I Am Not a Costume!

[PiKA2001]

Well this was quick

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

Well this was quick

I would find this humorous if I believed that people are capable of overlooking distractions and grasping the point. The "Halloween costume debate" (http://dcentric.wamu.org/2011/10/we-...ons-halloween/) and resulting sarcasm are predominantly being led by white people who tend to rarely be concerned with such things (no disrespect to amIblue but for an extremely common and cliche` example, see amIblue's post about not caring if nonwhite people wear whiteface). Therefore, white privilege prompts not only a debate over something that rarely impacts "you" but also making fun of a movement. Not everything is so complex that having it removed from "your" life's options will floor you. "You" don't have to be able to say and do everysinglething.

[amIblue?]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

I would find this humorous if I believed that people are capable of overlooking distractions and grasping the point. The "Halloween costume debate" (http://dcentric.wamu.org/2011/10/we-...ons-halloween/) and resulting sarcasm are predominantly white people who tend to rarely be concerned with such things (for an extremely common and cliche` example, see amIblue's post about not caring if nonwhite people wear whiteface). Therefore, white privilege prompts not only a debate over something that rarely impacts "you" but also making fun of a movement. Not everything is so complex that having it removed from "your" life's options will floor you. "You" don't have to be able to say and do everysinglething.

Even if I don't care on a personal level if people are in whiteface, I still get why it's offensive to be in blackface. Please don't lump me in with the people who think blackface/sexy thug/Mexican in a sombrero drinking tequila/etc. is OK. I'm not denying white privilege, but I also wouldn't dismiss the concerns of nonwhite people just because it doesn't happen to me or effect me.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by amIblue?

Even if I don't care on a personal level if people are in whiteface, I still get why it's offensive to be in blackface. Please don't lump me in with the people who think blackface/sexy thug/Mexican in a sombrero drinking tequila/etc. is OK. I'm not denying white privilege, but I also wouldn't dismiss the concerns of nonwhite people just because it doesn't happen to me or effect me.

You caught me in mid-edit when I added "no disrespect to amIblue...?" If I was lumping you with those idiots I would not care about disrespecting you.

And regardless of whether you "understand," what you said about not being offended by whiteface is an extremely common and cliche` response from white people. It is not only embedded in personal opinion but also embedded in white privilege. It is an overall pattern beyond a personal preference.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by thetaj

I'm SO sick of the "sexy" costumes! I'm being Paula Deen this year and I've never been more excited.

There's a secret on PostSecret.com today that reads: "I miss the days when Halloween was about showing off your costume rather than your cleavage."

I couldn't agree more! I didn't do anything for Halloween this year (which could possibly be my first time ever), but it's definitely one of my favorite holidays.. But it's almost been ruined for me because of all these girls who dress like sluts. It's just not cute.

My boss' daughter and her friend (both in college) went to parties this weekend dressed as the two Austin Powers characters Fook Yu and Fook Mi. I've never even seen those movies, so I didn't know what my boss was talking about when she told me this, but I could only imagine. We were traveling on business last week, and she was on the phone with her daughter after dinner one night and said, "oh good, so you're going to be a slut," and her daughter started whining and said, "mom, that's not true.. Don't call me that." My boss said, "Uh, honey.. When a guy asks you who you are, you're going to answer 'Fook Mi'.. What do you suppose he'll think you are?" .. I couldn't help but laugh at the entire exchange.

Originally Posted by amIblue?

Am I offended by a nonCaucasian dressing up as any Caucasian person? No. Am I offended by white face? No. Have at it. Unless you're dressing up as me or my family and showing up looking like a jacked-up mess, you're probably not going to hurt my feelings.

Haha this is pretty much how I look at it.

Originally Posted by DrPhil

You caught me in mid-edit when I added "no disrespect to amIblue...?" If I was lumping you with those idiots I would not care about disrespecting you.

And regardless of whether you "understand," what you said about not being offended by whiteface is an extremely common and cliche` response from white people. It is not only embedded in personal opinion but also embedded in white privilege. It is an overall pattern beyond a personal preference.

So.. I can't say that I am offended by it, because I'm not.. But I also can't say that I'm not offended by it, because that's a cliche answer?

Maybe I'm reading this wrong, so please correct me if necessary. However, I don't find a problem with it, and I'm not going to be joining in on the fight to end it, but I can see how other people could find it offensive. I just play it safe and don't dress up as anything that could fall into that gray area.

Just be smart, people!

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

But I also can't say that I'm not offended by it, because that's a cliche answer?

Why can't you?

ETA: White people, in general, also have a tendency to attempt to reduce and simplify discussions to "are you telling me I can't..." when this is not about what white people can and cannot do.

ETA2: The fact that you're not offended by it is not the cliche` part. The "unless it has to do with my family or me" is the cliche` part because it does not address the root of this, racial dynamics and power dynamics. That does not mean you cannot say "unless it has to do with my family and me" but it is still a common response.

The blackface costumers are no more dressing up as my family or me than a whiteface costumer is dressing up as your family or you. Yet, I don't want the blackface costumers to have at it because this is about much more than "my family and me" and individual opinions.

[*winter*]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

There's a secret on PostSecret.com today that reads: "I miss the days when Halloween was about showing off your costume rather than your cleavage."

I couldn't agree more! I didn't do anything for Halloween this year (which could possibly be my first time ever), but it's definitely one of my favorite holidays.. But it's almost been ruined for me because of all these girls who dress like sluts. It's just not cute!

A- freaking- MEN! I'm so sick of women who are obsessed with looking like, being like, or living "life" of strippers...hookers...porn stars...etc. WTH??? Go to ametuer night at the strip club!

[amIblue?]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

You caught me in mid-edit when I added "no disrespect to amIblue...?" If I was lumping you with those idiots I would not care about disrespecting you.

And regardless of whether you "understand," what you said about not being offended by whiteface is an extremely common and cliche` response from white people. It is not only embedded in personal opinion but also embedded in white privilege. It is an overall pattern beyond a personal preference.

Thanks for not lumping me in with the idiots.

I know I can never really live what nonwhite people have lived, but I do make an effort to be as empathetic to others as possible.

ETA: Just read the trainwreck that happened after my post this morning. If I recall, I believe DrPhil posted earlier in this thread that whiteface is not OK, which was what prompted my statement about how it wouldn't bother me.

Also - Slutty AND Culturally Offensive costume for sale

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by amIblue?

ETA: Just read the trainwreck that happened after my post this morning. If I recall, I believe DrPhil posted earlier in this thread that whiteface is not OK, which was what prompted my statement about how it wouldn't bother me.

LOL. This thread has yet to reach the trainwreck/GC race war stage. There is still hope.

This is practically my normal hair and outfit (minus those shoes and being able to see-through) so I don't know where "African princess adult woman's costume" comes from. I guess I'm an African princess on some days.



Caption: "Discover your roots and celebrate your heritage in this authentic looking adult women's African Princess costume."

Oh well...there are pros and cons about that site. At least some (not all) of the people wearing the "more ethnic" costumes appear to be people of that ethnic group. It looks like they may have done better at that for the African Diaspora and Asian Diaspora costumes than the Native American (it is difficult to tell for some of the costumes) and Mexican costumes.