Am I wrong to not let my 11YO be a sumo wrestler for Halloween?
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Anonymous
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Maybe this is the Halloween 2018 offensive costume thread.
My 11YO wants to get one of those inflatable sumo wrestler costumes, but it doesn't sit right with me - given that the whole point is that it is funny. Am I being too uptight? |
Anonymous
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As a Japanese, I don't understand what's offensive about the costume. What is your concern, exactly?
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Anonymous
| I think you're definitely being too uptight. How is this any different from someone wanting to be a football player, or bloody baseball player, or zombie tennis player, etc..? Now, those inflatable costumes are definitely expensive, so if you want to tell him no because it costs too much, that's another issue. But just because it's a sumo wrestler? That's silly. |
Anonymous
| I get why you're hesitant, OP. And while 95% people would be fine with this, you may just want to steer clear of cultural themes to avoid the other 5%. |
Anonymous
| There are white Sumo wrestlers. Just don't alter his eyes with makeup to make him look Japanese and I think you're ok. |
Anonymous
Look up cultural appropriation. It's all the rage. Most people don't care about stuff like this, but there is a vocal minority that does. There was backlash about Moana/Maui costumes a few years ago because it got a little too close to blackface. |
Anonymous
it may come across as making fun of large size of sumo wrestlers. most ppl may not care but you never know |
Anonymous
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Japanese immigrant here. Buy the suit
But don't wear it to California 
https://www.nationalreview.com/2016/03/sumo-wrestling-fat-suit-uc-davis-students-racist/ literally laughed really hard at that article. |
Anonymous
He doesn't know much of anything about sumo wrestling. I think he just likes the costume because it is a big person wearing very little clothing. And it's funny to him. That's what makes me uncomfortable - seems disrespectful. |
Anonymous
So take it as an opportunity to learn something about sumo wrestling. |
Anonymous
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I'm Asian, my DH is Japanese, I think it's fine. The way I see it, sumo wrestler is a sports costume, just like dressing in a baseball player uniform or something. Yes, the people who do it have a certain body type, I think it's ok to imitate it as well as the customary clothing and hair. Did you know that some of the top sumo wrestlers now are not Japanese? There's a Russian one, and a south asian pacific one, that come to mind, and they also wear the clothes and the traditional hair style. They are sumo wrestlers, they are not Japanese.
Just stay away from making slanty eyes and you're good. |
Anonymous
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I would hesitate only b/c it is WAY too impractical - your kid will get hot quickly, it's too hard to move more than 20 steps, he'll have trouble holding his candy bag, etc. Trick or treating with that thing will be hard.
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Anonymous
| OP here. Thank you for all of this very quick feedback. Consensus seems to be that I am uptight (LOL!), so at the very least I should be open to a conversation with him about it. I like the suggestion of the opportunity for him (and me!) to learn (and am embarrassed that I didn't approach it that way initially!). |
Anonymous
So not okay if out trick or treating, but okay if going to an air conditioned costume party with no candy bag? I don’t think the OP wanted an opinion based on comfort. |
Anonymous
I don't think you're uptight! You're just aware of the current cultural climate. That's a good thing. |