Clark Hoyt, public editor of the New York Times, says the organization’s style manual now decrees that the word “dwarf” — not “midget” — should be used to refer to people with a genetic condition resulting in unusually short stature.

The recent change came about after a public outcry was raised over the use of the word “midget” in an article by David Segal last month. Hoyt said Segal had “no idea” he was using an objectionable term when referring to a 1930′s-era photograph of financier J.P. Morgan, Jr., and circus performer Lya Graf (left).

“Midget, once used to describe dwarfs of otherwise normal proportions, is now widely considered offensive and should be avoided,” [the style guide] says.

… Betty Adelson, a psychologist who has written two books on dwarfs and is the mother of one, said midget has become anathema in the United States because it is derived from the name of an insect (midge), is associated with circus spectacles and is flung as an epithet on the street (“Look at the midget!”).

We’ll be watching carefully to see how the Times covers the premiere of “Midgets vs. Mascots” at the Tribeca Film Festival this weekend. Decribed as a “mockumentary,” the film stars Gary Coleman and features fictional teams competing in ridiculous contests for cash prizes.

This entry was posted on Monday, April 20th, 2009 at 1:58 pm and is filed under dwarfism/little people, entertainment, language, media, movies, NOT2BEMISSED, public attitudes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.