After my open letter yesterday, I feel like some people still aren't getting it (maybe it was the 100+ comments telling me to eff off?). Despite my appeals to emotion and greater human decency, it seems that many people in the world of thar' intranets need some more physical reminders as to why dressing like a Native person this Halloween might be a problem. So I, dear random-probably-racist-internet-not-friend, am happy to oblige. Because, as a person of color, that's my job, right? To prove to you that racism exists? To teach you why these things are wrong? To offer evidence of such wrong-doings? What fun it must be to never have to worry about such things! What a privilege!
To state my case, I wandered to the Spirit Halloween website. I did a simple one word search: Indian. I got 56 results, all Native-themed. I chose a few at random to share with you below. Hooray!
To start off, I give you the description for that "Sexy Indian" above:
Hey cowboy - get a look at this Indian! Stop him in his tracks in this sexy Indian Dream Catcher adult costume and all your dreams will come true. There's no need for a bow and arrow - just shoot him sexy looks and he'll make tracks in your direction - it might get so hot he'll put out smoke signals!Awesome. Cowboy/Indian stereotypes, mentions of dream catchers, bows and arrows, and smoke signals! But it gets better (worse?):
Put the wow back in pow-wow when you go native in this very sexy Tribal Trouble Indian adult women's costume. They may need to break out the peace pipe because the other squaws will want to torch your teepee when their menfolk see you in this foxy costume!"The other squaws will want to torch your teepee?" That's....great.
But the "menfolk" are included in the fun too:
Go native American in this classic adult men's Indian Brave costume. Your job - to hunt. Hunt for prey like food and beer or pretty women in this comfortable costume. Get what you want then lay back and enjoy - pass the peace pipe!Glad women are equated with food and beer. Glad the costume is "comfortable" too. God forbid you be "uncomfortable" when you're being an ignorant misogynist! And I won't even with the peace pipe comment.
and don't forget the teens and tweens...they want to bring boys back to their tipi's too!
You are an Indian Princess, able to hunt, gather and lead. In this cute Indian Princess tween costume it will be a snap to gather and lead the boys back to your tipi! Dance to celebrate the harvest or welcome a full moon in this fun costume trimmed with lots of fringe, feathers and more.I'm sure every parent wants their daughter to be gathering boys and leading them back to the tipi. but only while they're mocking Indian spirituality by "dancing to celebrate the harvest," of course.
and saving the worst for last:
Girl, you won't be sitting around the campfire stringing beads in this Pocahottie Pow Wow costume! The work is done and it's time to play cowboys and Indians, only this time the Indian picks off the cowboys that she wants. Put the wow in pow wow and practice some native American rituals in this sexy Pocahottie costume. Is that an ear of corn in your pocket or are you just glad to see me?Yeah...I can't.
I hope these can serve as examples as to why I'm so pissed off. The dripping misogyny and stereotyping is so blatant, it almost reads like satire. But these are real products, for sale on websites and in thousands of Spirit stores nationwide. Thousands of people are seeing, reading and internalizing these messages.
These costumes are hurtful and dangerous because they present a false and stereotyped image of Native people. The public sees these images, and it erases our current existence, so the larger, contemporary issues in Indian Country then cease to exist as well. When everyone only thinks Indians are fantasy characters put in the same category as pirates, princesses, and cartoon characters, it erases our humanity. Have fun thinking through that one.
But let's be real for a minute. Can you seriously read those descriptions and still say that this is totes ok? Really. Be honest with yourself. Read them again. Think about if these descriptions were describing you and your family. Then tell me I'm being "over-sensitive."
Thanks for playing, and have a happy, healthy, racism-free Halloween!
Earlier:
Open Letter to the PocaHotties and Indian Warriors This Halloween
But Why Can't I Wear a Hipster Headdress?
Nudie Neon Indians and the Sexualiztion of Indian Women
A Cowboys and Indians Party is just as bad as a Blackface Party
Paris Hilton as a Sexy Indian: The Halloween Fallout Begins (includes lots of links about the costume issue)
Mid-Week Motivation: I am not your costume
I'm so glad you are spreading the word on this. So offensive and people don't think twice about it. I'm so glad that smart people like you take the time to spread the word about cultural appropriation. You rock! Keep your chin up!
