Racist, Sexist Halloween Costumes Come Under Fire

Before you don your Halloween costume tomorrow, consider this: Is it offensive? Two groups are fighting back against costumes they consider racist or sexist:

• Ohio University's Students Teaching About Racism in Society (STARS) created a campaign with the headline, "We’re a culture, not a costume." Students are featured in ads that protest stereotype-driven costumes, like an Arab terrorist. See examples on Adweek, or check out the meme that’s since spawned here.

• Take Back Halloween is fighting against the idea that "women are only supposed to dress up as one thing: 'Sexy _____' (fill in the blank). Sexy Nurse, Sexy Cowgirl, Sexy whatever." Its website offers ideas for more imaginative, less sexy costumes—like Lise Meitner, who discovered nuclear fission.

Of course, at least one blogger thinks this means all the fun is being sucked out of Halloween… (More Halloween stories.)