" . . . asking someone to trade their dignity for a paycheck is considered normal."

Dude, don't most of us do that, after all?

Most of us are not asked to wear a clownish costume that mocks their disability (which in turn limits their job options). This theme park sounds like a Renaissance fair without the joy. But I have not seen the documentary yet.

You write for The Stranger and you talk about trading your dignity for a paycheck? Ha!

AllenW thank you.

Hey, it beats Welfare.

@3- spot-on.

" If the little people are upset with their lives they will say so and do something about. They're not helpless you know. " ... As much as I have always enjoyed playing Dwarfs in RPG games, I'm pretty sure real life dwarfism is a disability. Not just due to the obvious fact that they are short, but also other serous health issues that can arise due to dwarfism. That means what you are saying is a little bit easier said than done.

I understand what you are saying. I'm not saying there are not Dwarfs out there that enjoy the world of showbiz. In fact, I wish more Dwarf actors were given good roles in the film industry. I'm just saying their disability can significantly limit some of their job prospects, especially if they live in an impoverished area, and therefore their ability to look for work elsewhere if they don't like their current career.

(If it was rude, my apologies for referencing the fantasy Dwarf stereotype, which I know some Little People dislike. To me, RPG Dwarfs were the most badass of the bunch.)

You seem to forget that Kingdom of the Little People is in China, where human values are different from western values at the very core. I've lived here 5 years and Little People are extremely rare, largely because most of them are aborted or abandoned at birth. The few I have seen typically make their living as "street performers" ( a euphemism for people with disabilities who perform on the street for money as opposed to simply begging). You will never see a dwarf doctor, teacher, or cashier. The idea of "trading your dignity for a paycheck" does not apply here. Most of the employees at Kingdom of the Little People literally have no other options.