I guess the Taliban blue burka costumes we wore a few years ago would get us in hot water now…
When my son was 3 mos. old, DH (protestant), me (atheist) and DS (then undecided) went as Joseph, Mary and Jesus. As far as I know, none of our (Catholic, Jewish, Protestant, Zoroastrian, and ???) friends were offended. But today? Probably wouldn’t fly.
And don’t even get me started on our co-op house’s annual “pervert party”!
As a person with Roma heritage, who has had to explain to far too many people that no, Gypsies are not a Disney creation but rather are a real people who face real discrimination, it does bother me when people wear Gypsy costumes. It bothers me when people wear any costumes appropriating another culture when they face so much hatred and discrimination.
Am I going to rant about it? No. But it is honestly one of the reasons I have never been a fan of Halloween.
If that makes me sensitive, so be it.
The goal is "to avoid promoting concepts that reinforce historical stereotypes and mock or offend various cultures, races, ethnicities or identities.” Back in my day, this was simply called having class and good taste. I applaud these young people for being considerate of others.
you can’t have it both ways though. You can’t claim that (element of dress) is a valued cultural aspect that should be respected and honored AND that portraying it “reinforces historical stereotypes.” Mariachi bands DO wear those kinds of hats. Japanese women DO wear kimonos. And so forth.
How is dressing my hypothetical 8 yo daughter in a Japanese kimono and tabi socks “mocking” Japanese culture?
Romani, who gets to be the thought police deciding what aspects honor/celebrate someone else’s culture and what aspects inappropriately re-appropriate them? If I go eat tacos, am I celebrating Mexican culture or mocking it? How about if you eat bagels and lox?
When I went to India earlier this year, I wore a shalwar kameez and a kurta. Was that “cultural re appropriation” or being respectful and blending in? What if I go with a girlfriend to the Indian section of Chicago and shop for beautiful saris? Am I “allowed” to do so or do I need an authentic Indian card? I’ve enjoyed shopping for native clothing and art in a lot of the countries I visit. What are the rules for what I can and cannot wear and where I can and cannot wear it? Is it cultural reappropriation for an Indian woman to go into Pendleton and buy a tartan skirt?
Are the only things we are allowed to wear / buy / display / eat those associated with our own ethnic group of birth?
If your objective, as it is for most polite people, is to avoid unintentionally hurting the feelings of others, then being a bit extra-sensitive to those who feel mocked, stereotyped, or shamed is admirable. Yes, you may feel that someone is being oversensitive. But why not err on the side of courtesy and consideration? Why not teach your kids that someone who has suffered discrimination in the past for how they look is likely to be a bit sensitive when other dress up ‘like them’ for fun and that kindness dictates that you think before you act. If you still feel a need to be a sexy Pocahantes, despite your knowledge that many Native Americans find it offensive, well, that’s your right but don’t be surprised then you are judged to be an crass and insensitive idiot by others. It’s your right, but it’s also wrong.
I’m not talking about me being a sexy Pocahontas. What about my hypothetical 8 yo being Pocahontas?
There is a big difference with a children’s Pocahontas, and the slutting up of the now frequent PocaHOTas, outfits that are de rigeur at many parties. The former is at once benign and innocent, the later, incredibly offensive…
I certainly hope not. Based on my hometown I might be stuck wearing flannel and waving confederate battle flags.
My take is that the point is not to take the worst cultural stereotypes, grossly exaggerate them in a mocking way or sex them up and call that your Halloween costume. Of course people are free to do whatever they want and others are free to look on their choice with disapprobation (which may or may not matter depending on the audience). As has been said . . . it’s hard to go wrong with zombie, grim reaper and other Halloween classics. Not dressing as a minstrel leaves many, many options still open.
In the spirit of disability advocacy, I once formally objected to “sterotypical nerd” dress-up day at my kid’s grade school to protect the nerds there. I had my reasons. The theme was ultimately switched by the student council kids to something less abusive. I think the campus campaigns are in the same spirit. They are asking for change. Change can be hard and feel weird.
We went for pizza last night and a young woman who frequently serves us (we love sitting in her station) had a “costume” type slash across her neck that looked very real. It was a little unsettling!
I don’t get the hype over Halloween. My neighbors have an elaborate crime scene yard set up. It’s fine, it’s their thing. I just don’t get that into it. I couldn’t even get my light-up pumpkin to work this year.
ETA: Sorry, I went a little off-topic. I do think people should try to be sensitive to cultural differences and things that might be inadvertently offensive to others.
Sexing it up is a different issue IMO.
Boola - I’m not so sure an 8 yo Pocahontas would be seen by all these days as “benign and innocent.”
I’m fine with a Pocahontas costume if it looks like this:
http://blog.encyclopediavirginia.org/files/2013/04/1763scr_a4886723df2f47d.jpg
I feel like, first, dressing as a specific character (Pocahontas) is permissible. However, using @Pizzagirl 's example, it is cultural appropriation/Not cool to wear culturally significant items (burqa, shalwaar kameez, kimono) when it is something that individuals are subject to discrimination over. Essentially, if it is seen as “foreign” or “weird” or “un-American” when an individual of that race wears it, YOU shouldn’t wear it as a costume.
I really don’t like the term “cultural appropriation” used as exclusively negative. Pretty much everything worthwhile in any culture is appropriation of one sort or another. Example 1: the liberal arts - our cultural appropriation of the Middle Ages’ cultural appropriation of late antique cultural appropriation of classical Greek learning. Example 2: rock and roll music, or the Beastie Boys. Banning cultural appropriation means we get stuck with Wonderbread and Lawrence Welk; I ain’t down with that. Racist Halloween costumes are bad because they’re racist, not because they happen to also be cultural appropriation.