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Original poster

Is it offensive or am I being silly?

999 replies

CocaColaaa · 02/03/2019 15:57

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 😩

OP posts:
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Pumperthepumper · 03/03/2019 12:34

I’ve just looked at that T-shirt link and the description uses the phrase ‘red Indian’ wtf? And a PP tried to use it as an example of appreciation of NA culture!

Pumperthepumper · 03/03/2019 12:34

Sorry, should have said I looked at it after Seneca’s post.

CarolinePooter · 03/03/2019 12:55

Just a follow-up about schoolboys playing cowboys and Indians. The boys would be Indians one time, cowboys another, so all had a chance of being on the victorious team. The Indians were way cooler because of the bows and arrows, so everyone wanted to have a go.

BertrandRussell · 03/03/2019 13:06

“The boys would be Indians one time, cowboys another, so all had a chance of being on the victorious team.”
Which was, obviously, the cowboys.

CarolinePooter · 03/03/2019 13:08

Wrong, wrong, wrong. Whoever had the advantage at the end of playtime was victorious.

BertrandRussell · 03/03/2019 13:12

So not like Hollywood, then.? Or indeed, real life.

CarolinePooter · 03/03/2019 13:16

Thank God, they were allowed to use their imaginations.

TacoLover · 03/03/2019 13:19

It is a work of fiction written over a hundred years ago.

It's a work of fiction containing a character full of racist stereotypes. You cannot deny that Tiger Lily was written to misrepresent and mock Native Americans. Yes it was written 100 years ago but that makes it even sadder that people think it's acceptable after all this time to dress up as a character that mocks an entire group of people when said group is still being oppressed.

TacoLover · 03/03/2019 13:20

I also think it's laughable that people try to use a t shirt, where the description includes 'red Indian', as an example of cultural appreciation.

Pumperthepumper · 03/03/2019 13:23

so all had a chance of being on the victorious team

So unlike real life then? What a weird defence.

woodhill · 03/03/2019 13:24

There was Tonto and the Lone Ranger who worked together .

In the 70s my dB had a cowboy outfit as did ds in the 00s

It's probably best to go as a different character

BertrandRussell · 03/03/2019 13:29

“I also think it's laughable that people try to use a t shirt, where the description includes 'red Indian', as an example of cultural appreciation.“

Surely much more laughable to use it as an example of a celebration of Native American culture?

TacoLover · 03/03/2019 13:33

Surely much more laughable to use it as an example of a celebration of Native American culture?

...That's what I saidConfused

BertrandRussell · 03/03/2019 13:48

Sorry, taco- I misread appreciation as appropriation- this thread has made me a bit trigger happy! Blush

happierever · 03/03/2019 14:05

In the real world no one bats an eyelid, if that's what she wants to wear I would let her wear it

recrudescence · 03/03/2019 14:37

I have decided to adopt the persona of that lovable comic trope- the blackamoor servant

Why, exactly?

TinklyLittleLaugh · 03/03/2019 14:40

Society moves on though.

15 years my DD dressed up for book day as Pocahontas.

5 years ago she dressed up in an Indian hareem girl costume for a production of Arabian Nights.

Last Boxing Day night she was scouring the dressing up box for something to stagger around town drunk in for the evening, as is traditional in our part of the world, and pulled out the hareem girl costume, very pretty and sexy, perfect for clubbing. She could be a genie.

We had an interesting discussion about whether it was appropriate culturally, and DD, on balance, decided maybe not. I think possibly I would have gone for it (if I were 30 years younger and twice as confident).

What I’m trying to say is, these things are on the agenda now, we give these things more thought and are more aware now, we try to be kinder. Things that were thought okay in the past are not recognised as okay now.

BertrandRussell · 03/03/2019 14:54

“I have decided to adopt the persona of that lovable comic trope- the blackamoor servant

Why, exactly?”

Because if done lovingly, how could it possibly offend anyone?

happierever · 03/03/2019 15:43

So now people can't dress as a genie? Bloody hell better cancel the panto

recrudescence · 03/03/2019 15:45

So you can be lovingly racist?

BertrandRussell · 03/03/2019 15:59

“o you can be lovingly racist?”

Apparantly.

CarolinePooter · 03/03/2019 15:59

Tsk tsk happier, you know it's the right thing to do;-)

Rspu3 · 03/03/2019 16:02

@Tacolover I said in my other comment some people are offended some not,so shut the fuck up.it was an example of what I have encountered.

My opinion now the rest of you can go fuck yourself coming back up with questions to this and picking at my comments.
Op- your child is dressing as a character, which in my opinion is absolutely fine. I wouldn’t even think twice about it if it was my neese or nephews.

Rspu3 · 03/03/2019 16:06

Better yet op don’t let your child dress up at all. Someone will be offended and write you a whole fucking essay on why they are. 🙄

CarolinePooter · 03/03/2019 16:10

Thanks for posting, Rspu3. Some people see what they want to see, and love using it as a stick to beat others with. All OP wanted was people's opinions, and hopefully she will be able to find a nice costume for her child.