Halloween costume - do you think this is offensive?

[Anonymous]

My eight year old dressed up as Harry Potter this year. He already wears glasses and has a minor scar on his forehead from a toddler-era accident (not in a lightening bolt shape though) so I helped him draw a small Harry Potter-style scar to complete the look. At a neighborhood Halloween event, another parent confronted me and him about the drawn-on lightening bolt scar and told us how offensive it was.

I understand where this person was coming from in one sense. I think we can all think of examples of Halloween make-up and accessories that are offensive and mocking and/or dehumanizing to people with facial or other physical scars or differences. But I also didn't feel like my kid was denigrating people with facial scars with this particular costume, perhaps in part because he already does have a small, but noticeable, forehead scar. But even if a kid doesn't have a forehead scar, I still think it's acceptable for them to dress as Harry Potter and draw on a lightening bolt.

Anyway, just looking for some outside perspective here and if I should reconsider allowing my younger kid (without glasses or a forehead scar) to recycle this costume a few years from now if he wants.

[Anonymous]

The other parent is crazy and needs a hobby.

[Anonymous]

I would tell the other parent to pound sand.

[Anonymous]

Not offensive. Other parent was rude.

[Anonymous]

Not offensive and the other parent has lost their mind. Don’t give it another thought.

[Anonymous]

Not offensive. Hard to believe this happened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not offensive. Hard to believe this happened.

+1
I don't believe it. It was an NPR story, not real life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not offensive. Hard to believe this happened.

+1
I don't believe it. It was an NPR story, not real life.

I wish it hadn't happened! My kid has seemingly never been bothered about having a facial scar but after the confrontation he was asking if people would make fun him for it.

Maybe the NPR story is where my neighbor got the idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not offensive. Hard to believe this happened.

+1
I don't believe it. It was an NPR story, not real life.

I wish it hadn't happened! My kid has seemingly never been bothered about having a facial scar but after the confrontation he was asking if people would make fun him for it.

Maybe the NPR story is where my neighbor got the idea.

Your neighbor is nuts and can’t think for themselves. It’s not offensive and I’m Sorry your son now has a complex.

[Anonymous]

Very strange. I would not give it a second thought and would reuse the costume as desired. What would the presence of an actual scar have to do with dressing up as Harry Potter.

[Anonymous]

Keep that neighbor around for annual events, but block them on your phone. They’ll be fun for 2-3 hours of nonsensical drama / year, but I wouldn’t want more than that.

[Anonymous]

Guys, this never happened.

[Anonymous]

I really hope this is a troll.
Are you the one who posted about scars before Halloween?

As a multi-national, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural person, who also has a scar on her neck (thyroid), please, do whatever you like on Halloween.

I couldn't care less if you dress in any costume referencing any of my cultures. Nobody should be offended that on a DRESS-UP DAY, people dress-up! It's ridiculous to stick to one's own culture and medical status! The entire point of the exercise is to look DIFFERENT.

Stop with the virtue signaling. It's exhausting.

[Anonymous]

This is a joke.

[Anonymous]

Not offensive. Your child was fine. Please don’t give this another thought.