Halloween Costumes

[Coventina]

Hi all,

I just got done reading an article "My Culture is not a Costume" that basically said that dressing as a Native American for Halloween perpetuates violence against Native Americans.

I don't want to question that, as so many atrocities have been committed against the First Nations that I would hesitate to question any feelings they may have on the matter.

But it got me to thinking about the idea of Halloween costumes and cultural appropriation / violence / disrespect.

Can a non-Scottish person wear a kilt?

Should a non-Mexican wear a sombrero?

If I'm not Polynesian, can I wear a grass skirt?

Is dressing as a witch disrespectful to Wiccans?

If I dress as a hobo, am I mocking the poor?

I'm starting to wonder if costumes are, in their very nature, problematic?

Last Halloween I dressed as a Viking maiden.

[drexelkathy]

1. There are countless costumes

that have nothing to do with stereotypes and cultures

It really isn't that hard to not be offensive when dressing up in a costume for Halloween.

[Coventina]

3. So, I take it that all my examples are problematic in your opinion.

Which is a totally valid opinion, I was asking.
I'm just making sure I'm drawing the right conclusion here.

I apologize to Viking maidens for dressing up as one last year.

[drexelkathy]

6. the way I see it

you could likely offend *someone* simply by participating in Halloween.

Avoid obviously offensive costumes and then apologize if someone says that they are offended, etc.

[Coventina]

7. You make a good point. No matter what, you're likely to offend someone by living your life.

I think the problem with Halloween costumes is that (aside from bigots looking for an excuse to be hateful) virtually no one thinks of their costumes as harmful. That outcry over parents dressing their white kids as Moana and Pocahontas was genuinely surprising to them, I think. I don't have kids, so I only need to worry about myself.

I was thinking of going as Police Girl from Hellsing this Halloween. But, I'm not Anglo-Saxon or blonde. (I'm not a vampire either, but I think I'm safe on that as vampires are imaginary creatures).

[drexelkathy]

11. my son is 5 now

He's into dinosaurs and transformers and Spiderman.

So we have been lucky about his choice in costumes meeting all the policies for schools, etc.

I love kid costumes and seeing them all dressed up and excited.

[Silent3]

2. If you dress up as a zombie...

...are you being insensitive to those who are differently-animated?

[Coventina]

4. Well, that could technically be seen as mocking the religion of Vodoun n/t

[Lucinda]

5. I have zero problems with any costumes or dress style people wish to adopt

Blackfoot and Apache heritage.

[Goonch]

8. I apologize to Lon Chaney Jr

[wyn borkins]

9. Working On

Possibly making a Link to tweet
" target="_blank">Big Bird costume which would be (sorta) scary but not offensive to any living humanoids.

Edit: My link seems to work; however my attempt is quite poor; Happy (early) Halloween

[Sympthsical]

10. Most people don't care

Seriously don't.

Society shouldn't run by the perpetually offended.

[TygrBright]

12. Just keep in mind the "Punching up vs. punching down" comparison

Okay, so your ancestors came from Africa, and you want to wear a Marie Antoinette Halloween costume.

In the "African cultures vs. Colonialist European cultures" arena, Africans are punching up, French are punching down. So go ahead and powder that wig and stuff those panniers.

Okay, so your ancestors came from Germany and you want to wear a Carmen Miranda Halloween costume.

In the "South American cultures vs. Colonialist European cultures" arena, Brazlians are punching up, Germans are punching down. Mothball the fruit bowl and the Samba skirt - come up with something else.

helpfully,
Bright

[Coventina]

14. That is helpful, thanks!

I dressed as a shoe once.

I guess that was punching down.

[budkin]

13. I think most "cultural" costumes are fine as long as you don't darken your skin

Specifically to look like another race.

[Bettie]

15. We were in a Scottish dance group for years

and wore 18th century Scottish dress. My boys now wear kilts just because they like them (and have seen their dad and our old friends in them). We're all quite Germanic by origin.

No one has ever questioned the kilts beyond the usual "what's worn underneath?" (Answer: nothing, it's all in perfect working order)

[OriginalGeek]

17. I wear my kilt all the time to Scottish heritage events...

...Highlands games, Pub nights with the Saint Andrews society, cross-club events with our friends in the Celtic-Norse Heritage society.

We don't discriminate against anyone who wants to join our organizations and even among us who are descended from Scottish clans we don't much care if a person has a drop of Scottish blood. Come eat and drink and dance and be happy with us.

Very few of us care if you aren't a member of our clan and you just picked that kilt out because you like its looks. (And there are quite a few "universal" tartan designs everyone is welcome to wear too - Blackwatch, Royal Stewart, Isle of Skye to name a few)

But I don't normally wear my kilt as a Halloween costume wherein the kilt is the costume. I have, however, dressed up as a kilted zombie for a St Andrews party. The kilt wasn't the point - the zombie was. It may be a tiny sliver of a difference but it was enough for me.

And never fear - Scots will always welcome Germans into our parties - y'all bring great beer!

[Silent3]

16. While re-thinking some traditional costumes and trying to be more culturally sensitive...

...is a good idea, if you act like these costume choices are supremely important matters for fixing long-standing prejudices and get all worked up about it, don't be surprised if people roll their eyes, think you're overreacting, and think you're a party-pooper who doesn't know how to let go and just let other people have fun.

This is how Democrats get a bad rep for being "too woke" for their own good.