A young girl, not even six years old yet, walks into her classroom wearing the outfit and makeup of one of her favorite Disney characters. It is Halloween and everyone was going to walk into class wearing they're a costume. There will be pirates and witches, unicorns and pop stars, and a blue-eyed Mulan.
This young girl, a first grader, had no idea what cultural appropriation was while she was wearing makeup and dress inspired by the Disney princess. She was way too young even spell the word let alone know of its meaning. All she knew was that she was getting teased for having so much makeup on her face and that she would sit alone on the swings, wondering why people were making fun of her for dressing up as a character she loved.
That little girl was me. When I was in the first grade, I went to school in clad in a Halloween costume of Mulan when she was getting ready to be judged by the matchmaker.
Though I still had my blond hair, I had the full face of makeup and the dress. Now that I am older and I know what cultural appropriation and whitewashing is. I have had many epiphanies while thinking about whitewashing and cultural appropriation in Halloween and cosplay. Some of the statements and arguments have left me guessing while others have been spot on and crystal clear. Here I will discuss Halloween both Halloween and cosplay in the focus of the arguments posed when it comes to whitewashing and appropriation in a two-part article.
Halloween
The ideal costume that all little girls have been wanting to get this year is one of the famous Disney character, Moana. As more and more little girls of every race wore this costume, the controversy was quick to follow. descent and it left many to question if it was okay for white little girls to dress up as the character.
The Disney princess is and was depicted as a girl of Polynesian descent and it left many to question if it was okay for white little girls to dress up as the character.
This picture from the site for Spirit Halloween shows a young person of color modeling the costume, but many little girls of every race wanted to be Moana for Halloween. When it comes to Disney characters it is a hard question on whether little girls are whitewashing the character or not. So many little girls look up to the famed Disney princesses whether it be Moana, Pocahontas, or Mulan So should we as a society shame little girls for whitewashing a character so many look up to or should we let them be kids for the night?
Since so many little girls and boys look up to Disney characters, they should generally be off limits to whitewashing comments when they are worn. Now, on the other hand, there is the blatant disrespect for entire cultures. Costumes such as this:
This:
Or any type of blackface is not okay. These costumes and many others are offensive to people in the cultures they are appropriating. Appropriation is not okay and it can be damaging to people's cultures because it further pushes a stereotype that is not true. This can go to any race, culture, or religion as well.
So while going out this Halloween be safe and be sure to avoid appropriating whitewashing, or blackface at all costs.
