Growing up, having an older and younger brother brought out the rebel in me as I was nothing like the two of them – both in terms of sex and the other differences that often come with being siblings. Even though I reckon I suffer from ‘middle child syndrome’, I have a certain ‘centre of attention’ about me that I don’t quite understand; it seems to happen naturally and it’s not my fault at all. Best believe that!
One thing I often intentionally forget to mention, because it in no way defines me, though it is part of who I am, is that I stand short at 1.24 metres. Perhaps, I should instead say I stand 1.24 metres tall; but whichever of the two tickles your fancy is fine by me. This height has been verified by my awesome boyfriend, who did so to prove a point that he is 0.6 centimetres taller than I am. Both he and I have the most common type of dwarfism which is achondroplasia.
With this month being Dwarfism Awareness Month, I thought I’d give you a quick lesson on dwarfism so that you can be better informed about what it is and isn’t.
For starters, dwarfism is characterised by short stature; technically, that means an adult height of 4 feet 10 inches (about 1.47m) or shorter. It can be caused by any one of more than 300 conditions, most of which are genetic. Most of these conditions are caused by a spontaneous genetic mutation in the egg or sperm cells prior to conception. Others are caused by genetic changes inherited from one or both parents.
The most common type, accounting for 70% of all cases of short stature, is called achondroplasia. Dwarfism can, and most often does, occur in families where both parents are of average height. In fact, four out of five children with achondroplasia are born to average-size parents . Depending on the type of condition causing the short stature, it is possible for two average-size parents to have a child with short stature, and is also possible for parents who are little people to have an average-size child.
At the same time as I share with you what dwarfism is, I feel it is important to also share what dwarfism isn’t. Dwarfism isn’t an intellectual disability as a person who has dwarfism is typically of normal intelligence. Also, dwarfism isn’t a disease that requires a ‘cure’. Most people with one of these conditions that causes it live long fulfilling lives. Additionally, dwarfism isn’t a reason to assume someone is incapable; little people go to school, go to work, marry, and raise children, just like their average-size peers.
Different kinds of normal
I tend to get really frustrated at the inherited stereotypical mindset of most average height people to automatically think I’m a dancer, actor or a clown. Such ignorance creates barriers to understanding differences in what people call their ‘normal’. Having been on this earth for the past 28 years, being all of me is my normal. Needing to stand on a stool to reach the kitchen sink is my normal. Having to ask my little brother to pass me the cereal box on the top shelf is also my normal. I hate bar stools for obvious reasons (lol) in the same way that my mum hates them and that’s normal to both of us.
Please tell me if you too don’t have your own unconventional standards of what normal is.
Normal is hard to define in our society because it really doesn’t exist. Often, we tend to consider everything we aren’t familiar or comfortable with to be ‘not normal’ or for lack of a better word, ‘abnormal’, which I believe is a very horrible word.
I wrote this article to start a new conversation where we challenge ourselves to recognise, accept and tolerate difference. Not all things are meant to be understood, but with some compassion can be appreciated and respected.
We all exist in the same world but our paths, dreams, thoughts and bodies are different. I haven’t experienced anything else other than the life which I have so far lived and the same is true for you. In the end, life is really just about coexisting with all our differences, and creating space for different kinds of normal.
Article written by Laura Takudzwa Nyamutora
Main Image credits: Musa Bwanali (UMUSA photography)