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Are "ethnic" Halloween costumes a bad sterotype?

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Replies

  • galaxyhearts
    galaxyhearts Posts: 258 Member
    I saw this black guy dressed like a slave one year, my jaw literally dropped. Cotton in his hair, lash marks on his back, torn up clothes and the kicker............a noose hanging from around his neck. But then I figured he's a black guy so he can do that and not catch flack. Should any other race attempt it..........HELL NO. But that was a pretty extreme costume.
    Didn't you get the memo? It's only racist if you are white.

    Yep, pretty much.

    I'm 100% sure there are plenty of African American people who would have been really offended by that. So, don't even try to play that card.
  • macpatti
    macpatti Posts: 4,280 Member
    And for that matter, Halloween is an ancient pagan Celtic holiday... should I get offended that everyone's mimicking my ancestors by even celebrating it?!

    You asked for opinions, so you'll get different ones. That's a good thing. I think you also got the approval you were looking for so that you feel better about wearing "ethnic" costumes.
  • Bankman1989
    Bankman1989 Posts: 1,116 Member
    R_XL125.jpg

    just don't show up as uncle remus and you're fine

    SEE! This is funny! But people get so offended because of stuff like this. I have dressed up as white people for halloween..and want to go as Charlie Sheen this year..

    America has become as ultra sensitive as a pack of trojans! Wasn't Robert Downey as a black man in Tropic Thunder one of the funniest roles ever?

    Good Lord! It's Halloween. Don't go as "The Klan" and it will be ok!
  • SmartFunGorgeous
    SmartFunGorgeous Posts: 699 Member
    How many times have we seen men dressed as women, with massively oversized breasts and giants butts?

    If it is okay for a gender to be "caricatured" then what's the problem with an aspect of a culture being caricatured? After all, geishas don't define the entire Asian culture just as cowboys don't define the entire causacian culture.
  • kennethmgreen
    kennethmgreen Posts: 1,759 Member
    I don't know, everyone was cool with Ted Danson showing up in blackface at the Friar's Club Roast even in the mid-90s, right? That worked out well and didn't make anyone uncomfortable.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    And for that matter, Halloween is an ancient pagan Celtic holiday... should I get offended that everyone's mimicking my ancestors by even celebrating it?!

    You asked for opinions, so you'll get different ones. That's a good thing. I think you also got the approval you were looking for so that you feel better about wearing "ethnic" costumes.

    ??? I'm confused. ???

    I never felt bad about any of my costumes, or I wouldn't have worn them, so I'm not looking for approval. And any ethnic costumes I've worn have been out of appreciation for the culture, not to mock it.
  • IronmanPanda
    IronmanPanda Posts: 2,083 Member
    I'm duct taping my eyes open wide and going as a caucasion.
  • anubis609
    anubis609 Posts: 3,966 Member
    I wonder how many vegetables I'll offend if I go as a comatose broccoli?
  • La_Amazona
    La_Amazona Posts: 4,855 Member
    I got me a hot mariachi costume this year. It's HOT but I'm mexican so it cancels the stereotype out I think..

    Btw, won't be wearing it because I'm in party pooper mood and instead will be hanging out with a friend doing nothing but drinking wine. But if I were to wear it, I'd be doing a loud mexican grito all night long.
  • PlunderBunneh
    PlunderBunneh Posts: 1,705 Member
    Taking political correctness too far. Get the stick out of your bum.
  • adjones5
    adjones5 Posts: 938 Member
    Taking political correctness too far. Get the stick out of your bum.
    hahaha
  • 123456654321
    123456654321 Posts: 1,311 Member
    I'm duct taping my eyes open wide and going as a caucasion.

    Scary!!
  • SkateboardFi
    SkateboardFi Posts: 1,322 Member
    eh. all i will say about it, is if you dress as it...and it's potentially racist. don't be surprised by the potential consequences.
  • macpatti
    macpatti Posts: 4,280 Member
    Taking political correctness too far. Get the stick out of your bum.

    No stick here, but I think there's a line that shouldn't be crossed. Note that I said it is how the person is portraying the costume that can make the difference. Do you not see that a line can be crossed?
  • Tiffanydepiano
    Tiffanydepiano Posts: 169 Member
    I wouldn't be offended if someone dressed up as a fat lady for Halloween. I have certainly experienced negativity and prejudice based on my obesity.

    My family is obese so I come from large group of obese people. I realize this is not a race but it is certainly a large stereotyped group of people.

    Maybe I will go as fat Italian lady and save myself some money.
  • mandasimba
    mandasimba Posts: 782 Member
    I don't care what anyone thinks, a Gaddafi costume would be the bomb!