ReplyDeleteThanks for keeping up with this! Hopefully someone will finally get the message!
ReplyDeleteHoly. Shit. These should be like... a parody of racism... but they're not. They're just fucking racist.
ReplyDeletePlanning on sharing this with my middle school students on Monday. Thanks for your wonderful blog!
ReplyDeleteYep, too often people think of Native Americans as coffee-table book subjects, a mythological or "dead" race, and not a currently viable culture. It's been vanquished and legendized, so it feels OK to appropriate it any way they wish. When criticized, they take it personally and yap back about not being responsible for what happened hundreds of years ago, conveniently ignoring that it's not about what happened back then, but the equating of a modern-day people with these "values" and activites listed in the product description.
ReplyDeleteThe images are bad enough. But the descriptions, Adrienne, THE DESCRIPTIONS. Ditto to Pete, they read like parodies, but are just intentionally oblivious (obvious?) racism. I really hope I don't see any of these over the weekend.
ReplyDeleteOh god, The descriptions... As if the costumes are not bad enough.
ReplyDeletei've now been on the Spirit store website for 10 minutes just looking at all the racist stuff they have... how is this still going on??
ReplyDeletePeople will always have Halloween costumes in poor taste. But Aboriginal costumes are the only ones made in mass production. It's stereotypical and hurtful. I don't look like that and neither do my daughters but this is how they think Aboriginals are suppose to look like? This is classic blatant, socially accepted racism. This and team logos/ mascots have to go.
ReplyDeleteMost Americans don't even know that after the war of 1812 after Britain demanded peace they want to allocate a massive Native Peoples state occupying most of the mid west. Of course the Americans refused, even though the native peoples of the region to that point were faithful allies and honorable people. American history is littered with blood and betrayal. No wonder this kind of ridiculous nonsense is viewed as humorous and trite.
ReplyDeleteJust think...someone not only had to think of those words, they had to type them and someone else had to approve them and likely proofread and edit them as well. And then they all got paid for it.
ReplyDeleteSickening.
i wrote about this "seductive squaw" costume a couple years ago in a paper on violence against native women. im happy (?) to see that it's been discontinued, but the "related" costumes are really no better..... http://www.yandy.com/Seductive-Squaw.php
ReplyDeleteSo many terrible ones!!!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.spirithalloween.com/product/sexy-shooter-46/
http://www.spirithalloween.com/product/border-babe/
http://www.spirithalloween.com/product/la-igloo-cutie-adult-7-10-md/
http://www.spirithalloween.com/product/dg-saki-2-me-medium1/
http://www.spirithalloween.com/product/chinese-bamboo-hat/
ugh.
These are so incredibly awful. That first one...how does she sit down without making the world her gynecologist?
ReplyDelete"The work is done and it's time to play cowboys and Indians, only this time the Indian picks off the cowboys that she wants."
ReplyDeleteYay, let's also make fun of rape! Awesome! I can't think of any way this could be offensive to anyone! (sarcasm, of course.)
I'll be interested to see if the "random-probably-racist-internet-not-friend" commenters feel as bold on this post as on your last. What's sad is that it takes this level of overt racism to get people to shut up/notice! Thanks for keeping the conversation going.
ReplyDeleteLove
Carrie
You're not going to find any glorified black-face costumes out there. These are just as bad, yet manage to get marketed?
ReplyDeleteOh, but you forgot "Chief Big Wood"
ReplyDelete"The smoke signals will start the moment you leave the teepee in this handsome adult men's Chief Big Wood costume - and where there's smoke, there's fire! Heat things up in this sexy costume - your job is to hunt so get out there and prowl. "
they wont let me grab th image, but its here:
http://www.spirithalloween.com/product/dg-chief-big-wood-lrg-36-38/
saw it today while i was looking for a short, bad, curly blonde wig. would you believe i can't find one of decent Harpo quality anywhere?! Maybe im doing it wrong...maybe im supposed do "sexy Harpo"
Definitely racist and not even a clever attempt at a parody. People do not really think about other cultures unless its their own that is taking the brunt of a joke. For example, a living Native dressed in a Hitler outfit?
