Is it offensive to dress up as Pocahontas?

Question

I understand why it is considered offensive to dress up as a native American "indian" as a costume. Would it also be inconsiderate for someone to dress up as Pocahontas, as she is an actual historical figure and a disney character as well?
I personally feel like it would be okay considering you would be dressing as an actual character and person rather than just using an entire culture as a costume, but what's your opinion?

EpicDweeb · Accepted Answer

I don't think either one would be seen as problematic personally. I disagree with the notion that turning a culture into a child's costume is in some way demeaning. If anything it can be a teaching tool for children to learn about other cultures and the importance of them. In other words, it pays homage to them. Just as a child would dress up as Optimus Prime or Elsa for Halloween, in other words, as their favorite fictional characters who they love and are excited for, I see no issue with a child dressing up for Halloween as their favorite historical character or as someone from a culture they find fascinating. When people ask that little 3 year old boy "what are you dressed as?" He can tell them "I'm dressed as a Hawaiian warrior!" and show his appreciation for the culture. That's my view on it at any rate. Plus, I find it humorous the double standard that is set in place. If a kid dresses up in a kilt as a Scottish highlander there would be no outcry of cultural appropriation. But... if a kid dresses up as someone from ANY HISTORICALLY NON-WHITE culture... well that's a horrible thing that should never be allowed and the child should be ashamed for cultural appropriation... I know I'm exaggerating but you get the point, it seems a little silly to me.

OlderAndWiser · Accepted Answer

Are you talking about dressing up like this woman? I don't understand why it is offensive to dress up as an Indian. No offense is intended so why is it fabricated?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

I can’t speak for Native American people, but I think it would be ok. Pocahontas is a historical figure, but also an iconic Disney character. Just make sure that it’s clear that your costume is based off of the love of the character and not appropriation of Native American culture. “Indian” costumes are offensive because often times they include headdresses and make of mockery of important traditional objects. The fact that they are called “Indian costumes” is insulting in itself. Don’t add a headdress, don’t put on brown or red makeup, don’t imitate Native American dances, don’t add feathers or anything like that. Stick to the Disney design, act like you have some sense, and enjoy your costume.

Wonderer89 · Accepted Answer

I just can’t get behind this cultural appropriation hooplah being spun these days. I don’t see anything offensive about dressing up or using a style that has historically been attributed to a specific race or culture when it’s done positively/respectfully.
I saw something on social media the other day, like a how-to where a white girl was removing her dreadlocks and oh. my. god the comments were a joke. The literal outrage people had, both for the fact a white girl was wearing them in the first place but the also to call them dreadlocks? The horror! 🙄

SapphireFox · Accepted Answer

I think a lot of this overly pc crap is BS! My family comes from Austria and I wouldn't care if you put on a dirndl or leiderhosen. I think overwhelming people don't care, but there will always be an overly sensitive person who is offended by everything. Hell, if we didn't dress in ways that were inspired by different cultures, we would be incredibly limited in our clothing options. I think a lot of times it's a form of flattery or love of a different culture to mimic their traditions and fashions as long as they are being used in a positive way.

MlleCake · Answer

She was a real person, not a Disney character. Yes, quite offensive.

SjE78 · Answer

no it's only offensive if you mean to poke fun at cultures or historical figures... if you are doing it for a party or reenactments or to show respect for certain people/periods/events then it is not offensive...

tbf people get offended over so much these days... do what you want and as long as you dont intend to mean offence to others or harm then ignore those who have an issue

Spiritwander · Answer

Ummm... okay, I'm sorry to whoever made up her name in the first place, but I can't sit by and watch this kind of stuff anymore...
(I have a hobby of neurolinguistics, and I noted in the story of Pocahontas, that her name - presumably given to her by the white men - didn't match any of the labials of the actual Native American languages dominant at the time (Crow and Blackfoot)...
Then finally I figured it out... (but it won't make you happy to hear)

Poc (Poke)
a
ho
(YES, that IS "Poke a ho")

NT
(= new transfer)
AS
(= astral servant)

"Modernized" Translation: "We picked up a new girl and made her our bitch."

