Midget
Term for proportionate dwarfism with disputed pejorative status.
The word "midget" traces back to "midge," a tiny biting insect, and is used to describe a person of unusually short stature. Some consider it pejorative because of this origin. Unlike "dwarf," which is a medical term for conditions like achondroplasia, "midget" was historically applied to anyone—or any animal—with proportionate dwarfism. The term has strong ties to entertainment, with little people frequently working in circuses, professional wrestling, and vaudeville.
The first known use of "midget" was in 1816, according to Merriam-Webster. While midgets were popular performers, society often viewed them with disgust or revulsion. In the early 1800s, the middle class romanticized them, treating them with the same affectionate condescension given to children, as innocent creatures. The term gained prominence in the mid-19th century after Harriet Beecher Stowe used it in her novels *Sunny Memories of Foreign Lands* and *Old Town Folks* to describe children and an extremely short man. P. T. Barnum popularized "midget" by featuring General Tom Thumb, Lavinia Warren, and Commodore Nutt in his circus, linking the word to short people displayed for public curiosity and sport. Barnum’s midgets reached high society, receiving fantasy military titles, introductions to dignitaries and royalty, and lavish gifts.
Such performances continued through the mid-20th century. Hermines Midgets came from Paris to the 1939 New York World’s Fair, the same year MGM released *The Wizard of Oz*, which cast 124 little people, mostly from the Singer’s Midgets troupe.
In a 1999 interview, some performers in midget wrestling said they did not find the term derogatory, seeing it as merely descriptive of their size. Others disagreed, arguing the performances themselves perpetuated an outdated, demeaning image. By the late 20th century, many began to view "midget" as pejorative when referring to people with dwarfism. Some, like actor Hervé Villechaize, continued to self-identify with the term. Movements arose to remove "midget" from youth sports age categories. In 2020, Hockey Canada renamed its division to "U18" as part of a broader change.
In the UK, Dr. Erin Pritchard of Liverpool Hope University argued that "midget" is offensive to people with dwarfism, citing its etymology and use as a slur (often called "the M-word"). She campaigned to rename the confection Midget Gems.
- First use
- 1816
- Field
- Performing arts, entertainment
- Known for
- Term for proportionate dwarfism; association with circus and vaudeville; controversy over offensiveness
- Related terms
- Dwarf, little person, miniature
Lore & Background
Merriam-Webster states that the first use of the term "midget" was in 1816. Midgets have always been popular entertainers but were often regarded with disgust and revulsion in society. In the early 19th century, midgets were romanticized by the middle class and regarded with the same affectionate condescension extended to children, as creatures of innocence. The term "midget" came into prominence in the mid-19th century after Harriet Beecher Stowe used it in her novels Sunny Memories of Foreign Lands and Old Town Folks where she described children and an extremely short man, respectively. P. T. Barnum helped popularize the term "midget" when he began featuring General Tom Thumb, Lavinia Warren and Commodore Nutt in his circus. "Midget" became linked to referring to short people put on public display for curiosity and sport. Barnum's midgets reached position of high society, given fantasy military titles, introduced to dignitaries and royalty, and showered with gifts.
Reader's Guide
The term midget has a dual legacy: it was historically used as a neutral descriptor for people of proportionate dwarfism, but over time it became associated with pejorative connotations. Its use in circus and vaudeville performances, particularly by P. T. Barnum, cemented its link to public display and entertainment. In the late 20th century, controversy arose as some people with dwarfism considered the term offensive, while others, such as actor Hervé Villechaize, continued to self-identify as midgets. This dispute has led to institutional changes: youth sports organizations like Hockey Canada renamed age divisions to remove the word, and retailers such as Marks & Spencer renamed Midget Gems to Mini Gems. The word also persists as a school mascot in several U.S. high schools, prompting legislative efforts to ban its use. The term's broader application to miniature objects and sports (e.g., midget car racing, midget golf) further complicates its legacy, as it remains in common use for non-human references while being increasingly rejected for people.
Did You Know?
- The 1939 film The Wizard of Oz featured 124 little people in its cast, most from the Singer's Midgets troupe.
- In 2024, the Midget pub in Abingdon-on-Thames was renamed the Roaring Raindrop after controversy.
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