Halloweekend in college is a very exciting time. There is much buildup and anticipation for the weekend, and discussions with friends about what you’re going to dress up each night. In the excitement and commotion of it all it is easy to lose sight of the culturally and politically inappropriate undertones of certain costumes.
The “Native American”
The “Native American” is the most common of culturally appropriated costumes that I have seen in the recent years. People often overlook the fact that they are generalizing and dressing up as a race, not an individual or group of individuals.
Someone with a Mental Illness
This is one of the most offensive costumes that I’ve seen. Not only does it mock people with various mental illnesses and disorders, but it further perpetuates the stigma around mental illnesses that has a serious negative affect on people who suffer from mental illnesses.
Homeless Person
This costume mocks the struggles that thousands of people go through in this country and around the world.
Caitlyn Jenner
There has been a lot of buzz surrounding Caitlyn Jenner’s transition within the past year. However, dressing up as someone is never a means of honoring them, and is almost always a means of mocking them, especially on the one night of the year that people dress up as monsters and demons. The transgender community was larger insulted by this disrespectful costume.