Now do you understand why I hate Disney for making little girls want to be like her?😡

TenderFantasy · Answer

Nope! If I felt like dressing up as a beautiful Native American woman, and had the funds to buy an expensive costume like that that I'll most likely only wear for that one day (Halloween)? Then yeah why not! They wouldn't sell it in Costume stores if it was considered offensive. People are too snowflakey nowadays it's really sad!

RickBardock · Answer

As someone who has crafted a Pocahontas skirt for an ex-girlfriend, I would say it's perfectly acceptable. And as a cosplayer and role-player myself, anyone can be anyting they want to be in this world.

UchihasLove · Answer

The people that get triggered by such thing can be offended because they feel their culture is being disrespected or the culture is used for a coverup for innocent children who has no knowledge of the backstory of this character and the history.

Disney always portrays a happy ending to their films and main characters which is historicaly highly inaccurate. Many historical characters or fairytale characters actually die or been killed in the end.

Similarly Pochahontas was a native American who was a preteen many years younger than John Smith. Disney mentions none of the history that Pocahontas was captured in the colonial town for the ransom of the chief releasing colony captives and weapons and that she was converted to Christianity under her captivity.

BobSansMal · Answer

I think it's ok to dress up however you want. It's impossible to not potentially offend at least one other human. I do believe a polite person wouldn't pick a costume deliberately to offend, but I also think it's stupid to worry about inadvertently offending.

GuidoThePizzaMaker · Answer

I remember the whole point of costumes was to be something you are not for a short period of time

Depends on where you are going
If it's a Halloween party with friends and family no one will care

I kissed a girl dressed like Pocahontas 3 Halloween ago

InTimoreDei · Answer

Nobody is asking if it is offensive to dress up as a leprechaun/irish person nor a German folk costume (lederhosen/drindl) yet people wear those all the time when they are not part of those cultures.

If those are ok then so should pocahontas.

VIVANT · Answer

As Pocahontas specifically it is racist bc the story portrayed has nothing to do with her actual life. It’s fabrication that undermines what she and her people stood for and went through , created to put colonialism in a good light and turn a profit. They pimped her out posthumously. That’s it.

DuskDanger · Answer

If you are worried about a outfit such as a mexican or indian or something else usually offensive just make it extremly specific and its not offensive anymore. I want to be dressed as a indian then i research 1 specific chieftain and learn as much as i can about him.

Miristheiss · Answer

No.
If wearing costumes is occuring (a party), it is not offensive.
Only uptight, miserable people who live to be offended by everything find stuff like this offensive.
They fail to see the madness of "it is ok to dress up like person A, B or C but bad to dress up like D and E.

Just treating all people the same isn't something they understand.

Atryn · Answer

Everyone is offended by everything nowadays, but i don't really think dressing up as Pocahontas would cause any problems. Just go for it who cares what they think.

winterfox10 · Answer

What you are saying is true, but the thing you need to remember about the Native Americans is that their ENTIRE CULTURE has been boiled down to a few characters, and white washed symbols used in the media. Who they are as a people has been destroyed. So you dressing up as Pocahontas is like taking that one last little thing away even more

HomoFuge · Answer

No not really. It's just a costume. People just want to get offended over everything.

GreenGold1992 · Answer

people are way too sensitive these days, I think as long as you're dressing up by paying homage and respect, it shouldn't be considered offensive, even if you're a different race.

motownplayer2000 · Answer

I don't think it's offensive per say, so a school play, or something where it's bring honor and dignity to the name of the person they are portraying. If they are using it for Halloween or something like that.. I can see it being more offensive, because that's meaningless and pointless. And not helping anyone learn anything about anything

AtramentalIvory · Answer

I think it would be fine to dress up as Pocahontas, as long as her race is not the costume (dressing up as Pocahontas -> fine, dressing up as a different race -> not fine).
You seem to have this down already, though, so kudos to you.

lrichl · Answer

Nope, let people wear things from other cultures. It unifies us.

weasley8 · Answer

The issue is that the Disney story isn't accurate. It was fabricated by John Smith, and actively contributed to the oppression of Native Americans for years, as it still does today.

Pink2000 · Answer

I think it depends. I’d be offended to see the descendants of those who raped, slaughtered, tortured, and jacked up my home dress up as a Native American historical figure... I’m just generally speaking though.

Alwaysthinking14 · Answer

Everything is offensive- so don’t stress it. Do what you want.

FakeName123 · Answer

I find it offensive that people find this offensive.

