Cultural Appropriation and Halloween

By this point in time, we all at least have heard the term “cultural appropriation.” And when it comes to Halloween and dressing up, there are costumes that the majority of us know to stray away from (ie. black face). But why? Why can’t I wear a headdress and be a Native American for Halloween? Why can’t I dress as a geisha? Well, here are some thoughts.

One of the first things to note is that cultural appropriation doesn’t necessarily come from a place of hate but rather a place of ignorance. Some people who wear costumes like this may just be playing dress up for a night and having fun; they may even think they’re appreciating a culture rather than appropriating it. But not knowing how and why it offends people is where the issue comes from. Being informed and being sensitive is the best way to avoid appropriation.

This isn’t some type of wild “liberal nonsense” thing. It’s just the fact of the matter is that there are a thousand and one things someone can be for Halloween; you can be a princess, a dog, a Power Ranger, just about anything under the sun. But the fact that some of the most popular costumes sold in stores are things titled stuff like “Mexican Man,” is not ok.

What is cultural appropriation? One definition is “cultural appropriation almost always involves members of the dominant culture (or those who identify with it) “borrowing” from the cultures of minority groups.”

Why is it bad? People who are in marginalized groups go through so much on a day to day basis that folks who are not in those groups could never understand. So when people think it’s fun to go out and walk the line of making fun of these people is very hurtful and detrimental

Here is a short list of costumes that are not appropriate and potentially very offensive:

• Anything that requires you to change your skin color (black face, yellow face, etc)
  • You can dress as a character of a different race but do not paint your skin for this reason
• A “gypsy”
• A terrorist of any sorts
• Day of the Dead Sugar Skull
• A nazi
• Any hate group in general (ie. the KKK)
• Any racial stereotype
• An eating disorder
• A god or deity from a religion you don’t participate in

Now we know how to act ourselves, how do we speak up when we see others dressed in offensive costumes?

Silence is violence. Speaking up can be scary. Last year on Halloween, my roommate brought home a guy dressed in a Native American costume and I got so uncomfortable I didn’t know what to say so I didn’t say anything at all. But it’s a conversation that needs to happen. And as I said earlier, it often comes from a place of ignorance so a good way to start this conversation is “why did you dress up this way?” A fair amount of the time people do it because they think it’s funny. And point blank, it’s not. It’s not funny to disrespect and enforce stereotypes. Offense does not equate humor. Engage in conversation and be polite. It takes some bravery but you got this.

Have a good and safe Halloween!

Thinking Straight: What does it mean to come out of the closet

October is LGBT History Month and earlier this week was National Coming Out day. This is an important time for the LGBT+ community and an opportunity to celebrate and embrace this identity.

I, myself, am not straight. And that is something I have dealt with, processed and just generally had to figure out what’s up. And I still haven’t figured that out.

I first started questioning my sexual orientation in 7th grade all thanks to “Glee.” What a weird way to first start questioning yourself and who you’re attracted to. But at the end of the day it plays into this idea of representation. Had I not been invested in a TV program that showed all these identities, and especially identities that resonated with me, who knows when I would have started figuring myself out.

In my middle school health class they had one of those question boxes where you can submit a question anonymously. I wrote the question “Can you be questioning your sexual orientation forever?” Oh boy, who would have thought seven years later I’m still asking the same question. I have no idea what I am. Am I straight? Am I a lesbian? Am I bisexual? Am I pansexual? I’ve tried on just about every identity and I don’t feel like any of them fit who I am. And that’s ok.

What people don’t understand about coming out is because of the heteronormative society around us coming out is an ongoing process. Most people see straight as the default. If I casual mention a girlfriend in conversation people are taken aback; I can often see them physically recoil. The first time I told anyone I might not be straight was when I was 13. The most recent time I came out was last week. It’s something that’s constantly happening. For somebody who is anything but straight, it is an identity you posses; it is a part of you. But because it isn’t something people can see when you walk in the room, they don’t know.

The vast majority people in my life do know this identity but there’s still a large handful that don’t. I will probably never tell my dad unless I take a girl home. And my extended family? Forget about it. When I was a confused teenager my grandfather told me that gay people have something messed up in their head. Imagine the fear that gave to someone already terrified to be different.

Through leaps in society towards a more accepting world for the LGBT+ community, neighborhoods are slowly becoming safer. Through celebrities coming out, and it being an identity we see in media, it is enabling for the LGBT+ community to do the same.

The LGBT+, community is large, a recent study found that 20 percent of millennials identify as LGBT. 

So why do we need a National Coming Out Day? Some people argue we don’t  That in order to get away from the idea of straight as the default we shouldn’t come out because straight people don’t come out. We hold this idea that in every LGBT+ person’s life an important step is coming out but that doesn’t have to be the case. You can show up to a family reunion with your same-sex partner on your arm the same way your brother can show up with his girlfriend on his. We should be pushing to make that world a reality.

But that’s privileged talk. I’m a white girl from a liberal part of the country. So much intersectionality exists from within the community. So many parts of the world remain unsafe, and homophobic that straying from the norm can be a dangerous situation.

National Coming Out Day also celebrates the efforts made by so many in a world by existing as an LGBT+ individual was an act of rebellion in itself. Coming out and being a part of this community was unheard of and now is a fairly large part of the world in general.

If you do identify as LGBT+, ultimately you have to do what is right for you. If you are in a place to fully be yourself, please do it. If you feel unsafe, reach out. There are a thousand and one organizations to help. I can’t tell you what to do.

