AW me, Indian Costume

JLaudio · October 2014

Sounds like excuses and they kinda are, I just don't have that much energy to put into a costume, especially now. Like I said at the very beginning of this thread, I may just steal the Wayne's World idea because that was awesome. On the same hand, I like to dress up, look hot and feel good about it. If I look frumpy I more than likely feel frumpy, I'm all about that look good feel good vibe. Unfortunately, I do not fit in my cheer uniform this year, so this not an option again.

Holly9239 · October 2014

If you are still asking for opinions, I would agree that the costume is in poor taste and is offensive to a lot of people. As many others said, I also don't go for the scantily clad costumes - I find it so obvious that the person wants to show off their body, there is not enough clothing to keep me warm and the costumes often lack creativity (though, not always!). But to each their own. My two cents/sense.

Happy Halloween!

alexis95 · October 2014

Wow. I honestly and truly did not know a costume like that would offend so many people. Of all the years I've dressed up for Halloween I've dressed as a devil (and I'm Christian), I've dressed as princess Jasmine (I'm not a princess nor am I Indian), I've dressed as a stereotypical hippie, the list goes on. And not once did I ever think it could offend someone. Especially because not once have I ever received negative feedback on any of my costumes because it's seriously just Halloween. Maybe I should take back my princess Ariel costume considering I'm not a real red head or Norwegian.
That being said, @JLaudio‌ I think the costume is cute! And if you wear leggings and boots and everything like you said, I think it would look even better and it might keep you a little warmer.

SuperFudge00 · October 2014

Wow, just wow. I am sorry for anyone who has been raped but agree with @MOtownMama‌ that women are not raped because they are a certain ethnicity or sexy. That is insane!!! And if you don't get how insulting that is @QSB‌ then you have no business on your soapbox.

I also stand behind dressing up as a character who happens to be of a certain ethnicity. If you are offended by a Halloween costume on those grounds, not in anyway like "black face", then you need more going on in your life.

I agree that the typical costume is usually cheap, poorly made, and not close to the intended original. But so is every costume, except when DH and I rented Renaissance garb. That is what this holiday has become.

Take offense to the alteration of the true intent of All Hallows' Eve, depending on your own cultural background.

Halloween
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween

Now stop turning everything into something.

redneckmomma25 · October 2014

higginsbb15 said:
I read more and more posts, makes me feel sad for the future babies that are going to grow up thinking it's okay to disrespect a culture and or race just because there is enough people to encourage that behavior. As well as my baby who will grow up having males objectify her just because when they hear Native American or Indian they think of your halloween costumes and others making them half naked. These costume promote racism and stereo types. I am also said that these poor babies will not know the difference between stereotypes and people cultures. As far as you treating our culture as being religionless, is ridiculous, one of the powwow dances wearing a regalia is praying to the earth and being thankful, we pray before each powwow and we pray for the people in need of prayers... We have ceremonies and these regalias are not just clothes. As far as a cowboy is is not a race and is not a culture, it was created in the USA, any race can be a cowboy not born a cowboy, please please consider what you are saying because this is what you will be teaching you future babies, or the babies you already have. It makes me sad that most of these ignorant post show more of you lack of knowledge and lack of respect. Knowledge is power and excuses are just lack of knowledge. There is a difference between cultures and modern day society. Please educate yourselves... And for those trying to educate the people who are ignorant in this forum, it clearly shows they are set in there ways but until they take of their shades and actually learn about other people there is no hope.. Every forum is sad and not supportive and motherhood should be happy and exciting and reading other forums makes me feel that people here are still stuck in high school, where apparently bullying and putting down people is oh so popular. I remember when no question is a stupid question because it means that you are trying to learn and trying to be a better person. I personally haven't posted until now but don't see any hope or happiness in most of these forums or post. I'm thinking hard about closing my account, I thought this would be a good supportive and helpful app. Because I'm a first time mom. I want a happy and drama free pregnancy, cause I am happy with my life. For the women who started this forum, I didn't come in here to bully but to educate, seen all the post shows me there is no hope. myself personally is going to be sally a CHARACTER in the MOVIE nightmare before christmas and my hubby is going to be jack. My costume is hand made by myself, and I always make my own costumes and won over $1000 just with one costume at one costume contest. Just to let you know after all the voodoo dolls and voodoo trends were popular I wanted make a voodoo costume but before I did my research and as awkward as it was I asked some friends who would know about the history. I was told that it was disrespectful as well as bad medicine... And not to do it.. After learning and asking questions and educating myself, I decided to not make a voodoo costume. I actually felt really dumb for not knowing it would be offensive, not to everyone but to a entire race and or culture. Not everyone is going to be offended by your costume but by you wearing let other people know it's ok when it's not.. I hope and pray you have a change of mind and just because your friends are doing it doesn't mean you have too. As well this could be your opportunity to educate your friends as well. If you chose not to then that's up to you. My baby will be raised that we are not all the same from body types to races to religion to cultures and that's ok and even beautiful and my baby will respect others regardless if they are different or the same, she/he will know about other peoples culture, religion and race. When my baby grows up she/he will understand if it is offensive to a race/culture he/she will respect this. This is what I was taught and even tho I have been treated like crap for being Native American, I'm treated like crap because people think I'm another nationality or they think I wasn't born in the united state. Remember native Americans are the only people indigenous to North America, every other race, nationality at some point is a foreigner. Please have respect for each other, we are adults as well as future mothers we should be better than this for ourselves and our babies. Racism is alive and well no matter how big or small racism is racism.

