Halloween costume - offensive ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"But dressing up as a "Chinese person" or a "Native American" still, to me, isn't ok."

We've heard your objections, and since you have no further arguments than it "isn't ok" to you, we disagree with you.

Veterans have traditionally been a marginalized group, and they are a protected class. Is it offensive to dress up as a soldier or sailor?

NP here. The bolded is absurd.

How do you figure?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"But dressing up as a "Chinese person" or a "Native American" still, to me, isn't ok."

We've heard your objections, and since you have no further arguments than it "isn't ok" to you, we disagree with you.

Veterans have traditionally been a marginalized group, and they are a protected class. Is it offensive to dress up as a soldier or sailor?

There's not just one of me, and we disagree with you.

As will history.

OMG, so dramatic. A kid's Halloween costume will go down in history.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those of you who are so quick to say that OP is "over-thinking" this, or that those of us who are explaining why we think her daughter should have a different costume are "tedious' or "haven't smiled in a year" should do some actual research on this topic.

Here's a place to start
http://everydayfeminism.com/2014/12/what-exactly-is-cultural-appropriation-and-how-is-it-harmful/

I've read a ton on this topic. I teach in "area studies" (women's studies), and I totally disagree. Halloween especially is about playacting, embodying something you want to try out. You should never exploit others for your own gain, and you should not make fun of other people or hurt them. However, this movement is making it very, very difficult to introduce people to other cultures through play: clothes, food, dance, art ... That's how most people come to appreciate other cultures first, before they delve into the history.

I partially disagree, but I respect your disagreement! I, too, have issues with the idea that you can only "respect" the culture you were born into and I agree that hyper-protectiveness in many cases is self-defeating.

But dressing up as a "Chinese person" or a "Native American" still, to me, isn't ok. You can't really "try out" what it means to be Native American, and even though Halloween is supposed to be fun, I can totally understand why people would take issue with their culture -- particularly one marginalized in the US -- being something to dress up in for your own amusement.

What what about a Chinese person who wants to wear "Western" clothing, say a plaid shirt and demin jeans. Is she a victim of false-consciousness, wanting to adopt the culture of a colonizing nation? Or can she, simply because you assume that all persons of color are "victims" have the right to dress however they want?

I agree with the previous PP. I've also done a ton of research on this topic (and career is in the field of ethnic studies/conflict resolution), and I think that it perfectly OK for children with innocent intent to dress up as persons in other cultures.

[Anonymous]

This reminds me of all the insufferable and oh-so-aware whites who have been bashing the Redskins as offensive, and then when the Post asked actual American Indians if it bothered them, over 90% said "No, it doesn't bother me. It's fine."

Stuff White People Like: getting "offended."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"But dressing up as a "Chinese person" or a "Native American" still, to me, isn't ok."

We've heard your objections, and since you have no further arguments than it "isn't ok" to you, we disagree with you.

Veterans have traditionally been a marginalized group, and they are a protected class. Is it offensive to dress up as a soldier or sailor?

There's not just one of me, and we disagree with you.

As will history.

OMG, so dramatic. A kid's Halloween costume will go down in history.

I'm not PP, but social mores are changing. I'm guessing by the time our kids are grown, they'll look back on a "generic Indian" costume the way we look at blackface now. They'll be embarrassed they participated in it, and a little mad that their parents didn't know better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:she needs to be a specific historical person, not just an American Indian.

this is the right thing.

FWIW-im a person of color- as long as you don't die your skin use makeup to try facial features (hair is ok- i mean long black hair pony tail for kristi yamaguchi instead of blond ponytail) then i don't find it offensive at any rate. An ethnic costume is not a halloween costume- dressing up as a specific person is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"But dressing up as a "Chinese person" or a "Native American" still, to me, isn't ok."

We've heard your objections, and since you have no further arguments than it "isn't ok" to you, we disagree with you.

Veterans have traditionally been a marginalized group, and they are a protected class. Is it offensive to dress up as a soldier or sailor?

NP here. The bolded is absurd.

How do you figure?

