Editorial: Racism in Halloween costumes?

A man stands before you with an old straw hat and cheap plastic lei. He drowns in a fat suit and ratty old “aloha” shirt, while sporting a beer in one hand and a shaka in the other. A woman stands beside him, barely clothed. A purple grass skirt hangs low on her hips and a coconut bra protrudes out of her chest. She’s flailing her arms around like a rabid animal and calls it “hula.”

This is how society portrays our beloved Hawaiian culture. And because of this inaccurate portrayal, this is how people perceive our culture. So is this how people should perceive you?

Racism seems to be so imbedded into our society that it becomes almost ideological. Public figures like Prince Harry of Wales nonchalantly walk into parties donning a Nazi outfit, failing to consider the offensive statement his costume conjures up. Although you may wear the costume for one night, others wear the stigma for life.

Stereotyping inflicts many negative responses within a person such as aggression, over-eating, inability to focus, and difficulty making rational decisions. According to a study conducted at the University of Toronto Scarborough, people perform poorly in situations where they feel they are being stereotyped.

One portion of the study involved two groups of women who were tasked with completing a math test. One group was told that this test would determine whether or not they were capable and smart in math, subtly injecting stereotypes about women and math skills. The other group was given support and helpful coping strategies to deal with the stress they’d face when writing the test.

The group that felt discriminated against ate more than their peers, exhibited more hostility, and performed more poorly on the tests that measured their cognitive skills.

How do we put a stop to this discrimination? It’s simple. Be aware about what you wear and avoid culturally and racially offensive costumes this Halloween, meaning any costume that mocks a group of people like Geishas, Muslims, Native Americans, African Americans, Mexicans, Hawaiians and so on. Help to eliminate the racism in our society during this year’s Halloween by not giving in to stereotypes. 

Editorial: The over-sexualization of female Halloween costumes

Imagine a man and woman, standing side by side. Both are dressed as superheroes. When you imagine the man, what do you see? Does a cape sail proudly behind him? Does a mask shield his face? Are his arms and legs fully clothed in a single color? Does he have an eminent emblem branded onto his chest? Now imagine the woman…How high are her heels? How much cleavage is exposed? Is she even wearing pants?

 This is one example of how society over-sexualizes the female image. This sexualization diminishes women into mere objects for sex, which in turn creates a sexist and misogynist society. Yet, it continues to dominate the media, advertising, clothing industry, television, and is now grabbing ahold of America’s spookiest holiday: Halloween. According to a survey taken by the National Retail Federation, Americans spent around $4.8 billion on Halloween costumes in 2012.

Low-cut tops, padded busts, and short skirts are becoming the norm for girls younger and younger. Numerous studies have shown that this trend will lead to girls developing lower self-esteem, physical and mental health disorders, and a distorted body image, as they attempt to achieve the nonexistent physical beauty that they find in the media. This objectification reduces the likelihood of healthy sexual development for both sexes, potentially increasing sexual violence and human trafficking.

According to a recent study at Kenyon College in Ohio, around 30 percent of young girls’ clothing sold in U.S. stores could be considered sexy. The clothing industry combines both sexualized and childlike features into their clothes, making it easier for parents to overlook the sexual characteristics.

How do we put an end to this misogyny? It’s simple. Remove the emphasis put on appearance and outer beauty, and bring it all in. Like how the cheesy, yet accurate aphorism goes, “It’s what’s on the inside that counts.” Perhaps the scariest aspect of Halloween this year is the realization that sexism has been unconsciously woven into so many parts of our lives. The key is to be cognizant of the sexist messages surrounding us and to retaliate against them. 

Book Review: Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children

Mysterious, eerie, wondrous, alluring and a bit disturbing, Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children is a New York Times #1 best-seller, topping the list for more than 52 impressive consecutive weeks.

Author Ransom Riggs sets the story on a mysterious island off the coast of Wales, where there waits the crumbling ruins of an abandoned orphanage. Following a horrific family tragedy, sixteen-year-old Jacob travels to this island and discovers that the children housed at the orphanage were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous and they may still be impossibly, yet possibly, alive.

A spine-tingling fantasy accompanied by haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will both captivate and appall anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

New York Times best-selling author of The Fault in Our Stars, John Green described Rigg’s debut novel as “tense, moving, and wondrously strange. The photographs and text work together brilliantly to create an unforgettable story.”

In my opinion, this story is one of few that actually hit all those points that you want hit. Fearlessly, it burrows you down to that dark and dank cellar in the basement. Or that attic that no one dares to enter. The story leaves you with a strange satisfaction. Yet, you’ll still be craving more. 

Fans of the novel can soon quench that hunger. World-renowned director Tim Burton and X-Men: First Class writer Jane Goldman are currently in the process of developing the novel into a film, expecting to be released on July 31, 2015. Riggs has already completed a sequel to the novel, titled Hollow City. Its release date is set for January 2014.

If you’re searching for a “peculiar” and fitting novel for the Halloween season, Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children is sure to meet all of your expectations.