Questions re: potentially lame costume, and trick-or-treating date

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The ignorance in this thread is such that I won't bother giving a serious effect.

Dressing up as a Chinese person is not the same as dressing up as a firefighter, or Medusa, or a vampire. Those think it is the same are showing both their ignorance and the fact that they are not a member of a racial minority in the US.

Exactly. If you grew up, as I did, having kids pulling their eyes to make "slanty eyes" at you, or telling you "China, Japan, wherever you are from, it is all the same, you are all chinky" and saying things like "me love you long time sailor" etc. etc. etc. -- or better yet, being told by neighbor kids that they aren't allowed to play with you because you aren't white -- you would not be merrily making jokes about offending witches and so forth.

And for the record, I would not be "offended." I would just think you are ignorant and don't know the first thing about the history of racism and racial stereotyping against people of Asian descent in this country. Do some reading up on it and you may be shocked at what you learn.

[Anonymous]

Thank you 00 43!

If someone knocked on my door with a child dressed up on my country's clothes with make up on and an updo to imitate "our" hair style I would not feel offended at all. I would LOL at their ignorance.

Lazy woman you are OP. Ask what the child wants to be for H and go on Craigslist or ask a neighbor/friend if they have the costume in the back of their closet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The ignorance in this thread is such that I won't bother giving a serious effect.

Dressing up as a Chinese person is not the same as dressing up as a firefighter, or Medusa, or a vampire. Those think it is the same are showing both their ignorance and the fact that they are not a member of a racial minority in the US.

Exactly. If you grew up, as I did, having kids pulling their eyes to make "slanty eyes" at you, or telling you "China, Japan, wherever you are from, it is all the same, you are all chinky" and saying things like "me love you long time sailor" etc. etc. etc. -- or better yet, being told by neighbor kids that they aren't allowed to play with you because you aren't white -- you would not be merrily making jokes about offending witches and so forth.

And for the record, I would not be "offended." I would just think you are ignorant and don't know the first thing about the history of racism and racial stereotyping against people of Asian descent in this country. Do some reading up on it and you may be shocked at what you learn.

When I first saw the OP's question, I thought what's the big deal? But you're right it's offensive. It's as cringe worthy as people who allow their children to wear afro wigs.

[Anonymous]

I am Asian. I think the costume sounds cute. I'd skip the makeup.

[Anonymous]

NP here.
I can't believe that this thread exists, because my daughter wants to be a "Chinese princess" this year! This was her request back in September. And I plan to let her. We already have the dress, and shoes (both picked up overseas). I really don't think it's a big deal. If you knew us, you wouldn't think it's a big deal either. She's not getting eye make-up drawn on her or anything (she's 5), although I may put her hair in a bun and stick some chopsticks in it. It's Halloween. She's not a racist, nor am I.

Happy Halloween!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here.
I can't believe that this thread exists, because my daughter wants to be a "Chinese princess" this year! This was her request back in September. And I plan to let her. We already have the dress, and shoes (both picked up overseas). I really don't think it's a big deal. If you knew us, you wouldn't think it's a big deal either. She's not getting eye make-up drawn on her or anything (she's 5), although I may put her hair in a bun and stick some chopsticks in it. It's Halloween. She's not a racist, nor am I.

Happy Halloween!

Right. Because Chinese people go around with chopsticks in their hair. But since you know you're not a racist.

[Anonymous]

@ 10:25. She's a child. It's a costume. Relax.

[Anonymous]

Call me unPC, but this is really over thinking a 3yr old's costume. Traditional dress "costumes" are being made and sold in their native lands for tourists to buy. Then people get upset when those purchased items are actually worn?

OP, she'll look adorable. I agree not to go the slanty-eye makeup route. Use glittery kiddie makeup and if anyone asks tell them she's a beautiful princess. She'll feel like a million bucks and have a great time. OP isn't lazy, she's spending time on her DD's hair and makeup as opposed to just putting a store-bought mask on her face. Good grief people, not making a homemade costume or shelling out $40 for a store bought costume are not signs of a bad parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Call me unPC, but this is really over thinking a 3yr old's costume. Traditional dress "costumes" are being made and sold in their native lands for tourists to buy. Then people get upset when those purchased items are actually worn?

