Now that Halloween is around the corner your local party supply store is stocking their shelves with your typical sexy nurse or hunky firefighter costumes. However, among these costumes you’re bound to find some that are accused of “cultural appropriation”.
First off – What is cultural appropriation? Its become topic of controversy nowadays, especially with these “young internet activists” who are educated via tumblr. Wikipedia defines cultural appropriation as, “a sociological concept, which views the adoption or use of elements of one culture by members of a different culture as a largely negative phenomenon.” In simpler terms, it is the mockery of people and their culture through the adoption of ideas associated with a culture outside their own. So your cute Tribal Spirit Tween costume, that can be seen as the appropriation of the Native American race and culture.
I can only speak for myself, and the appropriation my own culture, but when I see these Mexican *Sombrero Included* costumes on the racks, I am not offended at all. I am 100% Mexican, and the Mexican culture is deeply embedded in my everyday life – so when I see these costumes all I see is ignorance in plastic bag. My culture is the holidays we celebrate, the music we listen to, the food we enjoy – it is not someone in a multi colored poncho, wearing a plastic sombrero. I don’t see the point of being bothered by the ignorance of our extremely insensitive society. They are taking a complex culture and turning it into a stereotypical caricature. You are not dressing as a Mexican if you walk around with a sombrero and a mustache – you’re dressed in classical American Ignorance, head to toe.
However, as I researched the topic for this article, I came across some valid points that offered a new light to the situation. Even though I still hold my previous beliefs, I still have some food for thought for you guys that enjoy “exotic” dressing.
Many of these ethically-cultural-and racially based costumes are merely intended to be one of two things – exotic or funny. But the question I am asking is – what about these groups make them exotic or humorous?
Our society associates normalcy with “Whiteness” and therefore everyone outside is foreign, weird, or funny. Some readers might think dressing up as a person of certain culture is justified on the grounds that it is all done, “as a joke” and “should not be taken seriously.” I am not insinuating that you are racist if you choose to wear these, or that you are doing it with an intention to directly hurt or discriminate against another race, (If you are, you are a horrible person). However, keep in mind – you can’t just “borrow” someone else’s identity for a day. Because guess what, perhaps unlike yourself you don’t have to live with the stigmas associated with that costume.
This is why it is so dangerous to “dress up” as another race because once you take off your sombrero and poncho you don’t have to worry about anyone asking you about your citizenship, like they do to me.
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