Since Halloween is approaching, it is time to start thinking about our costumes (if you haven’t already)! One aspect of dressing up that hasn’t been given enough attention is cultural appropriation. Cultural appropriation is the use of aesthetics, customs, sacred items, or dress of a culture by a member of a different culture, (usually one that is more privileged in terms of western society) in a manner that does not demonstrate respect for that culture. This practice is harmful as it can reinforce and reduce an entire culture and its members to a stereotype.
Cultural appropriation is not myself, an Asian woman, wearing western styles of dress. If I want to be taken seriously and look like I belong, I can’t walk around wearing a hanfu to school or work. That is why I have reservations with costumes titled “China doll” that make my race seem exotic and inappropriately sexualized. This also feeds into the historical context where Asian women were hypersexualized by white men. Carrying/wearing items sacred to a culture, such as wearing a feathered headdress, is also improper because they are reserved for special people and only worn for certain ceremonies.
In relation to this is wearing makeup to change the colour of the skin. This is what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau came under fire for when it was found that he wore brown face for an Arabian Nights themed party. This has historical connections too, black face was used by white performers in minstrel shows to mock and degrade black people in the 1800s. Now, there are ways to be respectful. If you wanted to dress up as Princess Tiana from Disney’s The Princess and the Frog, wearing Tiana’s green dress is fine! However, if you are light-skinned, you shouldn’t seek to darken your skin tone or wear a black curly wig. I wouldn’t recommend dressing up as Pocahontas because that ignores the legacy of colonialism and the mass genocide of Native Americans.
You can pretend to be these people for one night, then unzip the cloth and wipe off the make up, never having to face the discrimination and stereotypes those groups have. Cultures are not costumes; there are many other things to dress up as. I encourage you to be creative to have a safe and fun Halloween!