Halloween is right around the corner and as the holiday approaches, the Office of Inclusive Excellence and Belonging, and the Division of Student Success, would like to share information on how to have a safe, culturally appropriate, and fun Halloween.
When thinking about a Halloween costume, it is important to select one that does not attempt to adopt an identity that is not your own. Many costume choices can reinforce negative stereotypes of particular genders, sexual orientations, cultures, races, religions, and political affiliations. Be aware that there is a stark difference between creative costumes and offensive costumes. Offensive costumes are those that stereotypically or culturally misappropriate aspects of a group based on, for example, gender, race, culture, ethnicity, religion, class, or sexual orientation. Choosing an offensive costume only serves to reinforce harmful stereotypes that have long-lasting negative impacts on our community.
Here are a few examples of culturally inappropriate costumes:
- Anything representing blackface, brownface, or yellowface
- Costumes representing harmful racial or ethnic stereotypes
- Sacred ceremonial garments
- Mocking of disabilities or mental illness
- Wearing hairstyles of people of color
- Transphobic/homophobic costumes
At UHart, we are committed to fostering an inclusive, welcoming, and safe community. If you have questions, or if we can be helpful in facilitating additional discussion, we invite you to reach out to the Campus Climate Educational Response Team (CCERT).
Thank you for making respectful choices when celebrating this year and beyond. Happy Halloween—be smart, be respectful, be safe, be inclusive!
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