Qfp. I didn't finishing reading this. Far too long and whiney.

JLaudio · October 2014

@higginsbb15‌ I can't even get into your post because that whole thing was just a hot mess. You CLEARLY haven't actually read the entire post, you skipped around and selectively read.
You can also go back to BBC now, you know seeing as we are all rude, insensitive and offer nothing at all, you are further proving the point that you do not actually read the threads.

jk3610 · October 2014

agree with PP. women are not raped because they dress in a certain way. they are raped because the people committing the crimes have no control over themselves. that is highly offensive to women in general.

pblge · October 2014

SuperFudge00 said:
Wow, just wow. I am sorry for anyone who has been raped but agree with @MOtownMama‌ that women are not raped because they are a certain ethnicity or sexy. That is insane!!! And if you don't get how insulting that is @QSB‌ then you have no business on your soapbox.

True, people from every culture get raped, but some races and ethnicities are viewed as more sexualized and the rape prevalence is much, much higher among them. Native American women are one such group, and the wildly oversexed imagery in pop culture contributes to this problem. Denying this before you've done any reading on the matter is willful ignorance.

RHoPA1109 said:
Maybe men should be told to stop raping instead of blaming the rape on women in society dressing in a sexualized manner. My question is, if native women are raped more than other populations, is it by native men? And if so, why are they so much more apt to commit the crime? I'm not passing judgment on native men or being prejudiced at all, and I hope it doesn't come off that way, I'm genuinely curious.

The majority of the assaults are by non Natives, against whom the tribal police often have not had authority, so they couldn't prosecute, which definitely contributed to the problem. It was a cute legal loophole.

This is a people that has had every atrocity committed against them for century with full sanctioning by the us government. Show some respect.

JLaudio · October 2014

RHoPA1109 said:
Maybe men should be told to stop raping instead of blaming the rape on women in society dressing in a sexualized manner. My question is, if native women are raped more than other populations, is it by native men? And if so, why are they so much more apt to commit the crime? I'm not passing judgment on native men or being prejudiced at all, and I hope it doesn't come off that way, I'm genuinely curious.

From the research I saw, most rapes occur on the reservations because they don't have a proper judicial system. They cannot properly prosecute those doing the raping, it's basically an invitation to all the sick men on and off the res, to come rape the Native women, for the simple fact that they won't be prosecuted. It has nothing to do with the women being scantily clad, or the stereotypical portrayal of the Native woman, it has everything to do with sick men, who just want to have their way with a woman.

pblge · October 2014

@RHoPA1109‌ - I do respect you, and I do believe you should receive reparations, but that's a topic for another day. And I would never dress up as a slutty slave for Halloween, because that would belittle the experience of your ancestors. Same thing here, and in both cases the problems are ongoing.

@JLaudio‌ - they have functioning judicial systems, but those systems do not have authority over those not living on the rest. Big difference.

JLaudio · October 2014

pblge said:

SuperFudge00 said:
Wow, just wow. I am sorry for anyone who has been raped but agree with @MOtownMama‌ that women are not raped because they are a certain ethnicity or sexy. That is insane!!! And if you don't get how insulting that is @QSB‌ then you have no business on your soapbox.
True, people from every culture get raped, but some races and ethnicities are viewed as more sexualized and the rape prevalence is much, much higher among them. Native American women are one such group, and the wildly oversexed imagery in pop culture contributes to this problem. Denying this before you've done any reading on the matter is willful ignorance.
RHoPA1109 said:
Maybe men should be told to stop raping instead of blaming the rape on women in society dressing in a sexualized manner. My question is, if native women are raped more than other populations, is it by native men? And if so, why are they so much more apt to commit the crime? I'm not passing judgment on native men or being prejudiced at all, and I hope it doesn't come off that way, I'm genuinely curious.
The majority of the assaults are by non Natives, against whom the tribal police often have not had authority, so they couldn't prosecute, which definitely contributed to the problem. It was a cute legal loophole.

