Practice inclusion this Halloween

With Halloween a few days away, you may still be trying to decide what to dress up as this year. For those who participate in Halloween activities, please remember to be socially conscious and thoughtful when selecting a costume. 

Be mindful of offensive costumes that dehumanize or depict certain groups negatively and perpetuate stereotypes.

Playing a character is one of the joys of Halloween, but costumes focused on culture, race, religion, ethnicity, mental illness, caricatures of gender or identities, depictions of homophobia or transphobia, disability and other ideas that may be considered offensive, racist or stigmatizing are not appropriate in any circumstance. Halloween is not an opportunity to turn someone’s identity into a costume. For example, wearing Indigenous ceremonial headdress as a costume, blackface (darkening one’s skin to denigrate people of African descent) are unacceptable.

We must be socially responsible and remember we coexist with many types of people in our communities who demonstrate various dimensions of diversity and have different lived experiences and abilities. You never know who may be uncomfortable or hurt by your choice of costume, regardless of what your intentions were. By being proactive and considerate to others, we can help ensure Halloween is a time where everyone feels safe, respected and valued.

Ask yourself these questions when choosing your Halloween costume this year: 

1. Is my costume perpetuating a stereotype associated with a race, culture or religion?
2. Does my costume include representation of a garment with significance to a particular religion or culture that I do not identify with?
3. Does my costume depict a historical time-period where the costume is now considered offensive and/or discriminatory?
4. Would I wear a specific costume in front of people from that group? If your answer is no, don’t do it!
5. How would I feel if someone wore a costume that caricatured my own culture or identity?  

If in doubt, leave it out: Cultural appropriation often manifests in wearing “costumes” that rely on specific culture signifiers or stereotypes. Dressing up as an ethnicity, race or culture not your own is racist. Whether it is intentional or not, wearing certain costumes has real consequences and negatively impacts the people that deal with discrimination based on their identity every day.

It’s important to understand the difference between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation when picking Halloween costumes. Do your own research to understand what’s harmful, exercise caution when selecting costumes and choose costumes that are not tied to cultures or heritages.

Also, keep in mind costumes that emphasize themes involving horror, gore, or violence can be triggering to individuals with lived experience or vicarious trauma related to conflict or other traumatic events.

We all have the power to set positive examples. Children look up to peers and adults and take note their actions and words. You can set an example in your community by creating a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment that honours diversity.

York Region is home to 1.2 million people, including people from many cultures, races, ethnicities, languages, religions, abilities, ages and sexual orientations. As of 2021, our diverse population includes 238 distinct ethnic groups, with 47.8% of York Region residents born outside of Canada – second highest in Ontario after Peel Region.

York Region is committed to a welcoming and inclusive community where diversity is celebrated and where everyone can develop to their full potential, participate freely in society and live with respect, dignity and freedom from discrimination. Learn more at york.ca/inclusiveyr