Cultural appropriation at Halloween--where's the line?

I don't believe that anyone has the right to NOT be offended. All of us are offended by somethings at some times. Some of the things that offend us are unique to us while others are shared by the majority of those in our culture. Nothing is inherently offensive. It is we who interpret a given thing as offensive. So I do not think the fact that someone is offended is necessarily enough reason to avoid the thing in question. Sometimes giving offense is a necessary component to talking about serious and unpleasant matters.

At the same time, I ask myself the question "Do I want to add to the aggression in the world?" and I answer "No." I like to avoid giving offense when offending someone would be more detrimental than avoiding the thing in question.

One of the biggest issues I see presented in blogs at this time of year is Halloween costumes as cultural appropriation. Dressing up as an Indian princess, geisha, or hula dancer are considered by many to be racist, inappropriate and/or perpetuating harmful stereotypes. Even men dressing as women has been chided as a form of mockery. 

But I am having trouble determining the line between what is and is not inappropriate. Some costumes correlate cultures with negative stereotypes, like a Muslim terrorist or a latina sexpot. But other costumes are neutral toward the culture they represent. Some of the arguments against these costumes just don't apply accross the board.

For instance, Angry Navajo/Indian Girl says Indian costumes are inappropriate because (a) they are historically inaccurate and perpetuate incorrect stereotypes about American Indian customs and apparel and (b) suggest that American Indians are creatures of fantasy rather than real people, because the purpose of Halloween costumes is to dress as things that don't actually exist.

These points are contradictory. If the Indian garb that is typically presented at Halloween (and in mythos such as Peter Pan) is fantastical, then these costumes meet the standard of dressing as fantasy. I guess the harm comes from people assuming that the costumes ARE representative of real people (like Pocahontas). In which case, the ignorance of the masses, and not the costume itself seems to carry the blame.

Should I dress as a witch? This is one of the quintessential Halloween costumes and decorations. Most of us think of witches as creatures of fantasy--but they're not. Witches are real, and they walk among us [cue spooky music]. I have friends who are witches. I don't want to contribute to negative stereotypes about them.

My friends are cuter than that.

There's also the argument that these costumes place American Indians in history, like they no longer exist today. No one makes these arguments about Greek, Egyptian, or German costumes. If one were to dress as a modern American Indian, how would one distinguish this from any other American? Based on this fact, it seems that the focus is not on dressing as an Indian specifically, but in dressing in a type of garb that one finds appealing.

Some would also compare these costumes to dressing in blackface, which most people would not even consider doing. However, I don't think an accurate comparison can be made here. Blackface isn't just a bad idea because it's a form of modern cultural appropriation. Blackface carries with it a deeply cruel history of oppression that cannot be separated from it. Even given the racism against minorities in America such as the Japanese, putting on a kimono and fortune cookie hairdo does not carry the same connotations as donning blackface.

There also seems to be a contention that dressing as another race is a means of mocking them. It is impossible to apply a single motive to all who might choose such a costume and there are certainly other reasons for doing so. Most of us have been exposed to other cultures through school or the media and find other customs and apparels to be quite appealing. We couldn't get away with dressing out of the norm most of the time, but for one day of the year we have the opportunity to dress differently.

Is this evidence of privilege? Absolutely. The fact is that Latinas face huge challenges in America, but I, a white woman, could easily dress as a flamenco dancer for Halloween. But that privilege exists whether I don the costume or not. The costume merely draws attention to it--which is a good thing isn't it? I live in a country where people with naturally brown skin are feared and reviled, but white people still spend lots of money to make their skin brown. We definitely need more conversation about privilege. But being aware of, and even utilizing one's own privilege to experience superficial aspects of another culture, does not seem to me a form of racism--unless it is paired with a belief that by doing so, one has experienced what it is like to be a member of that culture. 

I didn't choose the culture I was born in. I didn't choose to be privileged because of my race. I see a lot of beautiful aspects of other cultures that I wish were part of my life, even if only temporarily. I would like to see cultures be able to share and exchange customs. I don't have to follow the religion I was born into. Why do I have to stick to my race's customs? It is important to have an awareness that just dressing like a certain aspect of another culture does not equate to understanding what it's like to be part of that culture. That's something else we should be talking about.

"Whiteness" is considered neutral and cultureless in America. This isn't true, of course. White people do have their own customs and garb which have extended into other cultures whether they want it or not. It's terrible for facets of any culture to be replaced against their will, and we may not be able to discern whether the given culture would have chosen to mesh with white culture without coersion. Perhaps today's American Indians would still be more likely to wear Nikes than moccasins even if they hadn't been forcibly removed from their homes and oppressed by Europeans. When engaged in through choice, I think cultural exchange and adaptation improves societies.

Some costumes raise even more questions. What about the illegal alien in the prison jumpsuit who is actually an alien from another planet? Is that racist or is it satire criticizing anti-immigration policies? It's neither. It's just an alien in a jumpsuit. The interpretation of it is up to the individual. If I want a costume that makes a political point, should I avoid it for the sake of those who may be offended by it, or should I wear it to promote discussion? Yes, it depicts immigrants as less-than or other-than human; but is that a commentary on how the person in the costume views them, or how our society views them?

Or is it a commentary on the government cover-up of space aliens in our midst? Nah, that's just what they want you to think.

I have settled on a pirate costume. It's not historically accurate. It is freakin' awesome. Pirates are not fantastical creatures--except when they are. Real pirates exist today, though I don't think anyone would mind me presenting them negatively. Hell, some people may be angry that I choose to present a positive image of pirates. But I'm not trying to make any kind of statement on modern, or even historical, pirates who have hurt people. I'm dressing as a pirate from fantasy, like Pirates of the Caribbean. Like a Pastafarian (and if Pastafarians can be accused of religious appropriation, so can every other religion on earth).

As I said above, I try to avoid offense where unecessary. I don't think my night of fun is worth alienating people whom I'd like to get along with and fight with for common concerns. But I think it's important to talk about this. I don't ask this question to be combative or to say that people are being too sensitive. People are exactly as sensitive as they need to be. I will avoid certain costumes because I don't want to needlessly upset people. But I want to understand why I am doing so. If a costume is racially or culturally inappropriate to you, what makes it so?