Racially insensitive halloween costume?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To 16:54 - so then it's also not ok to dress up in a kilt, or like an Irish lass, etc....anything associated with a culture is strictly off limits? Can an Asian wear a southern belle costume? I think they can. Wearing something...anything...is far different from mocking a culture or being insensitive.

I wonder how you people deal with International night at your school, or with international themed school projects/events. Do you pitch a fit, stomp your feet, and refuse to let your kid participate?

Not 16:54, but to me, the difference is between dressing up as a character (e.g. Cinderella) or a role (e.g. Hippie, doctor, ballerina) or a specific person (e.g. Abraham Lincoln).

Examples: Putting on a basketball uniform and telling people you're LeBron James, or a Washington Wizard is fine. Wearing the same costume and saying you're a "black person", not cool.

Dressing your kid, regardless of ethnicity, in a kilt, and having him tell people he's Duncan McLeod of the Clan McLeod, or in a traditional Irish dancing dress as a "dancer" is totally fine, wearing a stereotyped Scottish or Irish outfit and pretending to represent an entire culture is weird.

If my kid really wanted to wear a kimono that I thought was tasteful, then I'd say "that is a beautiful outfit, isn't it. Let's read some books and figure out who you could be that might wear that outfit." and help her to discover a character, or famous person, or role (not Geisha) that fit with the outfit.

International night is totally different. It's not "dress up and pretend" it's "learn about other cultures". Having said that, I'd raise my eyebrows if someone came to International night in a costume from the Firefly catalog, but an authentic kimono, or a Tshirt from a family vacation to Japan with Kanji on it, would be fine.

Oh yes, because only families that can afford to take a family trip to Japan or buy an authentic kimono should be able to "learn about other cultures." You women are insufferable.

Seriously, you can buy a T-shirt with Japanese writing on it at the Smithsonian gift shop, or at the thrift store. You can also buy a kimono on Etsy for the same price as the linked costume.

[Anonymous]

You said family trip to Japan, not to the Smithsonian. I seriously doubt that Etsy kimonos are authentic. Nice back peddling though.

[Anonymous]

I miss the days when Halloween was actually scary and spooky.

I agree that making someone's cultural clothing as a "costume" is insensitive (at best), but most of the costumes today are pathetically sad and passive. Wish we could bring back the fright into Halloween!

[Anonymous]

Holy smokes, I'm the OP. I just got back online and I can't believe how many responses this question generated! The range of responses is interesting. FWIW, we are a mixed culture family, though DH's culture doesnt have cultural "costumes" (for lack of a better term) . I think I'll buy DD a witch costume and call it a day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You said family trip to Japan, not to the Smithsonian. I seriously doubt that Etsy kimonos are authentic. Nice back peddling though.

I said it as an example.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Holy smokes, I'm the OP. I just got back online and I can't believe how many responses this question generated! The range of responses is interesting. FWIW, we are a mixed culture family, though DH's culture doesnt have cultural "costumes" (for lack of a better term) . I think I'll buy DD a witch costume and call it a day.

You must have missed the post from the Wiccan who was offended by witch costumes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holy smokes, I'm the OP. I just got back online and I can't believe how many responses this question generated! The range of responses is interesting. FWIW, we are a mixed culture family, though DH's culture doesnt have cultural "costumes" (for lack of a better term) . I think I'll buy DD a witch costume and call it a day.

You must have missed the post from the Wiccan who was offended by witch costumes.

Ha! I just went back and read ALL of the posts and yes, I dont want to offend the wiccan. How about Little Red Riding Hood? Is that OK? Or perhaps not, as she isnt a good role model of an indepentend, empowered woman (having to be saved by the woodcutter and what not).

[Anonymous]

^^ sorry for typos. On phone