Is it offensive or am I being silly?

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Just a quick one but NC for this as I guess its outing.

My childrens school are doing world book day and the “theme” is peter pan, its given some suggestions of characters you can dress up as and one is tigerlilly. I was thinking of chosing that one for DD as I hate all of the tinkerbell dresses but ive heard its offensive to dress up as certain things. Native americans being on of them. Is it offensive or am I being silly? Why oh why do they have to do themes and not just let people pick their favourite book characters 😩

Personally I'd see no harm in it. However, due to the PC brigade there is no way I'd let my DC do this. Pick something very middle of the road which can't offend anyone!

young Native Americans review Halloween 'Indian' costumes and share their thoughts

That’s a different issue though. A generic Native American Halloween costume which has stereotypical elements isn’t the same as dressing as a specific book character as drawn by an illustrator.

Like someone dressed as “a Scotsman” is totally different to someone dressed as groundskeeper willie from the simpsons.

Howdoyoukeepup - when the kids did Oliver at school, one of them had to dress up as Fagin. I genuinely don't understand why that's ok, but it's not ok to dress up as the same character for WBD?

TigerLily is a complete stereotype though. If a character in a book is an offensive stereotype of say someone from an African nation with a bone through their nose, a spear and talking gibberish, dressing up as said character is no less offensive just because they've been given a name.

Peter Pan is a bit unfair on the girls isn’t it? Far fewer characters to choose from and none of them particularly likeable.

I’d go with girl pirate.

Oh dear, my daughter dressed as Tiger Lily last year, for a carnival with a Peter Pan theme, it never even crossed my mind that it was considered offensive. At the time I thought that all the girls were dressed as Tinkerbell, now I see why. I do hope no one was offended. Feel awful now 😐

There's always someone offended because they have nothing better to do.

Nothing wrong in dressing up as Tiger Lily.
Some will be outraged about Peter Pan, offensive to orphans, offensive to gender-fluid individuals, offensive to non-white people
Others will be outraged about Captain Hook, who really makes fun of disabled people
Don't get me started on the message sent about a story with grown-up MEN chasing innocent children...

I mean, you could go on all night. Either you join the circus of nonsense, or you ignore the stupidity.

Couldn't she be Wendy? Mother? Nana? A lost girl? Pirate?

Don't feel bad, Snappyfarter. It was a mistake that you won't repeat.

I see the professionally unoffended are out in force!

Looking forward to seeing Little Black Sambo at Workd Book Day....

I have seen a post in a local group asking for advice on dressing up as a character from another continent (taking about wigs and make up) and personally think it's very dodgy ground and that I wouldn't want to risk being insensitive to others in the school community.

Just like there's no problem with a black/Asian girl going as little red riding hood, Mary Poppins, etc.

You honestly can’t see the difference between dressing up as Tiger Lily and Mary Poppins? It’s not about the race of the person doing it, it’s about cultural sensitivity.

The portrayal of Native Americans in that film is horrifically racist, why would you want your child to replicate that?

Its not offensive to normal people and I would hope the people in your school would see it as just a book costume. If these so easily offended people keep going our country is going to end up in real trouble. George Orwells 1984 should be a warning not a guide book.

I was just about to say exactly that @Bertrand. All these indigenous Brits taking offence on behalf of a completely different race and culture are just ridiculous.

Would you tell this chap he is being silly for wearing a sporran? If you would complain about Tigerlily but not about this then you are being either sexist, racist or both

Oh I bloody hate the eternally offended at everything brigade. Let your DD dress how she wants and tough shit at the PC brigade!

Remind me again of the bit in 1984 that discusses cultural insensitivity?

@Alsohuman, I assume you either confused your tag or being sarcastic about agreeing with Bertrand and the Little Black Sambo comment?

I suppose we should ban white girls from playing Mary at the nativity - in fact ban white people from any biblical scene.

We should ban Braveheart for an Australian playing a Scot (actually wouldn't mind that).

I'm Scottish and I don't give a fuck if he wears a sporran. It isn't an issue for me, because it is in no way equivalent to wearing a stereotypical Native American costume considering the history of how the Native American peoples have and are being treated and that their headdresses and other garments carry great and often spiritual meaning.

So all those who find this offensive (unbelievable!) I assume then that you find Indians (from the sub-continent) dressing in European style clothes and people from Hawaii dressing in anything other than grass skirts etc etc.

Who, exactly, is going to be offended?
I'm think I would be offended at someone being offended by a little girl dressing up as the character Tiger Lilly ffs!
If the theme is Peter Pan, with no instruction not to dress up as Tiger Lilly, then it's ok for your ds to do so.

Why would your dd not dress as a boy? The lost ‘boys’ could be either sex really and certainly pirates can be

I'm Scottish, I don't find it offensive when people (of any race) dress up in a kilt and wear an orange wig 🤷 it's just a daft stereotype that's pretty ridiculous but funny.

You don’t need to assume anything @Doneuplikeakipper. What I said was perfectly understandable without any assumptions necessary.