Cultural appropriation not only insults a particular race, religion or orientation, it also makes you look ignorant. There are thousands of halloween costume ideas out there. Why would you want to pick one that offends people?
Millennials seem to be shifting from the traditional, store-bought costumes, in favor of DIY costumes. These seasonal strip-mall stores often promote cultural appropriation, selling outfits like “Naughty Nun” and the stereotypical “Mexican Man,” among others.
Spirit Halloween in Plattsburgh, which sells those costumes, also sells the “Hillbilly Skin Suit” costume with the following description: “What really completes this look is the attached hood with a goofy, balding hillbilly face and messed up teeth. Once you start talking in a special drawl, you’re sure to have the room laughing!”
So, does this mean anyone with a southern drawl has to be missing teeth? Do they all wear ripped overalls?
As Opinions Editor Laura Schmidt pointed out in her article, “we live in a very sensitive time in the world right now and people need to take that into consideration when shopping for a Halloween costume.”
There is a fine line between funny and insensitive. Your “fun” halloween costume could upset, and potentially ruin, someone’s night. It is unlikely, but you won’t know until it’s too late.
Aside from being rude, most of these insensitive costumes are far overworn. These costumes have been around for years, as Schmidt also stated in her article.
With new millennial phenomenons like “Netflix and Chill,” and revamps of childhood favorites like Pokemon and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, there are plenty of new and creative ideas for people to enjoy with their friends.
People take their cultures to heart, as it defines who they are as a person. Poking fun at and insulting them for their beliefs or heritage can be demeaning, as it can seem to lower the value of what they believe in.
