Being Politically Correct

An article by Robert Kruse entitled "Narrating intersections of gender and dwarfism in everyday spaces" talks about the intersection between gender and dwarfism through the narratives of four women who are little people. This journal covers various aspects of the four women such as the kind of attention they receive in public spaces, employment opportunities and social and physical mobility are discussed in terms of how dwarfism affects their experiences and identities as women. This journal also focus on the terms uses for those who have the dwarfism as a disability. According to Kruse "A variety of terms are used in reference to human and mythological dwarfs. Most common are 'dwarf and 'midget'. While 'dwarf is generally accepted in medical terminology, it is not the preferred term of the participants in this research. The women in these interviews agree that 'dwarf' emphasises and essentialises their short stature." We have to understand that they are individuals and they would like to be treated the way we want to be treated. This issue goes back to the article when one participant told states that using 'midget' to refer to little people is similar to using the word 'nigger' in reference to people of African descent. She observes: 'Black folks don't like the "n" word . . . (dwarf) would be similar to that, to a degree . . . it's . . . used in a bad way'. The women agreed that 'little people' is rather a matter-of-fact term that neither limits nor stigmatises them. They feel that 'little' is an accurate description of their bodies and 'people' emphasises the characteristics they have in common with other adults of all heights.