Halloween is fast approaching, and whether you plan to binge on candy corn and watch Hocus Pocus for the hundredth time or get dressed up and hit up all the best parties, we NEED to talk about what costume you’re planning to wear, and no, it’s not just to make sure we don’t go as the same thing. (I got dibs on Joyce Byers, aka Winona Ryder from Stranger Things.)
What we need to talk about is culturally appropriative and sexist costumes. I know there are approximately 1,435,675 articles out there on this topic, but people STILL don’t seem to be getting it. So here it is, one last time, let’s break down what costumes are absolutely always gonna be racist and demeaning, never will be okay to wear, so just forget about it. Let’s do this. (Costume examples provided by Spirit Halloween. Shop at your own risk.)
NUMBER ONE. The “sexy” Indian costume. Or any Indian costume for that matter.
PHOTO: Description from Spirit Halloween: “You’ll put the chief out of work in this Adult Queen of the Tribe Native American Costume. No one will mind taking orders from you in this sexy fringed low cut dress with sequin adorned neckline and matching fluffy feather headpiece.”
Don’t dress up like an Indian for Halloween. Just don’t. It’s not okay to dress up like Pocahontas just because she’s a “fictional/historical” character (Sorry Disney). Those depictions are based off incredibly racist stereotypes and you dressing up in a $29.99 costume, sticking a feather in your hair and getting drunk off you’re a** is disrespectful as hell no matter what way you slice it. Look up some dam*n U.S. history and think twice ya’ll. No dressing up as an “Eskimo” either.
In addition to being extremely racially insensitive, such costumes also sexualize a group of women who are disproportionally affected by sex trafficking and abuse. This is happening all across the U.S., Minnesota included. According to the United States Department of Justice and the United States Attorney’s Office, the Minneapolis and St. Paul metro area is one of the top fifteen worst metro areas for sex trafficking in the entire U.S. It is also home to the second largest Native American urban population in the U.S. So by wearing that “sexy squaw” costume, you are turning the oppression and exploitation of a group of people into a joke. Human trafficking is not a joke. It’s not cute or sexy and it should not be perpetuated by ignorant Halloween costumes.
NUMBER TWO. The “drunk Mexican” costume.
PHOTO: Description from Spirit Halloween: “Salsa on into Halloween in the Mexican Man Adult Men’s Costume. Start your own fiesta in this vibrantly striped poncho with hysterical black mustache.”
Why? Why, why, WHY, would someone think this is a good idea? This is literally just a played-out stereotype come to life in a lame-o costume. I understand that tequila is delicious, and fun. But your costume is not. It’s trashy, hurtful, and particularly insensitive considering the current divisive political climate in the U.S. over immigration, DACA, etc. As stated above, dressing up as a stereotype of a group of people is not an acceptable Halloween costume. And keep in mind, we wouldn’t even HAVE tequila if not for Mexico. So don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, or be racists towards it. No tequila for you. Or tacos. Have fun partying alone with your cultural appropriation. Sucks to be you.
NUMBER THREE. The “sexy Geisha, Gypsy”, costume etc.
PHOTO: Description from Spirit Halloween: “The tarot cards must have been in your favor this Halloween, because you’re going to look perfect in this Mystic Vixen Plus Size Adult Women’s Costume! This red and black dress with black petticoat is gorgeous enough to break any curse, especially with its corseted bodice. The dress also features a sheer shawl with black fringe and gold roses like those on the wrap skirt, which has an elegant gold trim and dangling coins. Wrap the red bandana artfully around your head and prepare to have all eyes on you this Halloween!”
Any costume that sexualizes a minority group is a no-go for Halloween. Asian women have been fetishized forever and have to deal with the extremely harmful effects in their day-to-day lives. And the persecution and harassment of the Roma people in Europe is 1,000 years strong and still ongoing. While you can take off these costumes at the end of a fun Halloween night, the real women targeted by these stereotypes cannot. They are forced to deal with such sexualization and exploitation every day.
NUMBER FOUR. The “sexy” military costume.
PHOTO: Description from Spirit Halloween: “Whip up your own kind of Desert Storm in this Desert Dolly adult women’s costume! The digital camouflage mini dress of this sexy women’s costume features short sleeves and a button-front closure along with a faux military insignia on the breast. A matching cap with flag logo completes this women’s military costume.”
These costumes not only are disrespectful to the actual women serving in the military, but to veterans and all military in general. Serving and protecting your country should be depicted with honor and respect, not camo booty shorts. Not to mention the many women serving in the military who are fighting everyday against sexual harassment and rape within the very institutions they serve. Let’s support our bad-ass military ladies, not make their battle harder by perpetuating the very perception they are trying to fight.
This one should be a no-brainer. But people are still doing blackface today and IT’S NOT OKAY. DO NOT DO BLACKFACE EVER. It is never okay, funny, or excusable. This is an extreme act of hate and there is no explanation or excuse in the world that will convince people otherwise. Ignorance is not an excuse on this one. We all know better at this point and as such, we need to do better and erase this practice from the face of the earth. And to all white people out there: If you see another white person out on Halloween wearing blackface, it is YOUR responsibility to step up and say something. Check your friends, check yourself. Saying nothing implies your silent approval, and we all need to make it crystal clear that this sort of hate will not be tolerated.
Other costumes to avoid include: pimp, costumes referencing Trump and his racist agendas, anything relating to Blue Lives Matter, Islamic terrorist, Hitler costumes, sexist anti-Hillary costumes, prisoner costumes (the racial injustice associated with these costumes make them a no-go), and Jamaican Rastafari costumes.
So to review:
1. Don’t dress up as a culture or represent a cultural tradition that is not your own. Stereotypes are not costume inspo.