www.brightbytes.com/collection/tomthumb.html Charles Sherwood Stratton (AKA General Tom Thumb) and His Circle], Jack & Beverly's Images of Special Subjects, December 2005.[http://www.disabilitymuseum.org/dhm/lib/detail.html?id=693&page=all Exhibit: "Sketch Of The Life, Personal Appearance, Character And Manners Of Charles S. Stratton, The Man In Miniature, Known As General Tom Thumb, And His Wife, Lavinia Warren Stratton; Including The History Of Their Courtship And Marriage, With Some Account Of Remarkable Dwarfs, Giants, & Other Human Phenomena, Of Ancient And Modern Times, And Songs Given At Their Public Levees" 1863 pamphlet], Press of Wynkoop & Hallenbeck, New York (Robert Bogdan Collection), The Disability History Museum.
Such performances continued to be widespread through the middle part of the twentieth century, with Hermines Midgets brought from their performances in Paris to appear at the 1939 New York World's Fair,{{cite book|last=Cullen|first=Frank|title=Vaudeville Old & New: An Encyclopedia of Variety Performers in America|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XFnfnKg6BcAC&pg=PA507|access-date=8 December 2012|year=2004|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=9780415938532|pages=507–}} the same year that MGM released The Wizard of Oz, which featured 124 little people in its cast, most of whom were from the Singer's Midgets troupe.{{cite book
| last = Harmetz | first = Aljean | title = The Making of the Wizard of Oz | publisher = Chicago Review Press
| edition = 75th Anniversary Updated | location = Chicago | date = 2013 | page = 193
| isbn = 978-1613748329
=Controversy=
When interviewed for a 1999 piece, performers engaged in midget wrestling stated that they did not view the term as derogatory but merely descriptive of their small size. Others disagreed, with one stating that the performances themselves perpetuated an outdated and demeaning image.{{sfn|Adelson|2005|p=295}}
Towards the end of the 20th century, the word became considered by some as a pejorative term when referring
to people with dwarfism.{{cite book|last=Shapiro|first=Arthur H.|title=Everybody Belongs: Changing Negative Attitudes Toward Classmates With Disabilities|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hx63SN5Y9AkC&pg=PA284|access-date=8 December 2012|date=2000-09-01|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=9780815339601|pages=284–}}{{sfn|Adelson|2005|p=6}}{{cite book|last1=Ross|first1=Susan Dente|last2=Lester|first2=Paul Martin|title=Images That Injure: Pictorial Stereotypes in the Media|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PxcsMH5X8YEC&pg=PA285|access-date=14 December 2012|date=2011-04-19|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=9780313378928|pages=285–}} Some, such as actor Hervé Villechaize, continued to self-identify as "midgets".{{cite web |url=http://www.newsfromme.com/pov/col325/ |title=Victor & Billy |website=News From Me |author=Mark Evanier |date=2001-01-19}} originally published in Comics Buyer's Guide
There have been movements to remove the use of the word "midget" from age classification categories in youth sports, with Hockey Canada announcing that it would refer to the division as "U18" in 2020 as part of a wider renaming scheme.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/growing-movement-seeks-to-remove-midget-from-alta-sports-leagues-1.4213383|title=Growing movement seeks to remove 'midget' from Alta. sports leagues|date=2018-12-11|website=CTV News|language=en|access-date=2020-01-09}}{{Cite web|url=https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/hockey-canada-makes-name-changes-to-age-divisions-1.4693250|title=Hockey Canada makes name changes to age divisions|last=Barrow|first=Tyler|date=2019-11-19|website=CTV News Calgary|language=en|access-date=2020-01-09}}
In the United Kingdom, Liverpool Hope University academic Dr. Erin Pritchard who complained the word midget, considering its etymology and its use as a slur (often referred by people with dwarfism as "the M-word"), was offensive to people with dwarfism and campaigned to have it removed from the name of the confection midget gems. Marks & Spencer became the first retailer to rename their product, adopting the name Mini Gems.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-59981811|title=Midget Gems change name after academic's campaign|publisher=BBC News website|date=2022-01-13}} Other brands started to follow suit over the following months and years.