Is this costume inappropriate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You couldn't just google "racist halloween costume" and answer this one yourself, OP?

http://gawker.com/5672914/is-your-halloween-costume-racist/ http://www.teachforamerica.org/blog/your-halloween-costume-racist

Nearly every link posted by that irate and ignorant PP fails the test. An exception, "English Nanny," is Mary Poppins without having to pay Disney for the title.

This is why a PP told you that the costume you've selected isn't an accurate depiction of Pocahontas.

This really isn't that complicated.

From the very first link:
Possible exception: You are going in a large group that includes Peter Pan, Wendy, and Tinkerbell. Then you're a specific person, Tiger Lily!
[harem girl is out] You may, however, dress as the main character from I Dream of Jeannie.

So OP's costume choice is acceptable according to those "tests" -- her daughter wants to dress up as Pocahontas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You couldn't just google "racist halloween costume" and answer this one yourself, OP?

http://gawker.com/5672914/is-your-halloween-costume-racist/ http://www.teachforamerica.org/blog/your-halloween-costume-racist

Nearly every link posted by that irate and ignorant PP fails the test. An exception, "English Nanny," is Mary Poppins without having to pay Disney for the title.

This is why a PP told you that the costume you've selected isn't an accurate depiction of Pocahontas.

This really isn't that complicated.

From the very first link:
Possible exception: You are going in a large group that includes Peter Pan, Wendy, and Tinkerbell. Then you're a specific person, Tiger Lily!
[harem girl is out] You may, however, dress as the main character from I Dream of Jeannie.

So OP's costume choice is acceptable according to those "tests" -- her daughter wants to dress up as Pocahontas.

Pocahontas (unlike Peter Pan, Wendy, Tinkerbell, and the main character from I Dream of Jeannie) was actually a real actual person, in addition to a Disney movie character.

If OP's daughter wants to dress up as Pocahontas the Disney movie character, that's not the right costume (because Pocahontas the Disney movie character wears a tight little one-shoulder number made of 95% deerskin, 5% Lycra).

If OP's daughter wants to dress up as Pocahontas the real actual person, that's also not the right costume. Maybe the OP and the OP's daughter could do some research on what Pocahontas the real actual person might have worn?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You couldn't just google "racist halloween costume" and answer this one yourself, OP?

http://gawker.com/5672914/is-your-halloween-costume-racist/ http://www.teachforamerica.org/blog/your-halloween-costume-racist

Nearly every link posted by that irate and ignorant PP fails the test. An exception, "English Nanny," is Mary Poppins without having to pay Disney for the title.

This is why a PP told you that the costume you've selected isn't an accurate depiction of Pocahontas.

This really isn't that complicated.

From the very first link:
Possible exception: You are going in a large group that includes Peter Pan, Wendy, and Tinkerbell. Then you're a specific person, Tiger Lily!
[harem girl is out] You may, however, dress as the main character from I Dream of Jeannie.

So OP's costume choice is acceptable according to those "tests" -- her daughter wants to dress up as Pocahontas.

Pocahontas (unlike Peter Pan, Wendy, Tinkerbell, and the main character from I Dream of Jeannie) was actually a real actual person, in addition to a Disney movie character.

If OP's daughter wants to dress up as Pocahontas the Disney movie character, that's not the right costume (because Pocahontas the Disney movie character wears a tight little one-shoulder number made of 95% deerskin, 5% Lycra).

If OP's daughter wants to dress up as Pocahontas the real actual person, that's also not the right costume. Maybe the OP and the OP's daughter could do some research on what Pocahontas the real actual person might have worn?

I'm currently reading "The True Story of Pocahontas -The Other Side of History" by Dr. Linwood "Little Bear" Custalow and Angela L. Daniel "Silver Star".
http://www.amazon.com/True-Story-Pocahontas-History-ebook/dp/B0028ADK1G/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=&qid=

It's totally inappropriate for children.

[Anonymous]

OP here.

MY DD is 4. I know that the Disney version of Pocahontas is not the "true" story. But honestly, she just wants to dress up as the girl she sees on tv. Why do we have to make it so hard. Political Correctness seems to be running amuck

[Anonymous]

http://www.ohio.edu/orgs/stars/Poster_Campaign.html

[Anonymous]

PP, I think that only applies to adults for example dressing up and perpetuating stereotypes. For kids going to a class room party and trick or treating does it matter?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

MY DD is 4. I know that the Disney version of Pocahontas is not the "true" story. But honestly, she just wants to dress up as the girl she sees on tv. Why do we have to make it so hard. Political Correctness seems to be running amuck

DD dressed as a Geisha last year and DS is thinking about going as a gay Boy Scout (now that they are allowed). So, yeah, we do costumes that could be offensive. For whatever reason DH thinks that it's less offensive since the kids aren't white.

[Anonymous]

So, kids can perpetuate stereotypes but for adults it's wrong?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, kids can perpetuate stereotypes but for adults it's wrong?

OP here.

I think that dressing as a Disney character is different than dressing as a terrorist, or a Nazi or wearing black face.

I hve seen people who are dressing as a celebrity for example Tina Turner, then paint themselves brown which takes it a little to the "offensive side"


Also the costume in the OP isnt the final choice on her costume i just googled "Pocahontas costume" to see what DCUM thought about it (offensive or not)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with your friend. Native American clothing is not a "costume." Sometimes it's entirely ok to tell kids no, and better yet, explain why.

What do *you* call Native American clothing?

[Anonymous]

Ok well is it okay to dress up as a nurse for halloween as an adult?

How about a celebrity?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok well is it okay to dress up as a nurse for halloween as an adult?

How about a celebrity?

Why not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok well is it okay to dress up as a nurse for halloween as an adult?

How about a celebrity?

Dressing up as a stereotype, vs. dressing up as a specific, recognizable individual. The former is inappropriate. The later is ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with your friend. Native American clothing is not a "costume." Sometimes it's entirely ok to tell kids no, and better yet, explain why.

What do *you* call Native American clothing?

Well, you can start by learning about some specific articles and garments. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Native_American_clothing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, I think that only applies to adults for example dressing up and perpetuating stereotypes. For kids going to a class room party and trick or treating does it matter?

I don't understand the child vs. adult differentiation. Aren't the parents buying the costumes? Shouldn't the parents be tasked with educating their children?