What are the most offensive Halloween costumes NYU students have seen?
Because what’s scarier than cultural misappropriation
I am scared for Halloween this year. I’m not scared of ghosts, pirates or zombies. I am scared of what upsetting combination of racism, sexism and anti-Semitism will be among this year’s Halloween costumes.
I wonder what frightening appropriations of culture and identity will feature both in a sexual context (think “sexy” Native Americans) and in the context of political incorrectness.
Scarily enough, society has not progressed in the distasteful Halloween costume department. An “Anna Rexia” costume, which is comprised of a skeleton-print dress cinched at the waist with a measuring tape, first emerged in 2011 but for some incomprehensible reason the “outfit” is still in circulation.
Furthermore, the costume that demeans the severity of eating disorders and mental health is entirely sold out this year.
And new offensive costumes have entered the market this year as well. This year Walmart triggered outrage by selling a children’s Halloween costume of an Israeli soldier, complete with a toy Uzi machine gun. Additionally, they also sell a prosthetic “Sheik Fagin Nose” by Walmart, which featured a stereotypical large nose on a man who appears to be an Arab.
But the question is, are these insensitive outfits infrequent or do we actually come across people dressed this way?
Inspired in part by comments like Gallatin Freshman’s Selam, who said: “I know someone who went as Osama Bin Laden and posed next to a poster of an airplane”, The Tab asked NYU students if they’d seen any offensive Halloween costumes in previous years. Here’s what we found…
Bella, Freshman, Liberal Studies, California
“The most offensive Halloween thing I’ve seen is people dressing up as Barack Obama and using black face paint.”
Steven, Freshman, Gallatin, Hawaii
“I know multiple people who have dressed up as Jesus and Buddha, and I’m sure that drew offense to some people.”
Nur, Freshman, Stern, Egypt
“Last year I went as a member of ISIS. This year I’m considering going as Ahmed, the clock guy, or Donald Trump.”
Jacqueline, Freshman, Liberal Studies, California
“I knew someone who dressed up as a homeless person.”
Nick, Freshman, Stern, Pennsylvania
“I don’t find this offensive but some people might- my friend dressed up as a tissue box that said ‘blow me’.”
NYU, we’ve seen disgraceful –even disgusting – Halloween outfits. Let’s keep NYU Halloween 2015 classy people.