Halloween: Are Some Costumes Off-limits?
Pexels, Photographer: Monstera, Jan 2020
Halloween: the one time of year where it’s socially acceptable to take candy from complete strangers while dressed in a costume. Dressing up for Halloween is a very fun tradition in American culture. As kids, we waited for Halloween to come and to decide what mythical creature or real-life person we wanted to represent on Halloween night. With so many costume options, we must ask ourselves, are there limits to what someone should dress up as for Halloween?
Costumes that depict “insane asylum” patients are an example of one costume which may be off-limits. Mental health is an extremely serious topic for everyone of all ages. Unfortunately, there is already a huge stigma around mental health and these costumes only perpetuate it by making light of something so important or worse, villainizing it. Halloween costumes that depict “insane asylum” patients send the message that those seeking mental health treatment, some of which may include in-patient therapies, are violent, must be physically restrained and look a certain way. This is not only false but sends the wrong messages to those who may need mental health treatment.
Another option that may be off-limits are costumes that sexualize nurses. These costumes perpetuate a stereotype, specifically, that nurses are weak, unskilled and exist only for the male gaze. This stereotype may prevent women from pursuing a career in nursing and further harassment of current registered nurses. The trivialization of this career also undervalues the significant training nurses endure and the work they must perform. These costumes further separate nurses from doctors and the medical community. Since these costumes portray nurses, specifically female nurses, in a provocative way, it may cause the public to view nurses differently, such as by having less trust in them than doctors. They may also not even be seen as professional medical providers due to the persistent stereotype that they are unknowledgeable.
Other costumes should be-off limits are those which emulate Holocaust victims or terror attack survivors. These costumes may be seen as insensitive to those who actually survived horrific attacks or events like the Holocaust. These insensitive costumes may further the trauma that these survivors have suffered because they essentially mock the real and terrifying events that the actual victims suffered through. This may then push some survivors to not seek mental health treatment in regards to surviving a certain terror attack. Furthermore, it is making humor out of a very serious, damaging topic like terrorism.
Halloween is certainly a very fun holiday, however, it’s clearly important to keep in mind these stereotypes and stigmas when choosing what to wear for Halloween. When deciding on a costume, be mindful of harmful stereotypes, cultural appropriations and offensive portrayals.