Advocate Yo’ Self

How to Advocate for yourself

Advocacy comes in all shapes and forms. Yes, it can be dealing with issues of identities and social justice. It can be about amplifying the voice of those who are frequently silenced. All that is a part of advocacy and is so essential. However, advocating for yourself is important. Once you learn how to effectively speak up for yourself, advocating for others becomes a lot easier. So here is a quick list of what to keep in mind when an opportunity presents itself to speak up.

1. Step back and breathe

In the moment, everything feels super urgent. Emotions run high, words that aren’t necessarily true are spoken, a lot of different responses can happen when something negative occurs. In order to approach an issue most effectively, it is important to step back and look at the big picture. Is this something that constantly occurs? Is it a one time thing someone did? Breathe and come back level headed.

2. Speak up, to whoever

If something is bothering you, no matter how big or small it is, it is important to speak up. If there is an issue in terms of racism in your space, please speak up! This is a big issue that demands attention and starts with you speaking up.

In terms of smaller issues, also speak up when given the opportunity. If you are a vegetarian and everyone’s going out to eat at Outback Steakhouse, feel confident enough to suggest a different restaurant.

With that in mind, tell someone means tell anyone. If you don’t feel comfortable talking about this with a boss or the person asting negatively towards you, tell a friend or trusted co worker and go from there.

3. Have a support system

Advocating can be very mentally draining. You can get lost in this sense of hopelessness or even fear depending on what you’re advocating for. It’s important to take care of yourself in this time and a lot of that is having a support system. This can look a lot of different ways: grabbing drinks with a friend, calling your mom, curling up with your dog and watching The Office reruns. Whatever works for you as long as you get a chance to recharge.

4. Be strong

For me, advocating for myself is a lot harder than advocating for others. I have to speak up for what I want. It should be easy, people love talking about themselves. But I end up feeling like a burden. So the thing to keep in mind is to keep your head high and have confidence in yourself. It’s only a few moments of discomfort in order to feel better in the long run.

5. Speak clearly

Once you work up enough courage, to convince yourself to talk, know how to talk. Go into the conversation knowing what you want to say, what you want to change, and be able to articulate why. If you go in wishy washy, it’s a lot easier to dismiss your concerns.

6. Judge what’s best

Ultimately, you know what is best in this situation. Judge the severity of the situation, who you’ll be talking to, what context it’s in, how much the other person knows about an issue, etc. The beauty of advocating for yourself is nobody knows the best way to do it except for you.

7. Be polite

Lastly, be nice about it. Maybe this person’s intention is different from your interpretation, maybe they know nothing about this issue. But if you come in hot, accusing and attacking, people are gonna shoot you down quick and not want to accommodate. So just be nice.

 

Hurricanes are Stronger Than They Seem

Hurricanes have been particularly abundant in recent weeks. Hurricanes Harvey and Irma have been wrecking communities in the southeast U.S, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, the Caribbean and several other areas. While the damage is very evident and the areas hit hard will most likely be rebuilding for many years to come, there are demographics within these communities that are fighting multiple battles against their natural disaster.

Immigrants

The hurricanes are forcing those on DACA and families where some are undocumented immigrants to make tough decisions. Asking for help or checking in to shelters could result in ICE discovering them, leading to their ultimate deportation.

In an already rough time for immigrants in the U.S., it is harder for them to reach out for help when affected by hurricanes. Houston has the third highest undocumented immigrant population, behind New York City and Los Angeles, which raises the significance of this population being amongst those struggling through this disaster.

There have even been rumors of ICE and deportation were circulating in Houston, instilling fear to already scared residents.

While Houston has a fairly large hispanic immigrant population, the city also has the most Afghan refugees out of all the U.S. cities. This is a demographic not frequently considered when picturing natural disaster struggle in the United States.

Socio-economic status

People who are most likely to be affected by hurricanes are those who have a lower socioeconomic statuses. They are more likely to be able to afford hurricane prone areas and live in cheaply built infrastructures. There are not strong draining systems in low income neighborhoods either. According to the Washington Post, the counties that were hit the hardest, 80% lack flood insurance. Some saw it as too expensive. The price increases significantly for houses inside a floodplain, jumping from $500 to over $2,000 in some cases in Texas.

Disabilities

Those with disabilities are affected greatly as well. Consider those who cannot move very easily (wheelchair bound individuals, those with muscular dystrophy, amputees, etc) who do not have the privilege of evacuating easily and instead wait for others to help.

Some with disabilities can’t leave their equipment behind, it is an essential to their health. Shelter-in places should be including resources for those with disabilities including wheelchairs, oxygen tanks, crutches, etc.

Women and Reproductive Rights

Those pregnant and in need of maternal care may not have it as easily accessible. And those pregnant who had planned on having an abortion are facing whole new challenges in hurricane fall out. Many clinics have closed in order to deal with hurricane aftermath.

Environment

In Houston, chemical plants are not being tended to properly after Harvey hit and are hence causing issues, including explosions affecting those near it even more than they would be by solely Harvey.

With chemicals and debris covering areas, certain places do not have safe drinking water in both Houston and Florida.

How to prepare yourself and your neighbors:

• Keep a go-bag ready (including medication if you are disabled)
• Think of those being affected and if there are people who could use a little more help.
• Find a way to make your house easily accessible to those with physical disabilities (ie a wheelchair ramp)

Donations:

Portlight: A post disaster relief for those with disabilities

United Way Relief Fund: A community recovery organization for Houston 

Hurricane Irma Relief Fund: An organization raising money for emergency supplies for Irma survivors 

The Stigma Relief Fund: A group that is providing safe and free abortions to those who need it and were affected by Hurricane Harvey