This is a people that has had every atrocity committed against them for century with full sanctioning by the us government. Show some respect.

This has nothing to do with the sexualization of the native women, as ALL women are sexualized, it has everything to do with sick men knowing they aren't going to be prosecuted because of said loophole. If you want to deny that, you are then the one who is being willfully ignorant.

pblge · October 2014

PS. The "show some respect" comment was not directed @RHoPA1109‌ or anyone in particular.

jk3610 · October 2014

souptin said:

The fuck is going on in this thread?

Souptin was here

but she wishes she wasn't

It definitely derailed a bit...

abc829 · October 2014

Well ladies I'm off to dress in my sexy Jew outfit of the day.

pblge · October 2014

Yes, all women are sexualized, but that doesn't mean it happens to all women equally.

Have you at leant decided not to wear the costume?

(I have about ten more minutes for this, then I'm out.)

bowman958 · October 2014

Rape sucks for women of all races, nationalities and creeds. Men of all races, nationalities and creeds who rape women are sick. Where there are disproportionate numbers of women being raped, appropriate authorities should take steps to reduce the rates - ie, on college campuses. I don't get the point of any further discussion.

JLaudio · October 2014

I was never full in on the costume, still up in the air. If you would have actually read my posts, you would have read the way I plan to wear said costume takes the sexualization out of it, you chose to ignore that fact.

The only reason it happens to Native women more often is because of the loophole in the law.

pblge · October 2014

JLaudio said:
I was never full in on the costume, still up in the air. If you would have actually read my posts, you would have read the way I plan to wear said costume takes the sexualization out of it, you chose to ignore that fact.

The only reason it happens to Native women more often is because of the loophole in the law.

Sorry, didn't read every single post here. Glad you're giving it some thought. I don't personally think leggings and a coat will help, but that's my opinion.

Your last sentence is simply not correct, sorry. These social phenomena never have a single cause. Denying the complex and subtle ways in which social portrayals contribute to these problems isn't helpful.

SuperFudge00 · October 2014

pblge said:

SuperFudge00 said:
Wow, just wow. I am sorry for anyone who has been raped but agree with @MOtownMama‌ that women are not raped because they are a certain ethnicity or sexy. That is insane!!! And if you don't get how insulting that is @QSB‌ then you have no business on your soapbox.
True, people from every culture get raped, but some races and ethnicities are viewed as more sexualized and the rape prevalence is much, much higher among them. Native American women are one such group, and the wildly oversexed imagery in pop culture contributes to this problem. Denying this before you've done any reading on the matter is willful ignorance.

Seriously? Picking and choosing your research is worse than anything. Look up the history of every oppressed culture! Look up the history of every male-centric culture, then come talk to me. I'll see you well after our babies are born.

And before you try and insinuate I down know anything to back up my claims, know that my all-female college required us to take women's studies courses. One of them happened to be Cross-cultural perspectives on women.

Get out of your box!!!

Unknown · October 2014

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JLaudio · October 2014

@CaterinaC‌ That's not even including all the ones who haven't spoken up about their rapes/abuses. I imagine the actual numbers are significantly higher for all. It's just sad.

I retract my previous statement about white males, simply because population amounts may not be factored into that. It does make a difference in percentage amounts.

Anyhow, it still sickening no matter the race of who is doing the raping/ being raped.

knitfastdiewarm · October 2014

Going back to the issue with the costume: OP, I know you did not expect this level of discussion when you asked for our opinions on your outfit. This has to be a bit overwhelming. I am going to try to make this as anti-inflammatory as possible.

I live in a state with a large Native American poplulation and a very sordid and difficult history regarding relations between white settlers and Native peoples. Last year, our governor's daughter wore a feathered headdress in a promotional picture for her band. There was a HUGE public outcry at her use of Native regalia as a prop in her pictures. Her band's performances still have protestors. It's a huge deal here to respect the culture and not treat it flippantly. (I wish my state was so sensitive to other issues, but that's besides the point)

Do I think the governor's daughter did this maliciously or with intent? Absolutely not. Just as I don't think you picked the costume as an intentional "dig" at Native Americans. My point in bringing this up is to tell you that your choice may make others uncomfortable.

Honestly, this board will never know what you decide to wear unless you tell us. You asked for opinions and several people brought up that it may be construed as inappropriate from a cultural stand point. I'm simply pointing out that there are many places, including my home town, that do look at that as "tacky" (that's the best word I could think of).

Good luck to you. I hope you make a decision you are comfortable with.

Unknown · October 2014

This content has been removed.

JLaudio · October 2014

Following posts shall be completely disregarded by all, to further establish this threads slow and horrible death.

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