Halloween is fast approaching. What used to be a part-religious, part-paganistic ritual has now evolved into a purely secular affair marked by make-believe spookiness and campy shenanigans. And of course along with it comes the mad rush for the perfect Halloween costume.
Many people go all out in celebrating Halloween. After all, it is the time of the year when every costume idea is literally possible. Think of the wackiest, most absurd idea and chances are someone has done it already.
But while many people find dressing up for Halloween a fun and thrilling affair, some aren't as enthusiastic, if at all. Today's Q&A Tuesday concerns the propriety (or impropriety) of some of the costume ideas for Halloween.
I am a 24-year-old male professional working in the advertising industry. Every year, the company I work for stages a grand Halloween party where all guests really take the time to come in full costume. This year, however, I am a little ambivalent about going. This is in part due to the fact that I may have outgrown the event itself, and partly due to the fact that some costumes worn by others are very inappropriate, if not downright offensive. Is there any way to dress up for Halloween in a politically correct manner or will that take the fun out of the whole thing?
- Sadhir (Singapore)
Over the years, Halloween has become a huge, multibillion dollar event. In fact there is now an industry dedicated to Halloween alone just as there are industries for Christmas and graduation.
The rise in popularity of Halloween is by and large a product of its consequent commercialization. After all, the more popular it is, the likely are consumers going to purchase all sorts of Halloween paraphernalia -- from party favors to chocolate candies to costumes. Capitalist corporations thrive on making profits about literally everything.
Notwithstanding its meaninglessness and crass commercialism, Halloween culture is here to stay. Nowhere is this more apparent than at Halloween parties where everybody is sort of expected to sport a costume just for kicks.
Controversial costumes
There is usually no theme or criteria on how to dress up for Halloween. The wackier, the better.
In this day and age, though, not all costume ideas are bound to earn a positive reception. This is true in most schools where policies are now in place to limit the range of costumes children can wear to avoid stirring controversy.
This is due to the fact that many choose to be politically correct in order to show respect and prevent causing unnecessary injury or insult to a particular class of people.
Some offensive costume ideas that have riled up people in the past include the following:
Racial themes
White folks painting their skin black
Party-goers aping racial stereotypes
Overemphasizing body parts (e.g., lips, breasts, buttocks, and hips) in mockery of a certain race
Sexual themes
Sex workers and pimps
Kinky fetishes (e.g., dominatrix, leather, swingers)
Used condom and bloody tampon
Cultural appropriation
Feather headdress of American Indians
Japanese geisha
Thai ladyboys
Ethnic minorities
Socio-economic/historical themes
Homeless man
Murder/rape victim
Adolf Hitler
Drug addict
Klu Klax Klan
Admittedly, it gets really uncomfortable and awkward for guests to have to deal with someone who wears something that provokes or incites strong feelings. From it arises a hostile environment that defeats the very purpose for which the event was organized to begin with, which is to have good clean fun with friends and peers.
Granted, Halloween should not serve to stifle your creativity and passion for a certain cause. There's a need, however, to draw a line between fun and the need to push for a certain cause. As with all things, it's never a good idea to go overboard on your Halloween costume for the sake of drawing attention.
A good rule of thumb is: If unsure, err on the side of caution.
So what then is a politically correct Halloween costume?
It is simply one that does not mock, insult, or cause unwarranted offense against any class of people who are facing struggles of their own. These include ethnic minorities, indigenous cultural communities, queer sector, the elderly, those suffering from physical or mental conditions, crime victims, and the poor and impoverished, among others.
To get you started, here are some places where you can draw Halloween costume inspiration from:
- Pop culture references that everybody loves, such as popular TV or movie characters or food brands, even obscure characters, can do the trick.
- Geographical and historical landmarks are a recurring fixture in Halloween parties.
- Ordinary everyday things, such as a movie ticket or the spine of your favorite book, are easy to make.
- If you want to stay woke and current, look at themes everybody feels strongly for or against, such as corporate greed and high tax rates.
In all, it's great to have fun. However, this should not be made at the expense of others.
Additionally, while halloween is a great venue to display wokeness, learn to draw the limit. There are avenues apart from a Halloween party where your voice or advocacy can be received with greater impact and efficacy.
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Got a question yourself? Post it in the comments section below or on any of our social media channels. Watch out for the next edition of Q&A Tuesdays next week!