{{cite web |title=Tesco Mini Gems 200G |url=https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/271373598 |website=Tesco |access-date=11 October 2022}}{{cite news |title=Midget Gems: Bassetts agree to 'Mini Gems' rebrand following Liverpool academic's campaign |url=https://www.liverpoolworld.uk/news/bassetts-rebrand-midget-gems-to-mini-gems-after-liverpool-academics-campaign-3526603 |access-date=11 October 2022 |work=Liverpool World |date=13 January 2022}} Dr. Pritchard then petitioned to have a pub in Abingdon-on-Thames called The Midget, named after a vehicle produced by MG Cars which was formerly based locally, renamed. The pub's owners, Greene King followed suit in 2024 renaming it The Roaring Raindrop after another MG Cars model.{{cite news |title=Complaints prompt change to pub named after car |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g7eg7y0epo |access-date=7 January 2025 |work=BBC News |date=7 November 2024}} However, this decision was controversial with a counter-petition to keep the old name.{{cite news |title=Counter-petition in 'offensive' pub name row |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2ndpeex9no |access-date=7 January 2025 |work=BBC News |date=14 November 2024}}{{cite news |title=Thousands petition to keep pub’s ‘offensive’ name |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/petition-pub-greene-king-the-midget-b2647124.html |access-date=7 January 2025 |work=The Independent |date=14 November 2024}}
Mascots
As of 2025, at least four high schools in the United States continue to use midget as a school mascot.
- Freeburg Community High School (Illinois){{Cite news |date=2015-07-17 |title=Illinois high school will keep Midgets as mascot despite Little People's petition |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jul/17/little-people-high-school-mascot-midgets |access-date=2024-12-29 |work=The Guardian |publisher=Associated Press |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}
- Estherville Lincoln Central High School (Iowa){{Cite web |last=Hajj |first=Nick El |date=2024-11-21 |title=The "M" word: Advocates petitioning Iowa school district to change derogatory mascot name |url=https://cbs2iowa.com/news/local/the-m-word-advocates-petitioning-iowa-school-district-to-change-derogatory-mascot-name |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=KGAN |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Hernandez |first=Samantha |date=2024-11-19 |title=Pride or prejudice? Iowa school district resists changing mascot, name considered a slur |url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/education/2024/11/19/estherville-lincoln-central-school-district-says-no-to-name-change/76333861007/ |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=The Des Moines Register |language=en-US}}
- Putnam County High School (Unionville, Missouri){{Cite web |last=Selecky |first=Michael |title=Name change not in the plans for Putnam County |url=https://www.fosters.com/story/sports/high-school/football/2015/07/10/name-change-not-in-plans/33896536007/ |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=Foster's Daily Democrat |language=en-US}}
- Butternut High School (Butternut, Wisconsin){{Cite web |last=Kirov |first=Andrew |date=2019-01-24 |title=Hurley Moves on from "Midgets" Mascot; Butternut Keeping Nickname |url=https://www.fox21online.com/2019/01/23/hurley-moves-on-from-midgets-mascot-butternut-keeping-nickname/ |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=Fox21Online |language=en-US}}
In 2015, the McLaughlin, South Dakota School District, which stands on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, changed the name of their school's mascot after protests came from Little People of America. The school's basketball coach, an alumnus and proponent of the change, drew comparisons to the Native American mascot controversy. {{Cite web |date=2022-06-29 |title=South Dakota school changes 'Midget' mascot after objections - InForum {{!}} Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo news, weather and sports |url=https://www.inforum.com/newsmd/south-dakota-school-changes-midget-mascot-after-objections |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629133951/https://www.inforum.com/newsmd/south-dakota-school-changes-midget-mascot-after-objections |archive-date=2022-06-29 |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=inforum.com |publisher=Forum News Service}}
