Marks and Spencer rebrands Midget Gems after claims name is offensive to people with dwarfism

by 24britishtvJan. 13, 2022, 6 p.m. 90
-

Marks and Spencer has renamed its popular Midget Gems sweets to avoid offending people with dwarfism.

They will now be called Mini Gems after a disability academic raised concerns about the use of the word "midget".

Dr Erin Pritchard, who has a condition that stunts growth called achondroplasia, approached a number of supermarkets and confectionary makers about changing the name.

The lecturer in disability studies at Liverpool Hope University said "midget" is seen as a derogatory term for people with growth problems and has previously called for the use of it to be seen as hate speech.

M&S sues Aldi for 'copying' Christmas gin - just months after caterpillar cake row

M&S is the first to react to her campaign, saying it was "committed to being an inclusive retailer" as it rolled out the changed labelling.

A spokeswoman said: "Following suggestions from our colleagues and the insights shared by Dr Erin Pritchard, we introduced new Mini Gem packaging last year, which has since been rolled out to all of our stores."

Tesco has also announced it will be reviewing the name of its product, saying it is a "diverse and inclusive retailer" and would not want any of its products to "cause offence".

Following the announcement, Dr Pritchard claimed "a lot" of people were getting "upset" about the change.

She tweeted: "It seems that there are a lot of average-sized men getting upset about the removal of the word midget from a packet of sweets.

"I didn't realise they were so sensitive."

In her recent book, Dr Pritchard argues the word midget should be classed as a form of hate speech due to its origins in Victorian freak shows.

She wrote in Big Issue North: "Often referred to by people with dwarfism as the m-word, it is a term derived from the word midge, meaning gnat or sandfly.

"Its origin automatically dehumanises people like me. It was a term popularised during the Victorian freak show, where many disabled people, including people with dwarfism, were oppressed and exploited."

-

Related Articles

HOT TRENDS

50 Cent Denies Daphne Joy Sexual & Physical Abuse Allegations

by 24britishtvMarch 29, 2024, 3 a.m.2
HOT TRENDS

50 Cent Denies Ex Daphne Joy’s Rape and Abuse Allegations

by 24britishtvMarch 29, 2024, 2 a.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Stephen Bear to pay £27k over illegal sex tape of Georgia Harrison

by 24britishtvMarch 29, 2024, 1 a.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter: The verdict - is it Yeehaw or No Ma'am?

by 24britishtvMarch 29, 2024, midnight2
HOT TRENDS

Everything to know on ITV courtroom drama The Twelve starring Sam Neill

by 24britishtvMarch 29, 2024, midnight2
HOT TRENDS

Everything to know on ITV courtroom drama The Twelve starring Sam Neill

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 11 p.m.2
HOT TRENDS

FA charges Tonali over alleged betting rules breaches

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 11 p.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Isle of Man closer to assisted dying legalisation

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 10 p.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Watch: Comedian Ed Gamble in the hot dog house over tour poster

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 10 p.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Fallen 'Crypto King' Sam Bankman-Fried gets 25 years for fraud

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 9:20 p.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Two people dead due to Storm Nelson

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 7 p.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Assisted dying: what are the laws in UK and what changes are proposed?

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 7 p.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Sam Bankman-Fried live updates: 'Crypto King' sentenced to 25 years prison

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 6 p.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Storm Nelson brings snow in Devon raising fears of Easter travel chaos

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 6 p.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Could assisted dying be coming to Scotland?

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 4 p.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Larry Lloyd | 1948 - 2024

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 4 p.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Happy Easter in a plastic egg •

by 24britishtvMarch 28, 2024, 4 p.m.2