The term "midget" is offensive because its origin is linked to the word "midge," a small, biting insect, suggesting a demeaning characteristic rather than a person. Historically, the word has been associated with the "freak show" era of circuses and vaudeville, where people with dwarfism were exhibited for entertainment. Because of this history and the term's inherent derogatory implication, it is considered a pejorative and disrespectful term by many people with dwarfism and related conditions