Dwarf vs Midget

Dwarf vs Midget

The terms Midget and Dwarf are terms used to describe a person who is extremely short in height. The term Dwarf is more often used these days and midget as a word is almost extinct because it is considered derogatory and offensive to call someone a midget. Both terms describe a short person, but refer to different physical characteristics and genetic conditions.

Comparison chart

Improve this chart	Dwarf	Midget
Treatment:	no cure	no cure
Physical disability:	Extremely short	Extremely short
Offensive:	The word dwarf is not considered offensive.	The word "midget" is considered offensive.
Height:	Less than 147 cms	Less than 147 cms
Causes:	Genetic disorder,	genetic disorder
Associated problems:	Joint diseases, nerve compression, disproportionate organs	same as dwarf
About:	A medical condition having to do with a genetic mutation of a 4th chromosome. Over 200 types.	same as dwarf, just considered a derogatory term

1 About
2 Differences in origin of word
3 Physical Condition comparison
4 Who does it affect?
5 Differences in associated problems
6 Differences in treatment
7 See Also
8 References

edit About

"Midget" refers to a person who is very short, but normally proportioned. The term Midget is now rarely used and has given way to "Short person" or "little person". This term as such is considered offensive now in usage. But its usage was very common until the end of the twentieth century.

"Dwarf" refers to a person with one of several varieties of a specific genetic condition called dwarfism. A dwarf has disproportion of body parts.This is generally caused by a genetic or nutritional disability. Any adult Human below the height of 4'10"(147 cm) is considered a dwarf. With reference to legends or folklore, a dwarf is considered a legendary creature resembling a tiny old man, who lives in the depths of the earth and guards buried treasure.

edit Differences in origin of word

Midget, comes from the word midge "small fly" + -et, so that a midget is etymologically a "very small fly". The first reference to the word is found in 1848 in Canada with the meaning "sand fly". In Old English it was "mycg", and it goes back to an Indo-European root, *mu-, which also gave the word mosquito and, by a circuitous route, musket.

The word Dwarf is of Germanic ancestry, coming ultimately from the proto-Germanic root *dhwergwhos meaning "tiny". In Old English it was "dweorg" and meant "person of abnormally small stature".

edit Physical Condition comparison

When the words were coined, "midget" referred to a person who is small in height but doesn't have disproportionate limbs or other body parts. On the other hand, "dwarf" referred to a person who is small and has disproportionate body parts. A midget was small but proportionate while a dwarf's growth was a disability.

However, since the word "midget" is now considered derogatory and offensive, "dwarf" or "little person" describes any adult human less than 147 cms tall.

edit Who does it affect?

Dwarfism is known to affect humans, animals and plants. Midget is a term used for humans only. In humans, a child for whom one or both parents is affected by dwarfism has a chance of inheriting the condition. Both these conditions affect men and women. It is also caused by hormonal or nutritional deficiency.

edit Differences in associated problems

While there are many problems associated with Dwarfism, midgets are not plagued by these problems. Midgets are just normal people whose height is stunted. In the case of dwarfs, the physical conditions affecting them are: malformed bones, nerve compression, joint disease, and disoriented growth of some organs.

Both midgets and dwarfs have to suffer the psychological or social problems associated with their condition. Social prejudice against their extreme height may reduce their social confidence and opportunites. Sometimes they're mocked and may suffer from low self esteem. Sometimes extreme shortness (height of less than 3 feet) may interfere with their day to day chores.

edit Differences in treatment

Since the conditions are related to genetic problems, there are few treatments available. Dress enhancements such as shoe lifts etc are some of the few ways to change the aesthetics of little people. Growth hormones are rarely used to treat these conditions as the benefits are very small. The most effective means of increasing adult height by several inches is limb-lengthening surgery, though availability is limited and cost is high in terms of dollars, discomfort, and interruption of life.

edit See Also

edit References

Comments: Dwarf vs Midget

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Anonymous comments

I am a very short individual and people used to call me "midget" mostly when I was in school. Occasionally, they would use the word "dwarf" but midget sounded funnier to them. I am not at all offended. It has never bothered me that I am small, nor has it impacted my quality of life unless you consider the inability to buy fashionable clothes a tragedy. My short stature is not a direct result of genetics but early malnutrition and illness. I think people need to grow a sense of humour and learn to be less offended by words. For me it was always the speakers intent that determined whether I should be offended.
174.117.60.246 on 2012-02-27 16:11:44

