ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the numerous forms of advocacy for people with dwarfism, as well as some of the barriers that have affected activism. This chapter demonstrates how subtle forms of midgetism and epistemic injustice have impacted the potential for associations to be prominent spaces for activism. Using numerous examples, but more specifically divisions regarding cures and treatments for dwarfism, the lack of activism, it is argued, is because the voices of parents of children with dwarfism often dominate these spaces and in some cases dismiss the views of people with dwarfism. In the second part, the role of Social Networking Sites are explored as potential opportunities for activism through the creation of groups specifically for people with dwarfism. Lastly, the author focuses on their own experiences of individual activism as an academic with dwarfism and the epistemic injustices they have encountered. This chapter demonstrates how activism is not straightforward and can often result in abuse, including disability hate speech. This chapter offers some guidance on how to improve advocacy for people with dwarfism.