ReplyDeleteI really hate feeling so angry and embarrassed by these idiots that I lose my words. But it's happened again. Makes me want to smack a few heads together.
ReplyDeleteYou do realize that almost ALL women's costumes are ridiculously too revealing.... It's not just reserved for you...
ReplyDeleteCourageous truth. Keep speaking, the ancestors are honouring and listening.
ReplyDeleteMiddle Eastern ones are mass produced too. Terrorists, sheikhs, and harem girls. Same exact descriptions with different terms. Same misogyny, racism, and idiocy.
ReplyDeleteWhat's to say? People with no taste or sensitivity will always offend others. Teach them? Not worth your trouble. They're probably beyond that anyway. Just ignore the jerks and racists and bigots ... most of them will be rolling drunk soon anyway. That always adds something attractive to any costume.
ReplyDeleteSorry ... I'm in a bad mood tonight and it seems to me lately that 3/4 of the adults in this country (or most others) are drunks or fools or both.
I'm sure there's a few idiots out there that already have their Indian Maiden or Noble Indian Warrior costumes picked out with their fake warbonnets and plastic bow and arrows. Whoever they are makes me sick..
ReplyDeleteAnd stupid!!
ReplyDeleteDon't forget gypsy costumes.
ReplyDeleteUgh, people just fail entirely.
ReplyDeleteI don't even get why people put up such a defensive fight at the mere idea of getting rid of horribly racist costumes. But then I guess they just don't want to acknowledge their own racism.
Not to mention the costumes are probably made in sweatshops thereby exploiting two groups of people.
The women's costumes are also absolutely pron inspired and making the women sex objects. Thank you for your post. See also http://radicalfeministcrafts.wordpress.com/2011/10/25/helpful-sensitive-liberal-bro-hints-for-this-halloween-season/
ReplyDeleteNo matter what women achieve and do, native women, white, black, Asian...there is a male element that denies their accompishements and humanit, to pornify them.
Just stop now.
"Bimbo" costumes are mass produced. Don't buy, write to toy stores; tell them, your daughter doesn't aspire to be a pron performer she wants to be an astronaut.
ReplyDeleteMy little sister works at a Spirit store. We're both pretty glad that the native-themed costumes aren't selling much this year (in our town anyway). As for the "Pocahottie" costume description, all I can say is: *head-desk* *head-desk* *head-desk*
ReplyDeleteThose were my thoughts exactly. How could anyone think this was okay? >__>
ReplyDeleteExcept you will. Try "rap" "hip hop" or "afro" or "bed invader" as search terms.
ReplyDelete"When everyone only thinks Indians are fantasy characters put in the same category as pirates, princesses, and cartoon characters, it erases our humanity." Again, preach! I don't get why folks don't understand this. And lord, the dehumanization of romanticizing other cultures as well (if I hear one more "Native people blah blah mother earth blah blah, I'm going to join the Rainbow Tribe!" I will go on a killing spree, I swear)? I just don't get it. It's so obvious. I understand privilege well (I'm white) and how it can make you clueless, but just how effing dumb and clueless can you be? There has to be a limit. Yet instead of reaching that limit, people (mostly my white brethren) desperately fight for their "right" to be an absolute asshole. WTF, white America?
ReplyDeleteIf the descriptions weren't so serious in selling a hurtful, demeaning and tacky product they'd be a wonderful parody. Sadly frustrating that this is not the case and there are (mainly white) people who buy them and wear them.
ReplyDelete"But let's be real for a minute. Can you seriously read those descriptions and still say that this is totes ok? Really. Be honest with yourself. Read them again. Think about if these descriptions were describing you and your family. Then tell me I'm being "over-sensitive." "
Sadly frustrating that it has and will still go over the heads of some, or they'll find objection to it--already came across them myself. I almost almost feel sorry for them not be able to wrap their heads around the fact that if it was called out as racist last year, the year before that, the year before that year and so on, and called racist this year and will still be racist the next year and the year after that and so on, then it's probably racist period.
