Halloween is quickly approaching, and with it, a slew of costume ideas. Whether you’re making your own costume or stopping by Spirit Halloween, you’ll find a variety of options. However, when assessing the many options, one thing to keep in mind is whether or not my costume is offensive or harmful.
“The act of stealing or using from a culture that is not your own, especially without showing you understand or appreciate this culture,” according to the definition of cultural appropriation. This is a very common conduct around Halloween, perpetrated primarily by persons who are unaware of the consequences of their costume. Cultural appropriation can be committed by anyone, regardless of race or origin.
The portrayal of a college party in the Netflix show “Dear White People” is an example of this in the media. This show takes things to the next level by focusing on a “blackface” Halloween party at an Ivy League school with a predominantly white student body. The black community’s outrage and disgust on campus centred on the insulting nature of cultural appropriation. While this is a made-up scenario of an extreme situation, we must nonetheless be aware of the costumes we wear and what they represent.
I visited the four cultural centres on campus and chatted with some of the members to have a better understanding of cultural appropriation in the context of Halloween. I asked them how they define cultural appropriation, how to tell if a costume is culturally offensive, and how people may prevent appropriation by educating themselves.
“I think it’s ludicrous when people use Halloween to say, ‘Oh, I’m going to respect your culture by dressing up like that,’” Brooke Yuen, a public health science major and Josephine White Eagle Cultural Center member, said.
There is a distinction to be made between respecting and appropriating a culture. Respecting a culture necessitates familiarity with that group’s particular history, traditions, and difficulties. It is not kind, but it is foolish, to choose a garish costume to portray a stereotype. The cultural centres are open from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday if you want to educate yourself. There are usually one or two individuals present who are eager to share their culture with you.
“Perhaps you might reconsider your position wearing that costume if it is targeting a specific demographic that not everyone can identify with,” said Trinity Monteiro, a sport management major and member of the Malcolm X Cultural Center. If there’s even a remote chance that your costume will offend someone, you should probably change it.
The “Simple Costume Racism Evaluation and Assessment Meter,” developed by UMass, is intended to assist students in determining whether their costume is appropriate. Several posters put across university resident halls raise questions like, “Do you have to apply thick makeup or a mask for the person to be recognisable?” “Does knowledge of problematic contemporary events or historically established tropes help you comprehend your costume?” These posters educate people about unsuitable costumes and how they can offend particular groups of people.
While college can be a time to test limits, this should not include Halloween costumes.
Sabrina Moreta, a biology major and member of the Latinx American Cultural Center, said, “I didn’t even know cultural appropriation was a thing until I arrived to college.” It is simple to become culturally sensitive, but many people are still unaware.
The majority of the offensive costumes on campus are sexualized depictions of people or clothing from another culture. A sultry geisha, for example, would be disrespectful to the Asian American minority on campus. Any representation of a Native American is equally offensive. You are appropriating if you portray a character from a culture other than your own.
Here are some costumes that should not be worn this Halloween:
- Pocahontas
- An Egyptian Goddess
- A gypsy
- A geisha
- Any type of headdress
Unless you’re painting yourself green to portray Frankenstein, you shouldn’t contemplate a costume that requires you to change the colour of your skin. Traditional clothing worn by particular communities also has significant meanings and should not be worn casually.
If you are still unsure whether your costume is insulting, it is preferable to choose a different outfit. “Here’s a list of appropriate Halloween costumes: a pirate, slutty nurse, any of our first 43 presidents,” said Sam White from “Dear White People.” “I’m at the top of the list of outfits that aren’t acceptable.” Be aware of cultural appropriation and educate yourself.