OP, she'll look adorable. I agree not to go the slanty-eye makeup route. Use glittery kiddie makeup and if anyone asks tell them she's a beautiful princess. She'll feel like a million bucks and have a great time. OP isn't lazy, she's spending time on her DD's hair and makeup as opposed to just putting a store-bought mask on her face. Good grief people, not making a homemade costume or shelling out $40 for a store bought costume are not signs of a bad parent.

+1!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, some people are easily offended. I have often received lovely traditional garb from friends who travel, and worn it to Halloween parties. When else am I going to wear a gorgeous sari, or a kimono? Do you think my Indian friend who brought me the sari thought that perhaps I should wear it to work? And if I did, how long would it be before someone posted on here "I just saw a blond woman on metro all decked out in a fancy sari. She's not Indian! How weird!"

What is the point of having these items if you don't wear them? And when ELSE can you wear them, if not on Halloween? Serious question.

Why? To the White House state dinner of course!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, some people are easily offended. I have often received lovely traditional garb from friends who travel, and worn it to Halloween parties. When else am I going to wear a gorgeous sari, or a kimono? Do you think my Indian friend who brought me the sari thought that perhaps I should wear it to work? And if I did, how long would it be before someone posted on here "I just saw a blond woman on metro all decked out in a fancy sari. She's not Indian! How weird!"

What is the point of having these items if you don't wear them? And when ELSE can you wear them, if not on Halloween? Serious question.

Why? To the White House state dinner of course!

But... I wasn't invited! Oh, wait... never mind.

[Anonymous]

Omigod, i also was thinking of dressing my soon to be 3 yo in a Chinese silk outfit----I just thought it was pretty and she would look pretty in it, and that I would call her a Chinese princess. No makeup--yuck to the madeup eyes. Didn't know that just wearing an outfit woudl generate such emotion. I saw plenty of "European" princess outfits in the costume rack at Marshall's yesterday . . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The ignorance in this thread is such that I won't bother giving a serious effect.

Dressing up as a Chinese person is not the same as dressing up as a firefighter, or Medusa, or a vampire. Those think it is the same are showing both their ignorance and the fact that they are not a member of a racial minority in the US.

I agree completely!

[Anonymous]

Hi all! OP here. And wow... some of you people are NUTS! I was just posting because I thought it was a lazy costume (guilty!), not an offensive one.

Dear lord no, I wasn't going to paint "slanty eyes" on my kid. I was thinking about lipgloss and silver eyeshadow, so that she feels more dressed up.

By the way, my daughter's not white. Are the PC posters more or less offended at the idea of a little brown girl wearing other cultures' precious traditional costumes? It is more acceptable than someone from a white oppressor-culture appropriating these items, given that our people are more oppressed in the U.S. today than almost any other group? Can I get a solidarity exemption here?

And one final point: I asked the question on Facebook (I've just outed myself to anyone here who might know me in real life). The responses from my Asian friends and everyone else were unanimous: "what's the big deal?" That, and "adorable! Can't wait to see pictures!"

To the parents of the other Chinese princesses-- call me! We'll take 'em out all together, and the cuteness factor will increase exponentially.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, some people are easily offended. I have often received lovely traditional garb from friends who travel, and worn it to Halloween parties. When else am I going to wear a gorgeous sari, or a kimono? Do you think my Indian friend who brought me the sari thought that perhaps I should wear it to work? And if I did, how long would it be before someone posted on here "I just saw a blond woman on metro all decked out in a fancy sari. She's not Indian! How weird!"

What is the point of having these items if you don't wear them? And when ELSE can you wear them, if not on Halloween? Serious question.

Why? To the White House state dinner of course!

But... I wasn't invited! Oh, wait... never mind.

Apparently invitations are not necessary... unless you get caught. But then you can always say you had one. Never mind people lose their jobs. Whatever, right?