Dwarfism and Disability Studies
摘要
This entry presents a broad overview of how dwarfism has been constructed in relation to various understandings of disability. With the advent of the social model of disability, dwarfism is a condition that should fit comfortably within Disability Studies, yet it has limited status within the disability community. Dwarfism’s identity as a disability is often contested, based on the understanding that people with the condition are ‘just small.’ This is evident by the attitudes of people with dwarfism, as well as wider society. However, people with dwarfism experience numerous social and spatial barriers within the built environment. This entry provides a broad overview of research focusing on the different constructions of dwarfism as a disability, providing an insight into the contentious placement of body extremes within Disability Studies.