Ok, so I haven’t been a great fan of the title of Channel 4’s Seven Dwarves, however tonight’s episode has been exceptionally good. This week following, Laura Whitfield from Sunderland and her poignant story of having lost her mum and her problems growing up and the obstacles that she’s overcome to turn her life around.
One thing that I was nodding in agreement a lot at was her aspirations to have a main role. Regular readers will know that this is something I really wish for the actors and performers who are of restricted growth… and I sincerely hope that that does happen in the near future for Laura and all the other shorter actors.
My main disappoint of the evening has been following the Twitter hastag #sevendwarves and some of the idiotic comments that just go to show, we are *still* seen as dwarf first, human second, well to some of the numpties. It makes me wonder, no matter how much programming their is, however many awareness-raising campaigns that they are, will we ever be seen as something not different?
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I did see this advertised but chose to give it a mis because of the title but it sounds like it was very informative.
You will always get stupid comments, mainly from people thinking it makes them big in other peoples eyes, but (pardon the pun) you are far bigger than that, just treat it like pigeon shit on your windscreen “whipe it off and move on”
Ableize Disability
Thanks Ableize. While I take on your advice, and on a good day I can let the stares and the verbal taunts slide off my back, on a bad day, when having to deal with various obstacles, it’s not so easy too, you know? I do try and keep a sense of humour about it though, though you wouldn’t think about it from my moaning on here lol! Thanks again 🙂
Hello,
I have just recently found this blog and have been reading the entries with interest.
I am a 33 year old woman and 4’9 tall due to growth hormone deficiency. I was born and raised in the UK but emigrated to the USA in 2004. I have found a huge difference in the attitude towards my height in each country. I always found the level of ignorance and the amount of downright unnecessary nastiness I would encounter on a daily basis in the UK to be just horrendous. I rarely had a day when I lived in the UK where I would NOT hear some idiot state the obvious or infer that I was an inferior form of human being due to my height.
Living in the states has provided me with a completely different experience. Thankfully it just isn’t a big deal here. Its actually rare now for me to be reminded of the fact that I am ‘different’ at all. When people do comment its usually in a very positive way. I am small framed, weigh six stone and am proportionate, so if the fairly rare instances that people say anything its usually something like ‘petite’ or ‘cute.’ I used to absolutely detest the word ‘cute’ as I found it extremely patronizing but given the choice between that and the ‘midget’ I would routinely hear in the UK, I’ll take it.
I wonder what cultural differences make people more tolerant in America? Its an interesting subject.
Thanks for reading the blog and yes it is interesting to hear about the cultural difference in attitudes to height. There are times when I do think is it worth the hassle to go out in particular situations? I also believe that until comedians stop using the word ‘midget’ in their routines and be severely castigated (raked over the coals) for it, as they would for making fun of other minorities – we don’t stand a chance as it gives your average person permission to continue to poke fun. Do you have any ideas about why you think Americans are more tolerant culturally about height difference?
I’m really not sure why people don’t make such a song and dance about it here as they do in Britain. Of course it could be that I’m just lucky. Others in a similar boat may have countless ignorant comments a day. This is also a fairly upper class area so perhaps the general population here are just better educated? I have also wondered why the binge drinking culture doesn’t appear to exist over here either. Even in the poorer ‘white trash’ areas, you won’t see people passed out in the streets on a Saturday night.
When people have made rude comments here its rarely related to my height alone, they will usually make some flippant remark such as ‘What grade are you in?’ or ‘What are you, about twelve?’
Funnily enough I have found some of the few age comments I have heard here to be more hurtful than the many height ones back home. As it felt to me that people were not just commenting on my height but trying to say I had the body of a child too. I once felt like pointing to my chest and saying ‘these are called breasts dear, twelve year olds typically don’t have them’ to a smirking male co-worker. I thought better of it though.
The rude comments I received in Britain were very rarely age related they were for the most part exclusively regarding my height. I used to think ‘Christ, I’m not THAT short! You’d think I was three inches tall the way people bang on about it!’
Why DO people bang on about it I wonder? I know differences are interesting and people are curious but why are people so malicious about it? Have you figured that one out yet?
Sadly I have not and I figured I’d be a very rich lady if I had lol! I’ve come to the conclusion it really comes down to ignorance. I’ve figured we are all ignorant of something, but it’s whether a person has the self-awareness to realise so and to do something about it. That said, if you’re drip-fed ignorant behaviour, say in entertainment, or other authoritative figures, who ‘normalise’ the ignorance – say the use of the word ‘midget’ in a comedy routine or say a member of parliament who mocks another MP’s height, then I say your average person will think it is alright for them to use such words or to mock a difference. Those people, would ideally realise their position of responsibility in their words and actions. Sadly we do not live in an ideal world.