Racially insensitive halloween costume?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was looking through the Chasing Fireflies halloween costume catalog tonight and remarked that the kimono costume was cute. My DH says its insensitive and he doesnt want to ring the doorbell of our elderly Chinese neighbors w our DD wearing a kimono for Halloween. Thoughts? One of the neighborhood kids wore an Indian sari last year and I thought it was beautiful and my DH also thought that was not PC.

What are you going to say she is dressed up as?

Exactly. Dress up as Krishna or Parvati? That's one thing. Dress up in a sari? What's that kid supposed to be?

[Anonymous]

He is Snoop Lion now ladies. Let's keep up shall we.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

What's wrong or offensive about portraying a culture as an "other"? People don't typically wear kimonos in American culture, so of course it's something different to us. What's wrong with recognizing that it's something different?

Do you not get that people actually wear kimonos and saris as daily wear in parts of the world? Some people even do in America - every day! Wearing one as a funny costume means that to you, a kimono and a fairy costume or clown costume or devil costume are the same thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What's wrong or offensive about portraying a culture as an "other"? People don't typically wear kimonos in American culture, so of course it's something different to us. What's wrong with recognizing that it's something different?

"Other" doesn't mean different. "Other" means "not as human as we are".

How does wearing a kimono on Halloween mean I think the Japanese are less human? Seems like a huge logical jump to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What's wrong or offensive about portraying a culture as an "other"? People don't typically wear kimonos in American culture, so of course it's something different to us. What's wrong with recognizing that it's something different?

Do you not get that people actually wear kimonos and saris as daily wear in parts of the world? Some people even do in America - every day! Wearing one as a funny costume means that to you, a kimono and a fairy costume or clown costume or devil costume are the same thing.

Per Wikipedia, the tradition of wearing costumes on Halloween originated as follows:

"It was traditionally believed that the souls of the departed wandered the earth until All Saints' Day, and All Hallows' Eve provided one last chance for the dead to gain vengeance on their enemies before moving to the next world. In order to avoid being recognised by any soul that might be seeking such vengeance, people would don masks or costumes to disguise their identities"

I guess it comes down to whether or not you believe that wearing a Halloween costume amounts to ridicule. While it can, I don't believe this to be true as a rule.

[Anonymous]

guess it comes down to whether or not you believe that wearing a Halloween costume amounts to ridicule. While it can, I don't believe this to be true as a rule.

It depends entirely on the costume. Don't be obtuse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

guess it comes down to whether or not you believe that wearing a Halloween costume amounts to ridicule. While it can, I don't believe this to be true as a rule.

It depends entirely on the costume. Don't be obtuse.

Isn't that pretty much what I just said?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

guess it comes down to whether or not you believe that wearing a Halloween costume amounts to ridicule. While it can, I don't believe this to be true as a rule.

It depends entirely on the costume. Don't be obtuse.

And....we are right back where we started.

[Anonymous]

I always thought Halloween was a time to wear something and be someone you are not normally. I never thought the costumes were worn as a form of ridicule - unless that was the purpose and then the costume was pretty much "out there" if a laugh was what was wanted.

When I was young, I remember dressing up as a construction worker, a pregnant woman (my catholic mom was always pregnant and so at the age of 5 I decided that would be my costume), a mummy, you name it. It was for fun. Dressing up in a kimono or a sari does not mean the costume is being ridiculed, it means that a little girl thinks it is cute/pretty and wants to wear it. For example, my DD wants to be a flamingo this year because the costume makes her feel pretty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always thought Halloween was a time to wear something and be someone you are not normally. I never thought the costumes were worn as a form of ridicule - unless that was the purpose and then the costume was pretty much "out there" if a laugh was what was wanted.

When I was young, I remember dressing up as a construction worker, a pregnant woman (my catholic mom was always pregnant and so at the age of 5 I decided that would be my costume), a mummy, you name it. It was for fun. Dressing up in a kimono or a sari does not mean the costume is being ridiculed, it means that a little girl thinks it is cute/pretty and wants to wear it. For example, my DD wants to be a flamingo this year because the costume makes her feel pretty.

Exactly.

[Anonymous]

As a woman born in India who has occasion to wear a beautiful Sari at least once a month, I think you women are nuts. I would think it adorable if I had a girl trick or treat at my home. If I knew a neighbor girl who wanted to wear one or even use them for dress up I would pull out my daughter's old Saris.

You people sound nuts.

[Anonymous]

So relieved to see other people talking sense on this thread!

Halloween is a time to try on a new identity - whether that's as a flamingo, a nun, or a Japanese lady, it is not done to ridicule anyone or their identity; of course a "cultural" costume is acceptable! (Yes, draw the line at nazi garb or a "slave in chains" costume but come on, we all know the appropriate boundaries here.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always thought Halloween was a time to wear something and be someone you are not normally. I never thought the costumes were worn as a form of ridicule - unless that was the purpose and then the costume was pretty much "out there" if a laugh was what was wanted.

When I was young, I remember dressing up as a construction worker, a pregnant woman (my catholic mom was always pregnant and so at the age of 5 I decided that would be my costume), a mummy, you name it. It was for fun. Dressing up in a kimono or a sari does not mean the costume is being ridiculed, it means that a little girl thinks it is cute/pretty and wants to wear it. For example, my DD wants to be a flamingo this year because the costume makes her feel pretty.

Right so she is being a flamingo. What is the little girl in the kimono being? If someone says to her what is your costume or what are you dressed up as...what would the little girl say?

[Anonymous]

Ooh, flamingo costume.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a woman born in India who has occasion to wear a beautiful Sari at least once a month, I think you women are nuts. I would think it adorable if I had a girl trick or treat at my home. If I knew a neighbor girl who wanted to wear one or even use them for dress up I would pull out my daughter's old Saris.

You people sound nuts.

You are right. I've seen more PC nuts on this thread than any other DCUM thread in memory, and that is saying something.