Veterans have traditionally been one of the most honored groups in the US. They are applauded, celebrated, and honored in any number of ways, and rightfully so IMO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"But dressing up as a "Chinese person" or a "Native American" still, to me, isn't ok."

We've heard your objections, and since you have no further arguments than it "isn't ok" to you, we disagree with you.

Veterans have traditionally been a marginalized group, and they are a protected class. Is it offensive to dress up as a soldier or sailor?

NP here. The bolded is absurd.

How do you figure?

Veterans have traditionally been one of the most honored groups in the US. They are applauded, celebrated, and honored in any number of ways, and rightfully so IMO.

LOL. You clearly don't know any history prior to 1991.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"But dressing up as a "Chinese person" or a "Native American" still, to me, isn't ok."

We've heard your objections, and since you have no further arguments than it "isn't ok" to you, we disagree with you.

Veterans have traditionally been a marginalized group, and they are a protected class. Is it offensive to dress up as a soldier or sailor?

There's not just one of me, and we disagree with you.

As will history.

OMG, so dramatic. A kid's Halloween costume will go down in history.

I'm not PP, but social mores are changing. I'm guessing by the time our kids are grown, they'll look back on a "generic Indian" costume the way we look at blackface now. They'll be embarrassed they participated in it, and a little mad that their parents didn't know better.

Yup.

[Anonymous]

You guys are WAY overthinking this. It's a COSTUME for God's sake. Did you even read the OP? COSTUME. For HALLOWEEN! OMG.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:she needs to be a specific historical person, not just an American Indian.

this is the right thing.

FWIW-im a person of color- as long as you don't die your skin use makeup to try facial features (hair is ok- i mean long black hair pony tail for kristi yamaguchi instead of blond ponytail) then i don't find it offensive at any rate. An ethnic costume is not a halloween costume- dressing up as a specific person is.

I agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:she needs to be a specific historical person, not just an American Indian.

this is the right thing.

FWIW-im a person of color- as long as you don't die your skin use makeup to try facial features (hair is ok- i mean long black hair pony tail for kristi yamaguchi instead of blond ponytail) then i don't find it offensive at any rate. An ethnic costume is not a halloween costume- dressing up as a specific person is.

I agree.

We don't need your permission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You guys are WAY overthinking this. It's a COSTUME for God's sake. Did you even read the OP? COSTUME. For HALLOWEEN! OMG.

We can SHOUT TOO. And it is an offensive costume because she is dressing as an ethnicity, not a specific person despite mom attempting to slap a Sacagawea fig leaf over it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"But dressing up as a "Chinese person" or a "Native American" still, to me, isn't ok."

We've heard your objections, and since you have no further arguments than it "isn't ok" to you, we disagree with you.

Veterans have traditionally been a marginalized group, and they are a protected class. Is it offensive to dress up as a soldier or sailor?

NP here. The bolded is absurd.

How do you figure?

Veterans have traditionally been one of the most honored groups in the US. They are applauded, celebrated, and honored in any number of ways, and rightfully so IMO.

LOL. You clearly don't know any history prior to 1991.

I have records from my far-back American ancestors showing their pensions from serving in the US military, back to the Revolutionary War. We also have the GI Bill (fun fact - they were structured in a way to be all but unusable for Black veterans), the VA, and veteran's preference for federal jobs began in 1952.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"But dressing up as a "Chinese person" or a "Native American" still, to me, isn't ok."

We've heard your objections, and since you have no further arguments than it "isn't ok" to you, we disagree with you.

Veterans have traditionally been a marginalized group, and they are a protected class. Is it offensive to dress up as a soldier or sailor?

NP here. The bolded is absurd.

How do you figure?

Veterans have traditionally been one of the most honored groups in the US. They are applauded, celebrated, and honored in any number of ways, and rightfully so IMO.

LOL. You clearly don't know any history prior to 1991.

I have records from my far-back American ancestors showing their pensions from serving in the US military, back to the Revolutionary War. We also have the GI Bill (fun fact - they were structured in a way to be all but unusable for Black veterans), the VA, and veteran's preference for federal jobs began in 1952.

So if there are direct government payments, that means the group is no longer marginalized? Interesting.