Halloween in the hearts of children and adults across America evokes feelings of nostalgia and joy. For some, this time of year can be a dreaded one.

Many costumes are culturally or personally offensive to a group of people, which can stir up quite a bit of trouble. It’s no secret that the media is very politically correct lately, but what exactly does that mean?

Most costumes that receive hate are racially offensive ones.

For example, this costume is listed on Costume Express as “Indian Maiden Adult Costume.” The woman pictured is wearing an outfit that is obviously a recreation of traditional Native American wear.

The problem with costumes like these is that the outfits they are wearing are more than just clothing to these groups of people. To a Native American woman, this image may make her feel mocked or unappreciated.

If you wear this costume, you are wearing her culture and her lifestyle. It’s not only degrading but just plain ignorant.

Besides racially offensive costumes, there are costume that are simply inappropriate. Many websites sell costumes that imitate terrorist groups, country wide tragedies, or crude humor. If your costume makes somebody feel uncomfortable or threatened, you should respect their feelings and try to find something less hurtful.