Living with Dwarfism
Cara Reedy - Being a little person in America: 'We're still treated as less than human.'
(The Guardian, 2019).
Cara Reedy is a program manager for DREDF's Disability Media Alliance Project (DMAP) and has been involved in the media her entire life (DREDF, 2021). Reedy is a journalist, actor, and photographer. Cara Reedy has worked for CNN for ten years, produced docs, food writing, and reported disability (DREDF, 2021). Cara Reedy was born with achondroplastic dwarfism. When everyone else said, 'Oh god,' her parents stood by her and loved her just as she is. In 2015, Cara quit CNN and starred in a self-produced pilot, and directed another (DREDF, 2021). In 2019, she co-produced a short document for The Guardian, "Dwarfism and Me" (DREDF, 2021).
Cara believes that disability is the world's largest minority that crosses race, socio-economic class, and age is the beginning stages of being represented properly by the media (DREDF, 2021). Someone can become disabled at any time, yet disabilities keep being discussed as unnatural and unusual. Since Cara is the manager for DMAP, she wants to make space for disabled media professionals to lead the conversations that most affect their lives (DREDF, 2021). When disabled individuals have control over their own narrative, it's a more truthful story.
Self-Concept and Perceptions
"My family cares for me and at the same time has never shielded me from the world. That's how they raised me. I am Cara. Expectations are not lowered. We can talk about it whenever I need to, but I have not been allowed to hide" (Reedy, 2014, para 5).
Cara Reedy interviewed other individuals along with talked about how perceptions of little people are inhumane. Since Cara Reedy has achondroplastic, a form of dwarfism, her body is always on display. Either in grocery stores, the subway, work, etc. If individuals from the outside world see her, she will be started at, screamed at, followed, and discriminated against at work (The Guardian, 2019). The media portrays little people as soemthing that should be laughed at or mocked. When people see that, they believe it is acceptable to treat little poeple as something less than humans.
Little people's perceptions of themselves are like everyone else, but they are short statued. They dont expect anything to be handed to them nor any special expectations. Rebecca Coakley is the first interview Cara Reedy did. Rebecca was a former Obama appointee who oversaw diversity efforts from the administration (The Guardian, 2019). When Rebecca was working in administration, she had a meeting with a civil rights leader who told her "he found it so inspirational that President Obama would hire a handi-capable person like me. You know it's a great example of a charity that you're here" (The Guardian, 2019, 3:31). Rebecca did not retaliate. She decided to move on because it would cause an incident, and she didn't want that. Since the beginning, the fetishization of dwarfs has been apart of American popular culture. Little people from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s were used as entertainment and sold as property to circuses, sideshows, and exhibits. The 20th century came around the midget villages were made for average size individuals to go and tour. America's obsession with little people's statues has left a lasting and damaging image (The Guardian, 2019).
According to Reedy (2014), she has different levels of response to an individual's reactions.
- If someone laughs, she asks, "what's funny?" The majority of the time, individuals answer with 'nothing nothing' and walk away in embarrassment
- Individuals use the term 'midget,' Cara will respond with, "It's called dwarfism, Don't use that word."
- Men will approach Cara and tell her, "I want to try it. Sex with you would be different." She responds with, "I am not a sampler platter, no." To which they are offered and respond with, "I just want to try it. It would be fun. You don't have to get nasty."
(Reedy, 2019, para 20).
Cara has stopped internalizing her anger and started directing it outward, where it belongs. Cara is normal. She has the same thoughts, feelings, and desires (Reedy, 2019).
Coping with Dwarfism
Dwarfism affects everyday life, from being in a home to going out into the enviorment. This world wasn't made for short statue individuals. It was made for average height individuals. Little people get made fun of, followed, and tormented daily. Individuals dealing with dwarfism have to cope with the life around them. Cara copes with her dwarfism by educating those around and, when she deems it necessary, directs her anger outward to those that are being rude. Individuals with average size don't think little people will stick up for themselves due to being small. People dealing with forms of dwarfism oftentimes need assistive devices to get around due to their joints. This makes coping with the already 'big' world difficult. Driving a car is also very different for them. They need to get devices to help them reach the pedals. There are things in this world to help little people cope with being small.
How Dwarfism impacts physical development
(Biology Champs, 2017).
Achondroplasia Dwarfism causes:
- reduced muscle tone
- recurring ear infections
- sleep apnea
- a sway of the lower back, which cause back pain and difficulty walking
- (Duker, 2014).
Dystrophic Dysplasia Dwarfism causes :
- cleft palate
- hand and ear differences
- hip dysplasia
- club feet
- severe curvature of the spine
- early deterioration of joints and joint stiffness
- hip and knee dislocation
- (Duker, 2014).
Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia Dwarfism causes:
- club feet
- severe curvature of the spine
- potential breathing problems
- potential spinal cord damage
- reduced joint movement
- arthritis early in life
- vision issues
- hearing issues
- (Duker, 2014).
How Dwarfism impacts psychological development
Short statue little people are more susceptible to being bullied due to being little. They aren't just bullied in school. They are bullied in their adult life as well. People are not aware of what is said about little people until they are there. As mentioned above, Rebecca was very taken back by the words of an individual working by Obama's side. Words can make someone think very low about themselves, especially when it comes to self-perception. Cara Reedy mentioned in her video that she used to hide away from individuals that would look at her or say things about her. As she got older, she started speaking her truth and fighting back against people who would say rude or derogatory words.
How Dwarfism impacts social development
It can be hard for individuals with dwarfism to have a hard time in social situations due to always being stared at and fun of. Even dating can be hard for a little person due to someone not knowing what to say to a little person. The video below is Cara Reedy talking about her experience dating and dispelling myths about dwarfs and dating along with social situations.
(Allure, 2017)
Reference
Allure. (2017, May 31). What dating is like as a little person| Dispelling Beauty Myths|. [Video]. YouTube.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ox_xgMdC3jI&t=67s
Biology Champs. (2017). Dwarfism. http://www.biologychamps.com/Blog/173
DREDF. (2021). Cara Reedy. https://dredf.org/about-us/people/cara-reedy/
Duker, L., A. (2014, October). Genetic, Chromosomal & Metabolic Conditions. Rady Children's Hospital. https://www.rchsd.org/health-articles/dwarfism/?topic=genetic-chromosomal-metabolic-conditions
Reedy, C. (2014, September 12). My life as a little person. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2014/09/12/living/little-person-dwarfism-first-person/index.html
The Guardian. (2019, October16). Being a little person in America: 'We're still treated as less than human.' [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmLvBfCBtHc
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