December 22, 2024

Does your Halloween costume marginalize people with disabilities?

Halloween is always a time where we can dress up as any character and be any person we want. However, there are costumes out there that do stereotype and marginalize people with disabilities. These costumes include, but not limited to, people in straitjackets – depicting people in mental institutions as scary- , amputees as being grotesque, and even a costume known as “Ana Rexia” that depicts a sexy thin skeleton outfit with a measuring tape as a belt, showing the insensitivity to people who are dealing with anorexia.

*** Disclaimer: This video is not meant to tell people what they should or shouldn’t wear for Halloween. Everyone is entitled to wear what they want. This reader is meant for people to be conscientious and aware about how some Halloween costumes can depict people with disabilities in a negative light or marginalize them.