How to be cutesy, mindful and demure with your Halloween costume!
Nejat Ahmed, VP Equity SMCSU
Ever since the first of October, all I’ve been hearing about is what people will be for Halloween and the Hoikety Haunt. I’ve heard a plethora of costumes from students! It’s safe to expect people to show up and show out on the 31st. Some may find Halloween to be one of those holidays when people feel justified pushing the proverbial envelope. And it could hurt some feelings, come off as insensitive, and before you know it, you’ll be known as the person with the “not-so-cutesy, not-so-mindful, not-so-demure” costume. Here’s how you can be cutesy, mindful, and demure this Halloween! Creativity is always welcomed, but it should never come at the cost of another. In no particular order, put your costume away if:
- If your costume appropriates someone’s culture: Yes, Disney Princess. No, I’m not counting Pocahontas, Jasmine, or Mulan. There is a significant difference between appreciating one’s customs and stealing it for a couple of hours and making fun of it by turning it into a costume; If your costume “requires” blackface or yellowface, then I really need to see you put your costume away.
- If your costume appropriates religion: it’s a Catholic college, what’d you expect!? This goes for all religions, no questions asked. Like the last point: there is a very big difference between appreciating one’s customs and stealing it for a couple of hours and making fun of it by turning it into a costume.
- If your costume is making fun of disasters or tragedies: No. Just no. Unless you’re trying to raise awareness and do so in a manner that is respectful to those impacted.
- If your costume promotes homophobic and/or transphobic rhetoric: Costumes mocking gender identity? That’s a no, as it makes fun of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and adds to hateful rhetoric already existing about the community.
- If your costume is about mental illness or based on a disability: Straightjackets, “crazy” wigs, and any other items that mock physical or mental disabilities should be nowhere in the room, for obvious reasons. Ableism and ableist rhetoric is still a prominent problem, and a costume inaccurately depicting mental or physical disabilities does not make things any better.
- If your costume promotes body-shaming or harmful rhetoric to different body types: If y’all are making jokes about body images, I’m going to need you to come to the front for this one. Not only is it bullying, but it’s also downright dehumanizing along with some of the other contenders on this list.
- If you have any doubt in your mind that your costume may be misinterpreted; You’re honestly better off running down to Party City and picking up a set of cat ears and calling it a day. If you’re in doubt you phone a friend.
On the other hand, here are some ways you can be cutesy, mindful and demure on and around the 31st!:
- Always research your costume!
- Avoid sacred symbols and spiritual items.
- Ask yourself if your costume represents a person or a stereotype!
- Focus on characters, not identities!
- Keep humour lighthearted and general!
- If all else fails: ask for feedback!