    LIBIA_colonel_muammar_al_gaddafi.jpg

    Bets on how many bars until you run across the female slutty gaddafi costume? I'm going for 2. The first stop is always lame anyways.
  • jayliospecky
    jayliospecky Posts: 25,022 Member
    Are people offended by "The King and I"? They're all in "ethnic" costumes. What about "Oklahoma"? Are Oklahomans offended by that? Is "The Sound of Music" offensive to nuns, Germans and Austrians?

    I think people should recognize when they are going too far with their political correctness. Sure, some Halloween costumes are horribly distasteful in many ways, they offend me all the time. But short of banning Halloween, I don't see how we can dictate to people how they should dress up. Some people could use more sense when they dress up, but others should stop being so personally offended by everything.
  • SmartFunGorgeous
    SmartFunGorgeous Posts: 699 Member
    Are people offended by "The King and I"? They're all in "ethnic" costumes. What about "Oklahoma"? Are Oklahomans offended by that? Is "The Sound of Music" offensive to nuns, Germans and Austrians?

    I think people should recognize when they are going too far with their political correctness. Sure, some Halloween costumes are horribly distasteful in many ways, they offend me all the time. But short of banning Halloween, I don't see how we can dictate to people how they should dress up. Some people could use more sense when they dress up, but others should stop being so personally offended by everything.

    THIS
  • mallorybriann
    mallorybriann Posts: 1,380 Member
    Didn't you get the memo? It's only racist if you are white.

    YUP.
  • mallorybriann
    mallorybriann Posts: 1,380 Member
    I'm not offended when I see people dress up as "white trailer trash"... because
    1. I don't let it.
    2. it's a COSTUME
    3. I don't fit that stereotype
    4. I don't have a stick in my *kitten*
    ,...
    c;mon people.
  • macpatti
    macpatti Posts: 4,280 Member
    I'm not offended when I see people dress up as "white trailer trash"... because
    1. I don't let it.
    2. it's a COSTUME
    3. I don't fit that stereotype
    4. I don't have a stick in my *kitten*
    ,...
    c;mon people.

    Please refer to #3. You don't get offended because you don't fit that stereotype. And I wouldn't care if I saw 10 black people post on here saying they wouldn't be offended by a white female dressing up as Aunt Jemima. If it even offends 1 black person, I'd call it offensive.
  • mallorybriann
    mallorybriann Posts: 1,380 Member
    People choose to be offended... they look into it too much.
    It is a costume.
    I'm not offended when I see people dress up as "white trailer trash"... because
    1. I don't let it.
    2. it's a COSTUME
    3. I don't fit that stereotype
    4. I don't have a stick in my *kitten*
    ,...
    c;mon people.

    Please refer to #3. You don't get offended because you don't fit that stereotype. And I wouldn't care if I saw 10 black people post on here saying they wouldn't be offended by a white female dressing up as Aunt Jemima. If it even offends 1 black person, I'd call it offensive.
  • _Timmeh_
    _Timmeh_ Posts: 2,096 Member
    If any of you heathens dresses up as a drunk Irish potato farmer I'm going medieval......
  • Yurippe
    Yurippe Posts: 850 Member
    The terrorist I get (especially when it's on a child). Lil Hitler is even worse.

    http://www.smosh.com/PC/smosh-pit/photos/20-inappropriate-kids-costumes

    I don't get how the geisha is offensive.
  • mallorybriann
    mallorybriann Posts: 1,380 Member
    HA! Those damn Irish!!!
    Always drunk and eating taters!
    Do you get offended when people dress up like a leprechaun for St. Patrick's Day????
    If any of you heathens dresses up as a drunk Irish potato farmer I'm going medieval......
  • nerdyandilikeit
    nerdyandilikeit Posts: 2,185 Member
    I'm not offended when I see people dress up as "white trailer trash"... because
    1. I don't let it.
    2. it's a COSTUME
    3. I don't fit that stereotype
    4. I don't have a stick in my *kitten*
    ,...
    c;mon people.

    Please refer to #3. You don't get offended because you don't fit that stereotype. And I wouldn't care if I saw 10 black people post on here saying they wouldn't be offended by a white female dressing up as Aunt Jemima. If it even offends 1 black person, I'd call it offensive.

    By this definition, it would be impossible to dress as anything without being offensive.
  • Steven
    Steven Posts: 593 MFP Moderator
    Sorry, folks, this thread is becoming too heated to moderate effectively, despite my previous warning. I'm going to lock it.

    Regards,
    Steven
    MyFitnessPal Staff
This discussion has been closed.

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