Its not though. Its not just a costume.

I am not saying this as a hate on people. Or that I am particularly affected. Im not American, Native or otherwise: your relationships with your various ethnic groups is your business. But dont be uninformed when you make these decisions.

Its not about what you can handle.

Quoting Ihill:" Its not though. Its not just a costume. I am not saying this as a hate on people. Or that I am particularly ... [snip!] ... ethnic groups is your business. But dont be uninformed when you make these decisions. Its not about what you can handle. "

How is it not just a costume?

<blockquote><b>Quoting Ihill:</b>" Its not though. Its not just a costume. I am not saying this as a hate on people. Or that I am particularly ... [snip!] ... ethnic groups is your business. But dont be uninformed when you make these decisions. Its not about what you can handle. "</blockquote>




  I am a card carrying registered Native American. I am extremely informed and not offended.

The biggest concern is that it sexualises a group of vunerable women, one in three who are the victim raped- often with no support or justice from the police and government.[1] The other controversy it is an insensitive cultural appropriation with a lack of understanding about historical injustice surrounding the outfit.

Shrug, anyway I am writing a paper on identity and diversity so I researched it a bit.
I'm glad your not offended but it is an offensive thing. People aren't protesting stereotypical Native American imagery because they enjoy being spit on and called names.

There is not anything left to say really. I wanted you all to engage critically with the idea and not dismiss it off hand.



[1] New York times timothy Williams printed may 23 2012 For Native American Women, Scourge of Rape, Rare Justice A1

<blockquote><b>Quoting Ihill:</b>" The biggest concern is that it sexualises a group of vunerable women, one in three who are the victim ... [snip!] ... [1] New York times timothy Williams printed may 23 2012 For Native American Women, Scourge of Rape, Rare Justice A1"</blockquote>




What I do find offensive is being put in a vulnerable woman category

Like I said, why stop at Native Americans? How about sumo wrestlers, geishas, pirates, Greek goddesses, Roman warriors, Eskimos, bums, etc?

All of those costumes are misrepresenting what they are, but no one else is up in arms.

Know why?

Because they're just costumes.

Oh, and witches and gypsies

Really anything is. Queen of England, white guy as Obama, my kid dressing up as a fire man since he obviously isn't a firefighter, gi joe.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Brink:</b>" Really anything is. Queen of England, white guy as Obama, my kid dressing up as a fire man since he obviously isn't a firefighter, gi joe."</blockquote>




Or members of the military

Quite a few of you are American educators.
Do you not research these things to see if it is offensive or the historical links?

I am writing a paper about identity and diversity so I have done some research. I'd like to suggest here is a difference between dressing as a profession and summing up a large and varied culture into one stereotype. It is wrong to sexualise a group of women that has horrific statistics of rape with very little justice or support. see http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/23/us/native-americans-struggle-with-high-rate-of-rape.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
And of course I am being general, it is not true of everyone but that doesn't mean it is not a valid criticism and should not be engaged with instead of merely dismissed as "I am too sensitive".
Be critical people, back up your opinions with facts. And be sympathetic people, if you don't care about the implications of the costume I'd suggest it may not be such a battle to simply not wear the outfit out of courtesy. You are not losing anything.

People are not protesting the use of their identity with things like this and mascots because they like to be spat on and called names or because they want to cause trouble. It genuinely upsets some Native Americans and from what I have read in this thread obviously these groups find it difficult to be taken seriously.

Anyway my research is done so I will not be back on this site.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Ihill:</b>" Quite a few of you are American educators. Do you not research these things to see if it is offensive ... [snip!] ... these groups find it difficult to be taken seriously. Anyway my research is done so I will not be back on this site. "</blockquote>




I wish you'd answer my question instead of repeating the same smurf.

Quoting Ihill:" Quite a few of you are American educators. Do you not research these things to see if it is offensive ... [snip!] ... these groups find it difficult to be taken seriously. Anyway my research is done so I will not be back on this site. "

Do you not research these things to see if it is offensive

Why in the world does that require "research"? It requires a brain, we can decide for ourselves whether or not we're offended.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Ihill:</b>" Quite a few of you are American educators. Do you not research these things to see if it is offensive ... [snip!] ... these groups find it difficult to be taken seriously. Anyway my research is done so I will not be back on this site. "</blockquote>




  My opinion is my view I don't have to google some articles to back up how I feel

<blockquote><b>Quoting Δ ☮ ∂:</b>" Do you not research these things to see if it is offensive Why in the world does that require "research"? It requires a brain, we can decide for ourselves whether or not we're offended. "</blockquote>




Yeah for real.


My tribe was nearly wiped out by Dutch settlers who gave us diseased blankets. My husband is a tad Dutch and I am not offended when he hands me a blanket. According to her research I guess I'm suppose to be.