Some Halloween costumes are scary, some are funny, and some just exist so that we can be “someone else” for a night. The holiday should not, however, be used to make a mockery of another person’s identity, especially when that person is already being marginalized for it. More specifically, I believe that the Caitlyn Jenner costumes being offered at a number of Halloween retailers attempt to turn Jenner’s identity into a joke.
The costumes, which are available from multiple distributors, including Spirit Halloween, pay homage to Jenner’s now-famous Vanity Fair cover featuring an ivory corset top. When faced with public backlash from those who found the costume offensive, Spirit Halloween claimed that its intentions were to “celebrate” Jenner and her accomplishments, both past and present. Even if this was the company’s true intention, I think that very few of the people who purchase it will be wearing it to celebrate Jenner.
The true intentions behind costumes like this can be seen in the way that Wholesale Halloween markets its version of the Jenner costume. The store’s website has many different categories for costumes, including “sports” and “TV and movie,” both of which the Jenner costume would fit into. However, the costume is instead listed under “men’s humorous costumes.” In reality, it isn’t humorous; it’s a person’s life.
Jenner's decision to publicly come out as transgender must not have been an easy one, given her family’s seemingly permanent position in the public eye. She knew very well that she could (and likely would) be subject to fierce criticism. For some, the consequences of being transgender are more severe than some harsh words; they can even be deadly. Within the first seven months of 2015, 18 transgender women were murdered.
Furthermore, mocking transgender people’s identity by creating a Jenner costume perpetuates misconceptions about what it means to be transgender. It reinforces the idea that gender is only skin-deep. People can be transgender and still dress like their assigned gender at birth. Wearing a corset and posing for Vanity Fair is not what made Jenner a woman; her own beliefs are.
The same issue stands with a number of other costumes. I don’t think that Halloween costumes should be limited to objects that are inanimate and, therefore, have no sense of identity. I do, however, think that we should all stop ourselves on the way out the door on Halloween night and ask ourselves if our costumes are offensive to or making a mockery of another person or group’s identity.