I come from a family of small people, but there is no dwarfism is my family. We even call ourselves midgits and never blinked an eye about it being offense. None of us have health issues and we are all 100% in proportion. Even our heads are teenie tiny. I can't wear eye glasses or hats unless they come from the children's department. I would be offended if someone called me a dwarf. I'm not. I'm actually a tall person shrunk down. ;)
98.166.56.136 on 2012-01-04 18:33:50

There is indeed a difference between people of very short stature due to genetic medical problems, and healthy people exhibiting very short stature. Terms need to be used to differentiate these factors, medically. Comparing these terms to racial slurs is simply nonproductive.
75.105.148.137 on 2011-12-18 01:24:29

I have studied the subject on a social level and I have met 3 of the world's leading specialists in Dwarfism. This article is incorrect. There are over 200 different condition which can result in dwarfism. Dwarfism refers to ALL persons under 4' 9" whether they are proportionate or not. Proportionate forms of dwafism (described as a midget here) are also a type of dwarfism. Midget is a 'fake' category made social myth (and unforunately common usage) during the 19th century in freak shows and carnivals, where little people were put on display for sport or public ridicule. Which is why many people with dwarfism find it offensive. Its common usage does not make it any more correct, scientific or accurate. With this knowledge you might understand why it is regarded as offensive by so many in the 'Restricted Growth Community'.
93.96.141.169 on 2011-11-02 00:12:00

I am small 4 '10.5', I do not mind being called a midget. I know now I am not a dwarf and if I was called a dwarf, I would find this offensive because there is a difference. Alot of people are midgets but their are few dwarfs. I do like seeing people shorter than me. Anyway we are cute and small.
67.142.166.25 on 2011-01-26 00:33:59

This article is wrong on the most part. I my self is a little person and Midgets aren't a group of their own. It's a name that the average sized person gave us. It comes from PT And Barnum Circus where dwarfs were put on display as " Freak Shows" It actually means According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the term midget comes from midge, a sand fly, and the diminutive suffix -et. To me I hate the word Midget and have told my friends that, I have never heard them call anybody that since. This article offended me a bit.
209.205.36.98 on 2010-07-19 00:18:58

This article is correct. Some smaller people do not suffer prom pituitary gland disorders, but are small due to a lack of proper nutrition, kidney disorders, and even long term lead exposure. A midget is not a dwarf.
24.127.67.126 on 2010-03-03 15:54:33

Although the terms might be offensive to some group or individuals, the terms are an historical description that can be useful in differentiating the two. For example, I gave a compare and contrast assignment to my 7th grade class. One student chose dwarf/midget. Pituitary or disease induced dwarfism would have been lost as was the lesson in compassion and understanding that resulted for the whole class. I think the terms used helped my students become much more tolerant individuals.
204.128.70.65 on 2009-09-01 16:31:52

You must remove this derogatory, offensive page. This information is incorrect. The word "midget" is not an acceptable word. I have already contacted Wikipedia to inform them that the information that you relied on for this article is INCORRECT and OFFENSIVE. Do the right thing by doing good research and change the incorrect information on this page.
173.19.35.217 on 2009-09-01 06:30:39

Guess some of us are politically incorrect. My Mum was 4'8" and happily referred to herself as a midget. She was clear to point out that she was not a dwarf - which is genetically passed on. She was just little. I don't think anyone uses 'midget' as a professional diagnosis.
58.106.200.33 on 2009-08-03 06:59:53

This is a stupid article. Both the dwarfism listed here and pituitary dwarfism (kindly described as a midget here) are both forms of dwarfism. Though the term midget was in use during the 19th century, its common usage does not make it any more correct. It was used in the carnivals in a setting that exploited people with dwarfism for entertainment. It is still used as a derogatory word, and has no place in this society. Those who defend its current use should look at other historical terms (chiefly the *n* word) and understand its meaning under that light.
71.229.53.20 on 2009-07-27 01:13:00

So... which one has the higher voice? I've seen little people with normal voices and little people with high voices, does it make any difference whether midget or dwarf?
173.28.215.208 on 2009-02-21 21:24:27

Dwarf = Achondroplasia : http://www.medicinenet.com/achondroplasia/article.htm
122.108.140.112 on 2010-02-16 05:20:27