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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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Fresta · 04/03/2019 07:49

Do people also think that that children who are not white should not dress as a white character?

Fresta · 04/03/2019 07:50

What about nativity plays?

Girlinthegarden · 04/03/2019 08:42

I'm another one who would say no. My husband's granddad was Native American though.

I'd do Wendy, Tinkerbell or a pirate. It's a really rubbish one for girls unless they're happy to dress as male characters.

Ooh, what about the crocodile?

SparkiePolastri · 04/03/2019 08:46

Love people coming on at post No 570+ to suggest the crocodile or a mermaid, as if it might not already have been suggested. Grin

CarolinePooter · 04/03/2019 08:59

Of course Fresta, any child can have any role! My point re Othello was a pp who claimed Benedict Cumberbatch shouldn't play Othello because he is not black. I pointed out that the part was originally written for a white man anyway. Of course any actor black or white should be able to play any role. Barring a white actor from playing a black role would be just as unfair as barring a black actor from playing a white role. The blackface issue is irrelevant, and not needed to allow the actor to play the part.
Actors are trained to play all manner of roles and to only assign roles to them based on race is frankly an insulting idea.
I am really sorry OP has been bullied into not letting her daughter play a part she wanted. OP has been bombarded with tyrannical emotional blackmail from some people who evidently have nothing better to do than stick their noses into a stranger's life.
They have basically ganged up on her. Whatever the rights or wrongs of their crusade, they have been rude, condescending and arrogant.

recrudescence · 04/03/2019 09:04

I opened this thread to say pretty much what CaolinePooter has said above.

SparkiePolastri · 04/03/2019 09:07

You opened the thread - without having any idea what it was about - to say the same thing as someone mortally offended that they can't be as insensitive as they want?!

Wow, telepathic.

recrudescence · 04/03/2019 09:11

I should, perhaps, have said reopened the thread. However, your rudeness is completely uncalled for.

CarolinePooter · 04/03/2019 09:12

Thanks recrudescence, It has all been a bit much for me. I enjoy a bit of lively discussion as much as the next person, but this has not been discussion it has been diatribe. Also, I have reached a pretty advanced age without ever being called a cunt, so it's a first for me!

Alsohuman · 04/03/2019 09:12

This thread takes the biscuit for virtue signalling. Patronising and smug is such a good look.

PickledLimes · 04/03/2019 09:13

It's a far better look than joyfully racist.

SparkiePolastri · 04/03/2019 09:13

Doesn't looks as if you're still agreeing with Bertrand then, Alsohuman.

PickledLimes · 04/03/2019 09:14

On that note, thank you for listening OP and changing your mind. That says a lot,

ImMeantToBeWorking · 04/03/2019 09:14

IMO If you tan her skin to make her look like an african american, thats offensive. If she is just in the dress with her hair in pig tails then it is not offensive.

PS Tiger Lily was white in the movie as it was never specifically said in the books that she was native american, it was only assumed by the people who made the animated film.
www.bustle.com/articles/103538-why-is-tiger-lily-white-in-pan-director-joe-wright-speaks-out-about-rooney-maras-controversial

PickledLimes · 04/03/2019 09:16

Sorry, it was only assumed that she was Native American? Tigerlily and her tribe are referred to as redskins throughout, are also referred to as 'Noble savages' and embody every single stereotype about Native American people that you can think of.

PickledLimes · 04/03/2019 09:17

The director is a fucking idiot. Barrie really couldn't have made if any clearer.

CarolinePooter · 04/03/2019 09:18

Yawn.

BertrandRussell · 04/03/2019 09:19

How on earth could Othello be played by a white actor? Or Desdemona by a black one, for that matter?

PickledLimes · 04/03/2019 09:19

Thank you for that enlightening contribution to the thread, CarolinePooter. It's completely changed my way of thinking.

Alsohuman · 04/03/2019 09:20

I agree with the sentiment not the attitude. It’s a pretty poor defence of patronising smugness to say it’s better than something abhorrent. The epitome of smugness in fact.

CarolinePooter · 04/03/2019 09:21

Sorry I nodded off for a moment..

PickledLimes · 04/03/2019 09:23

Why do you assume that people are being smug because they don't think that it's acceptable to dress as Native Americans or crude stereotypes of them?

PickledLimes · 04/03/2019 09:25

Thank god that you're back. I shudder to think how much poorer the thread would be without such enlightening and carefully considered arguments such as 'yawn'.

Pumperthepumper · 04/03/2019 09:26

If she is just in the dress with her hair in pig tails then it is not offensive

It is still offensive. It’s still cultural appropriation. The dress means something in NA culture, hair is symbolic - turning it into a costume is rude.

Alsohuman · 04/03/2019 09:30

I don’t assume smugness. The thread reeks of it. And self righteousness. “Do allow us to educate you and show you the error of your ways”.