Recently I have been reflecting on the fact that there are so many issues that we pay little or no attention to until they affect us personally. There are other issues that we think we understand but until it is a part of our lives we really don’t.
In recent years my family has faced cancer, depression and infertility. I can say that it is true for each of these that unless you have experienced things up close you do not know what it is like. I used to think I understood what it must be like to watch someone die of cancer. Sitting holding my Grandad’s hand because he was too weak to do anything else showed me how little I knew before. As a family we shared many tearful moments as we faced the reality of cancer.
People often give me sympathetic words regarding infertility but I can tell those who have lived with it and those who just think they understand. I have nothing against the people who haven’t experienced infertility, in fact I am thankful to God that they haven’t experienced the heartache, I have an automatic connection with people who have experienced what I have and I know they understand.
Recently a very close friend had a baby boy born with Achondroplasia – commonly known as dwarfism. The condition is very rare, affecting only 200,000 people in the world. Since her son’s diagnosis she has been introduced to the “little people” community. With such a low prevalence the little people community is close knit. I am obviously removed from the direct situation but even as a close friend I am becoming more accustomed to the impact of such a condition on your life and your family. Stigma and prejudice towards to dwarfs in the UK is still rife. This is evident by a recent BBC 2 comedy series “Life’s Too Short”. The series stars the famous actor Warwick Davies (himself a dwarf) alongside Ricky Gervais and Steve Merchant. Although some scenes from the show might be funny and have nothing to do with restricted growth, the main focus is creating comedy out of Warwick being short. Many of the situations he portrays are humiliating to the say the least.
Before my friend’s son was born I might not have thought more than that the series is a bit inappropriate but now seeing how much it upsets those for whom restricted growth is a reality and who have to face the same attitudes on a daily basis in real life I have a stronger objection to such comedy. People’s argument for the legitimacy of the programme are that Warwick is a dwarf and he is deciding to allow people to laugh at him. People have said it is the same as the Kumars making fun of Indian stereotypes or Ali G laughing at Jews. The problem with that argument is that being Jewish or Indian isn’t a disability. Achondroplasia is classed as a disability and there are enough misconceptions about the disorder that it doesn’t need a BBC comedy encouraging people to laugh at dwarfs.
Wikipedia states: In art, literature, or movies, dwarfs are rarely depicted as “regular people who are very short” but rather as a species apart.
Referring to Life’s too Short an Evening Standarad journalist wrote: For some reason, dwarfs are the last minority it is acceptable to laugh at in the name of entertainment.
My friend is doing what she can to change this. You might never have thought about what it would be like to live with dwarfism, I know I hadn’t, but if you are interested in the issue or even if not if you would like to help a mother fight for a better future for her son please click on the link to her facebook campaign page: Dislike BBC 2 comedy ‘Life’s too Short’
Well said.