Then you hear their whiny sense of entitlement and meet the ones who've actually bought the costumes and want to teach them first hand the historical fact that we Natives learned how to use guns ever since white folx started to stay here a bit too long. >=)
Oh lord, I just posted about this on farcebook and am already getting the "nope, everything's fair game" comments. Wow. Even people I love are assholes.
ReplyDeleteI can absolutely see the problem with the costumes posted above, it's not something to be taken lightly to.
ReplyDeleteI've seen a lot of "I am a culture, not a costume" with Halloween approaching, and I understand where all of it comes from. Granted, at the same time, I think wearing the regalia of another culture isn't always offense.
Say I see the traditional kimonos of Japan, which I think are beautiful. So I buy one, gorgeous. But when can I wear it? Not to work, certainly--it isn't appropriate. But I know that on Halloween I could put it on and not be pointed at.
In that sense, I don't think it's racist. If I scandalized it or mocked it like the above costumes did, then yes, I'd have a problem on my hand.
Just a thought as I read through this. Thanks for sharing.
A $30-$50 made-in-Taiwan-for-$5-worth-of-materials produced for the intent of cashing in on people's desire to dress up as a parody of another culture is NOT 'regalia.' A cheap, costume store kimono or a silk cheongsam bought at your local mall's 'Chinese Import' store is not regalia either. A gaudy reproduction of a prized traditional robe is also not regalia.
ReplyDeleteNo, wearing a kimono to work would not be appropriate: even in Japan, unless you work at a highly traditional temple, tourist location, or during National Holidays for the Japanese to celebrate their identity and culture.
Wearing a 'kimono' on halloween because you know you won't get singled out for it is NOT 'wearing the regalia of another culture.' It's turning a Kimono into a costume, and asserting your power and privilege with the ability to be seen as representing another culture for a night, and go back to your own life the next day.
Appropriation is not appropriate, no matter what day of the year it is.
It starts young, both the appropriation, and the skankyness. When I was looking for Hallowe'en inspiration for my little girls, I saw this in a catalogue: http://tinyurl.com/438qpbz According to the description, it is "..perfect for school plays, pageants, and Thanksgiving." Really? Thanksgiving? Luckily, the palm of my hand hit my face just then, and I wasn't able to read any more. Then I went and stared at this, as a palate cleanser: http://tinyurl.com/28qvkv3
ReplyDeleteMy undergrad institution ran a 'my culture is not a costume' type campaign when I was an undergrad, that was kind of awesome. It was posters of First Nations undergrads on campus, wearing what they wore to school every day (all standard 'undergrad uniform' stuff - rain boots, Northface jackets, flannel, jeans), with the tag line across the top that read, Hallowe'en: Dress like a [Nuuchahnulth / Musqueam / Heiltsuk / etc]. It was kind of fabulous, and it sparked some great campus conversation about appropriation, representation, and the hypersexualizing of women.
"Is that a corncob in your pants, or are you just happy to see me?" Besides being racist, objectifying pieces of crap, so many of these costume descriptions are heteronormative, assuming that the person in the costume is a hetero guy or girl. Yuck on so many levels.
ReplyDeleteI...I can believe this is real. I can't believe someone actually sat there and wrote those up and actually thought that was a good idea and totally not racist at all.
ReplyDeleteThis is the main pet peeve for me when Oct/Fall comes around. Racist junk like this. I mainly blame the stores that came up, manufactured, and distributed this crap. Any idiot that decides to condone, buy and wear this crap, well.... thats their own fault. They wanna be stupid then thats their own choice. You can talk yourself blue in the face and some people still won't get or see the obvious.
ReplyDeleteI got an "official" Wilfred costume, are australian dogs going to be pissed off by my "inaccurate, specist portrayal of canine-americans"???
ReplyDeleteEquating people with dogs. Nice argument.
