MEDICINE HAT, AB — It’s a familiar term associated with sports around the country, especially hockey.
However, it can also be used to describe those with dwarfism and now an increasing number of people across Alberta and Canada are looking to remove it from sports vocabulary.
“There’s always been sensitivity from the little people community around the word ‘midget’,” says Josh Haskett, member of the Association of Little People of Alberta. “And we’re now in a time where there’s awareness around all insensitivities.”
Last week, the Association of Little People of Alberta decided to begin contacting sports organizations to remove ‘midget’ as an age classification.
They say it’s a derogatory term, originating from the exploitation of people with dwarfism in freak shows or circuses.
“They were in the circuses and the freak shows and that’s where the term ‘midget’ was coined,” says Haskett. “Well we’re not in the 1920’s, 30’s anymore. We’re in 2018 and that word is not okay.”
In addition, the term has no medical backing, while ‘dwarfism’ does.
Haskett grew up playing hockey in Ontario and Alberta, although he didn’t like hearing the term, he didn’t feel he could speak up.
“While I grew up with it and it was uncomfortable to me,” says Haskett. “I just dealt with it because that’s all other people knew.”
Now, Josh has a nine-year-old daughter who also has dwarfism, and wants to make sure she grows up in a world that’s conscious of the term’s background.
“My daughter and I and my wife obviously we go out all the time and people call us that all the time and I don’t think they mean to be hurtful,” says Haskett. “I think that’s just the only word they know.”
In Canada, ‘midget’ is used to categorize athletes in some sports between the ages of 15 and 17.
Alberta Hockey uses the term, and says although the topic of removing it is currently in discussion, any terminology changes would have to go through the national level, Hockey Canada.
In a statement, Hockey Canada said a switch is possible.
“Hockey Canada and its Members believe in making everyone feel welcome in the game. We are currently reviewing the names of the age classifications within our Minor Hockey Divisions. Under our Regulations, any change to those classifications would require a majority vote of our Members at a Members’ Meeting. The next opportunity for such a meeting on our current schedule is at our Hockey Canada Congress in May.”
Organizations like Ontario Basketball, Sports Manitoba and Athletics Canada have already decided to throw out the term, replacing it with numbered age categories like U15 and U16.
In a statement, Ontario Basketball said it’s a simple switch.
“Our commitment is to officially remove the age category terms for next year (2019-20), including the term Midget, as our current season is already underway,” said Jason Jansson, executive director of Ontario Basketball. “The policy for 2019-20 and going forward hasn’t been constructed yet, but in the interim we are phasing out the term on all sections of the website and promotional materials that will eventually be reflected in our Rules and Regulations. It’s a positive change we are delighted to make given the negative connotation, and the simple alternative of our numerical system that speaks to Ontario Basketball’s mandate of inclusivity.”
Athletics Canada says it seemed natural with their organization.
“It was brought to Athletics Canada attention that it was a derogatory term and were an inclusive organization, we deal with the Olympic and Paralympic stream and obviously in the Paralympic stream we do have some classifications where we have dwarf sports,” says Mathieu Gentes, chief operating officer of Athletics Canada. “For us it was a no-brainer, and like I said we felt like it was just the right thing to do.”
“It’s not that big of a change,” says Haskett. “All we’re asking is that we change a word that is sensitive to a group of people that are all over the world.”
If you’re concerned about how to address a person with dwarfism, Haskett says there are plenty of alternatives.
“When you see a little person or someone with short stature out in public,” says Haskett. “The preferred term is little person, LP, a person with dwarfism, or a dwarf.”
His nine year old daughter Pacey, agrees.
“I prefer dwarf, dwarfism and especially Pacey.”
