Dwarfism and social identity: Self-help group participation

This paper describes a specific process relating to destigmatization and social identity which is a chief dynamic operative in a self-help group for dwarfs, Little People of America. In our society persons of abnormal short stature typically experience varied forms of stigmatized and stigmatizing social interactions within the average sized world. Data are presented here from a recent study of dwarfs and their families which examined a variety of dimensions of the dwarfism experience and the impact of self-help group membership on social identity and life style. It is suggested that a cognitive restructuring of self-image occurs through the process of forced objective perception of others who share a similar physical condition. This acceptance of self-identity and the physical identification of dwarfism then allows the person to lead his/her life more happily and effectively.