Choosing an Appropriate Halloween Costume

By Abigail Reyes on October 21, 2013

So Halloween is just around the corner…

Most people take Halloween as a day dress up with their friends while having fun pretending to be someone else for the day. Others use it as an excuse to wear something out of the usual, without being questioned of their motives.

Either way, the best part about Halloween is being able to choose what to wear. 

And while you can choose to wear whatever you want, there are a few things you should keep in mind while choosing an appropriate costume…

Most of us dress up without thinking about the message we are sending, even if the message is unintentional.

If you are going to wear a costume that represents a culture different from your own, be mindful about it. Others might interpret your choice of costume as making fun of their culture.

It might seem funny to dress up as a charro or a chola, wearing over-sized sombreros or extreme makeup while speaking in exaggerated accents, but the truth is that these costumes are just stereotypes. They increase prejudice towards certain people and decrease their individuality. It’s as if we were labeling them for being born into a different culture.   We need to be careful because we don’t want to cross the line between being funny and offensive. What we see in the media does not show us how people of other cultures truly are, so we need to be careful when we try to copy it. Something as complex as a culture is impossible to simplify into a costume you can wear. If you are going to be representing a culture, you must do so in a way that is not offensive.  

You might also want to do a bit of research on it so that at least you know what you are representing.

So definitely have fun when picking a costume, but be aware of the message you might be sending!

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