Anonymous · Answer

The only ones who get “offended” are the WHITE MIDDLE CLASS Intersectional/Identitarian SJW’s who have to show how “woke” they are, the First Nation’s people have no real problems with someone dressing as a character from history and find the Intersectional/Identitarian SJW’s to be hilarious.

SirRexington · Answer

Is it offensive for a black kid to dress up as a Puritan?

holograph · Answer

My opinion is that if you're not doing it to mock/shame/degrade their culture, I don't think it should be offensive. But some people would likely find it offensive.

scotty2hotty613 · Answer

Kind of a loaded question I can see both sides I know it's most likely harmless but a lot of native peoples may take offence to it simply because it's their heritage and all the trauma and struggles they have endured they may want to keep their traditional wear for themselves. tough question

grega239 · Answer

It's not offensive it's just a costume. fucking hell

AynonOMouse · Answer

It's no more offensive than non White people driving cars, using the internet, etc. lol
Or non Whites dying their hair blonde, etc. lol
Just do it. It's fine. the same people that would complain about it do the same stuff I just mentioned too.

Guanfei · Answer

Nothing is offensive. Well, maybe dressing up as a nazi. Rest is fine. And all the people who are offended for that are just whiny little bitches.

Jamie05rhs · Answer

It's only offensive to lie and say you're Native American when you're not in order to get preferential treatment in college.

AuroraRoseat · Answer

It is considered offensive. Yes. You’re not flattering the image. That’s like someone donning blackface to be MLK.

WTFever · Answer

Nope, not at all. Of course dumb asses on the other side will tell you otherwise.

washer91 · Answer

Just pull it off and all good, don't give Pocahontas a bad name

BCA6010 · Answer

If people are offended by a costume, their opinion isn't very important anyway.

Just_someone23 · Answer

No only people make it that. I think it would be nice to honor them that way.

nerms123 · Answer

I'm pretty sure it's considered offensive. It's like dressing up as Anne Frank

WickedWill · Answer

Its offensive in my opinion because people dont know the story of pocahontas, the Disney version glossed over the fact that John Smith was 20-30 years older than that poor pre teen girl.

Xoirwinkan · Answer

I dont see why it would be. If anything its celebrating the culture. Same as dressing up as a (European) pirate, geisha, pharaoh, etc.

SassyAzz05 · Answer

It’s only offensive if you’re doing to make fun of the culture

bangyourhead · Answer

It is not, and if someone tells you it is, kindly ask them to fuck off

bamesjond0069 · Answer

A better question is why do you care if someone finds it offensive? People who get offended by stuff like this are losers. No matter what you do or don't do, someone will be offended. So just get over trying to please everyone and live your life.

Anonymous · Answer

Why would it be offensive? Is it offensive for a Native American to dress up as any other non-Indian person for Halloween? Some people might get offended, but that's their personal decision. You can't protect everyone's feelings.

PrincessGrail · Answer

I don’t care. I frankly don’t think most Native Americans care either.

SentientBrick · Answer

No it is not.

Scorpioqueen1988 · Answer

No and if it people are wayyyyy to picky and need to quit being a stick in the mud. What the hell?

lazermazer · Answer

Only crazy people will be offended, it’s a dress for god-sake.

Matt57 · Answer

Eh, I don’t really care if someone does, personally, hell, they could be a burrito with a MAGA hat wearing a poncho for all I care.🤷🏻‍♂️

NerdInDenial · Answer

Someone will be offended; if you can deal with the criticism, go with it.

mrkdvsn · Answer

No. Dress up as any character that you want... including "black face" or any other colored face that you want.

Anonymous · Answer

I would rather not dress up as a native girl who was abused and later died humiliated

Anonymous · Answer

omfg what i find offensive is having to read this stupid liberal nonsense question

baerose · Answer

Loool dress how u want

douchebag27 · Answer

is it offensive for an Indian to put on a colonial outfit? Exactly

Cybernizer · Answer

I can dress however I want.

gotc147 · Answer

Dressing up as a Native American is not offensive.

SergeantSmoke · Answer

I personally see no offense in this!

Allie0001 · Answer

Everything is offensive now so it is.

GoodEnoughThen · Answer

Not if your in my bedroom...

VikingWarLord · Answer

If you're a whitey then YA!

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