# Is 'midget' offensive?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-midget-offensive/285358>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 18, 2005, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-midget-offensive/285358 "2005-01-18T13:51:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-midget-offensive/285358/1 "2005-01-18T13:51:39Z")

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I was thinking about MGs this morning. The Austin-Healey Sprite was re-badged as the [MG Midget](http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/478553). I thought about the name, and then thought amout [midget racing](http://www.midgetracing.com/). While the MGs are gone these 25 years, we still have midget racing.

Is ‘midget’ an acceptable word (i.e., not offensive) when it does not refer to people?

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**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-midget-offensive/285358/2 "2005-01-18T14:44:58Z")

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It was my understanding that the term is _only_ offensive when referring to a person. [Dictionary.com](http://Dictionary.com) seems to agree with that. It only lists that particular usage as _Offensive_.

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**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-midget-offensive/285358/3 "2005-01-18T15:28:49Z")

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One of the many things that baffles me is that “people under a certain height” claim to want to be referred to as “little people.” A more offensive and condescending term I cannot imagine! I wonder who decided on this, and how many people actually prefer the medical terms dwarf and midget, but are out-shouted by the “little people” advocates?

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**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-midget-offensive/285358/4 "2005-01-18T15:39:24Z")

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> [@Eve](#):
>
> I wonder who decided on this, and how many people actually prefer the medical terms dwarf and midget, but are out-shouted by the “little people” advocates?

As I understand it, the word “dwarf” is not regarded as offensive. The rationale for excluding “midget,” I think, is that it has been used mainly in the context of describing side-show freaks.

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**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-midget-offensive/285358/5 "2005-01-18T15:46:47Z")

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[Little People of America](http://www.lpaonline.org/resources_faq.html) has this to say:

> [@](#):
>
> Q: What is a midget?
> 
> A: In some circles, a midget is the term used for a proportionate dwarf. However, the term has fallen into disfavor and is considered offensive by most people of short stature. The term dates back to 1865, the height of the “freak show” era, and was generally applied only to short-statured persons who were displayed for public amusement, which is why it is considered so unacceptable today.
> 
> Such terms as dwarf, little person, LP, and person of short stature are all acceptable, but most people would rather be referred to by their name than by a label.