In 2019, Hurley High School in Wisconsin changed its Mascot from midgets to the Northstars.{{Cite web |last=Rahman |first=Arman |date=2019-07-06 |title=After Dropping 'Midgets' Wisconsin's Hurley High Gets New Mascot |url=https://www.fox21online.com/2019/07/06/after-dropping-midgets-wisconsins-hurley-high-has-new-mascot/ |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=Fox21Online |language=en-US}} In 2025, a Iowa State Senator Molly Donohue introduced a bill to prohibit schools receiving state aid , including Estherville Lincoln, from using "discriminary mascots" including midgets.{{Cite web |last=Hajj |first=Nick El |date=2025-02-21 |title=Iowa bill could force schools to drop "discriminatory" mascots |url=https://cbs2iowa.com/news/local/iowa-bill-could-force-schools-to-drop-discriminatory-mascots# |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=KGAN |language=en}} Also in 2025, an advocacy filed a federal discrimination complaint with the U.S. Department of Education against the St. Clair County school district over the mascot at Freeburg High School.{{Cite web |last=Cortes |first=Lexi |date=2025-01-15 |title=Does Freeburg High School’s controversial mascot break federal law? This group thinks so |url=https://www.stlpr.org/education/2025-01-15/freeburg-high-schools-controversial-mascot-break-federal-law |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=STLPR |language=en}} State Rep. Maurice West submitted a bill to the Illinois House of Representatives that would ban the mascot by 2028.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-10 |title=Midgets no more? Bill would require Freeburg High School to change its mascot |url=https://www.stlpr.org/education/2025-03-10/freeburg-high-school-midgets-mascot-change |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=STLPR |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Taylor |date=2025-03-10 |title=Illinois bill may end Freeburg High’s mascot tradition |url=https://fox2now.com/news/illinois/illinois-bill-may-end-freeburg-highs-mascot-tradition/ |website=fox2now.com}} The House passed the bill on April 8, 2025.{{Cite web |last=Gear |first=Daesha |date=2025-04-08 |title=Illinois House passes bill to ban derogatory disability mascots |url=https://fox2now.com/news/illinois/illinois-house-passes-bill-to-ban-derogatory-disability-mascots/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250409050414/https://fox2now.com/news/illinois/illinois-house-passes-bill-to-ban-derogatory-disability-mascots/ |archive-date=2025-04-09 |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=fox2now.com}} A similar bill was introduced in the Missouri House of Representatives.{{Cite web |title=Missouri House of Representatives - Bill Information for HB1518 |url=https://house.mo.gov/bill.aspx?bill=HB1518&year=2024&code=R |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=house.mo.gov}}
In March 2025, after a long history of attempts,{{Cite web |last=Henson |first=Kayla |date=December 6, 2019 |title=Would changing Midgets mascot be too politically correct? A history of the name-change controversy |url=https://www.thedickinsonpress.com/news/education/4809504-Would-changing-Midgets-mascot-be-too-politically-correct-A-history-of-the-name-change-controversy |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201213137/https://www.thedickinsonpress.com/news/would-changing-midgets-mascot-be-too-politically-correct-a-history-of-the-name-change-controversy |archive-date=2023-02-01 |access-date=December 28, 2019 |website=The Dickinson Press |language=en}} Dickinson High School (Dickinson, North Dakota){{Cite web |last=Parker |first=Gaylon Wm. |date=2024-08-07 |title=Midgets prepare for football with equipment fitting event |url=https://www.thedickinsonpress.com/sports/prep/midgets-prepare-for-football-with-equipment-fitting-event |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=Dickinson Press |language=en}} announced that it would be retiring the mascot at the end of the year. School officials cited concerns about students feeling uncomfortable with the name and legal risks of discrimination against disabled people.{{Cite web |last=Miller, Jr. |first=James B. |date=2025-03-17 |title=Dickinson High retires ‘Midgets’ mascot after nearly a century |url=https://www.thedickinsonpress.com/news/local/dickinson-high-retires-midgets-mascot-after-nearly-a-century |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250318015203/https://www.thedickinsonpress.com/news/local/dickinson-high-retires-midgets-mascot-after-nearly-a-century |archive-date=2025-03-18 |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=Dickinson Press |language=en}}
See also
{{div col|colwidth=24em}}
- List of dwarfism organisations
- Dwarf-tossing
- Midgetville
- Singer's Midgets
- Midgets vs. Mascots
- Pygmy peoples
- Munchkin
- Oompa Loompa
- Leprechaun
- Dwarf
- Elf
- Santa's elves
{{div col end}}
Notes
{{Reflist}}
References
- {{cite book|last=Adelson|first=Betty M.|title=The Lives Of Dwarfs: Their Journey From Public Curiosity Toward Social Liberation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ym5x3mq2p7EC&pg=PA295|access-date=8 December 2012|year=2005|publisher=Rutgers University Press|isbn=9780813535487}}