ColoradoDisneyFreaks
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2010
- Messages
- 3,260
Had a good discussion about this with my daughter. It was something she studied in college. She explained how it is OK to wear the actual Disney-marketed costume no matter the skin color/race/culture, as long as culturally significant things like tattoos, etc, were not included. It's like people wearing feathers in a band around their heads to be Native Americans. Those feathers represent an important part of their culture - they are earned in a specific manner. They are not to be worn just to make you look like 'an Indian'. Just as henna designs are fine as long as you don't do the palm/sole stuff that are part of Hindu marriage rites. (not sure if I got that part right - the designs brides have on their hands, feet, that symbolize prosperity in how long they last after the wedding, I think? Sorry if I got that wrong!) It's about the difference of being a character and perpetuating a stereotype. And remember, Disney movies are ripe with stereotypes.
So those poor kids whose parents can't afford the Disney store costumes aren't allowed to go to the Dollar Store and Goodwill and make their own Moana costume because that would be cultural appropriation? No, I can see that there is a difference between Moana and some generic "Sexy Island Girl" costume from the Halloween Super Store. But if a friend invites me to a luau party, I'm going to go, I might even put on a grass skirt, if a 5 year old little girl comes to the door in a home made Moana costume I'm going to gush over her just as much, if not more, than I would over one who was wearing an official Disney costume. No child is going to wear any costume to mock anyone's culture, they're just wanting to have fun and get lots of candy.