UH OH: Halloween Edition

Jack O’lanterns! Candy Corn! Pumpkin Patches! Hocus Pocus! Cultural Appropriation! All sounded like the ideal Halloween until you saw cultural appropriation, right? Well, every Halloween someone tends to get in trouble for appropriating cultures, so this year we are here to help! Before I dive into the intricacies of cultural appropriation and how to avoid it, it is probably best that I give you the definition first. According to About.com’s Race Relations section, the definition of cultural appropriation is: “when members of a dominant culture borrow from the cultures of minority groups without their input”. This concept is often easy to overlook for people so here are some examples of it throughout the fashion world:

1. Marc Jacobs Spring 2017

Moment of cultural appropriation: Dreadlocks

2. Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2012

Moment of cultural appropiation: Headdress

3. Gwen Stefani

Moment of cultural appropriation: Bindi

Though this is not an exhaustive list, in each one of these offenses the people appropriating the culture is either falling to give credit where it is due, or is ignoring the cultural significance of what they are wearing altogether. This basic lack of understanding is extremely clear in Marc Jacob’s response to his use of dreadlocks in his Spring 2017 show. On Instagram, Jacobs wrote this:

...and I thank you for expressing your feelings. I apologize for the lack of sensitivity unintentionally expressed by my brevity. I wholeheartedly believe in freedom of speech and freedom to express oneself though art, clothes, words, hair, music...EVERYTHING. Of course I do "see" color but I DO NOT discriminate. THAT IS A FACT! Please continue to express your feelings freely but do it kindly. Nothing is gained from spreading hate by name calling and bullying.

See this Instagram photo by @themarcjacobs * 8,174 likes

 People, especially people of color, became more pissed off with the designer for his lack of apology and general insensitivity to the idea of cultural appropriation. Jacobs refused to acknowledge the root of his inspiration, effectively an entire culture that wears dreadlocks as part of their religion.

This Halloween it is necessary that all of us be aware of the ways our costumes can be perceived and if we make mistakes, we need to own up to and use it as a learning experience.

To make your life a little easier, here are some costumes to stay away from.

Convict

Yes, Orange is the New Black is one of the hottest shows right now, but dressing up as a convict is not funny. Furthermore, it is deeply insensitive to the many people who have been affected by the  systemic racism in our judicial system on a daily basis. This might not be borrowing from a particular culture, but it is making an inappropriate joke about a serious matter.

ALSO: stay away from blackface! Do not make the mistake Julianne Hough made by dressing up as Crazy Eyes from OITNB

Native American Princess

As a general rule of thumb, one should not be dressing a cultural getup for enjoyment, for much of what people wear has significant religious and cultural connotations. For example, a Native American headdress is reserved for tribal chiefs  and often worn during sacred religious ceremonies. In other words, it is not meant for you to wear to the Deuce.

Sexy Gypsy

Not only is gypsy a derogatory term, used to describe the Romani, a working class ethnic group throughout Europe who often face intense hatred, but like many other cultural costumes, such as the Geisha, you are reducing a diverse cultural background into one generalized stereotype. 

Yes, the line often does get blurred and it can be difficult to gauge if it is appreciation or appropriation.  So, when in doubt always be a animal, my go to is a bunny.