ReplyDeleteLife is a lot less joyful when you take it so seriously. Halloween is not meant to be a historically accurate holiday. Otherwise there would be a lot more burning of human fat candles in order to ward off evil spirits and much less candy. Despite the fact that candy is delicious. True, the costumes for women that we are presented with are skanky as all hell but you can choose to take a different path with it. Don't wear the wannabe indian costumes if you are offended by them but let other people have their fun. Don't try and take away their right to choose by demanding that the costumes be discontinued. Doing that brings up it's own set of issues. Who has the right to deem what we wear as acceptable or not? I certainly object to uggs but I have yet to start a protest group against them...
ReplyDeleteGood boy! Way to out yourself as an ass by equating us and our inequalities with dogs. Want an asshole treat? Of course you do!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on missing the point! Did you even READ the descriptions?
ReplyDeleteThis kind of sexualizing of a culture is not just wrong, but totally gross Moreover, it's in extremely poor taste to romanticize a time in a nations when genocide occurred [I mean, turning the story of Pocahontas and John Smith into a love story really?]
ReplyDeleteJust one thing for you, the author to think on: Your statement, "What fun it must be to never have to worry about such things! What a privilege! " is slightly offensive. I have to say that I am not exactly a "privileged" little white girl. It's a shame for you to alienate people who are in your corner. Even so, I won't let it trump the fact that this is so wrong and people need to stop resorting to the "get over it" quip.
*time in a nation's history
ReplyDeleteI personally don't think one should be offended as long as the act is for respectable reasons, merely entertainment. When in costume one gets to walk in your shoes. We express this in early childhood ex. the dress up area, where we learn to pretend. If this stands then there goes the Parades that we've all enjoyed. Close Disneyland and the Theatres forsake!! My children always dressed as a historical figure, athlete or character and a lesson went along with the costume. I think this approach accredits their ability to be proud of themselves and embrace cultural diversity. The language used is offensive, but to dress in the image of someone or some figure is not to be taken offensive.
ReplyDeletehttp://jimgoad.net/images/halloweenJG.jpg
ReplyDeleteNone of these costumes represent a 'historical figure.' Every single costume is based on racial stereotypes, and is extremely offensive.
ReplyDeleteLetting a child dress up in faux buckskin with a feathered headband for the sake of pretend is letting them dress up in a made-up image meant to represent hundreds of extremely unique cultures, and collapses them all into a single image that teaches the child that the people it's meant to represent are imaginary or mythical creatures (akin to princesses with pointy hats, pirates, dragons, etc), and a relic of the past - not something that can exist in a modern context.
Modern Natives are a diverse group of cultures with different traditional looks, clothing, and practices, who face both common problems in the form of institutionalized racism (google recent articles regarding Native Children in foster care) and culturally acceptable racism - see the above costumes.
If you looked at the images above and thought they were anything other than racially offensive stereotype based costumes, you're being ignorant.
Btw, 'entertainment' at the sake of another culture's societal standings and dignity is not a 'respectable reason.'
Wow... way to troll, derailing and not hardly even be near the topic being discussed cuz. Gold star for you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking the time to share this with us. Personally I'm Australian and Caucasian and am learning a lot :) For what it's worth, I really think you're making a difference. Personally, a friend of mine called me out on my white privilege and told me how it was oppressing her, and it changed me fundamentally (despitemy initial protests). The most important thing that those of us in any position of privilege need to remember (in my opinion at least) is that even if we don't understand why the other party feels the way they do or why they're troubled by something, it's not for those of us in our privileged position to decide what matters and what doesn't. It has nothing to do with us and try to talk someone out of their position is the most privileged thing you can do because you're essentially deciding that you know better and have more authority than they do about their own situation!! I hope that makes some sense. Anyway, my point is simply thank you for sharing and teaching. I just hope the idiots don't start to make you doubt how worthwhile it is. Even if they don't have an instant lightbulb moment, you're offering an alternative to the stereotypes they're seeing and chipping away at that schema. :-)
ReplyDelete