Gender+and+Sexual+Expression+in+Miami+Carnival

=Background = In the late 1950s and 1960s, record numbers of Trinidadians immigrated to North American and Europe (Scher, 2005). With this influx of Trinidadians, Carnival has flourished in lands far from home (Scher, 2005). Roughly 50 Caribbean Carnivals are scattered through North America and Europe, with Trinidadian influence of culture, music, and dance (Scher, 2005).

toc =Miami Broward One Carnival = Miami’s Carnival is different than other Carnivals in the United States, as it takes place one week before Columbus Day in October. Carnivals in Miami began as early as 1985 through Miami Carnival. In 2003, Broward Carnival held various events in Broward County until 2008. In 2009, both organizations joined together to create the Miami Broward One Carnival Host Committee organization (Miami Broward One Carnival, 2014a). In 2011, the name was changed to Miami Broward One Carnival (Miami Broward One Carnival, 2014a).

Miami Broward One Carnival has many similar themes and elements to Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival; there are steel band competitions, parades of bands, and costume competitions, which result in a king and queen of Carnival (Miami Broward One Carnival, 2014b). This is similar to that of Trinidad and Tobago, and Brazilian Carnival. Miami Carnival is considered to be one of the biggest in North America (Carnival Info, 2013). To make Miami Carnival aligned with Caribbean Carnival tradition, costumes in [|Trinidadian and Tobagonian] and [|Brazilian] styles are available (Carnival Info, 2013).

  =Sexual Expression = Similarly to Carnivals in Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago, there are themes of sexuality, which are conveyed through costumes and dance. Women dress in scantily clad clothing, similar to the costumes and outfits worn in Caribbean Carnivals. Additionally, many women dance in provocative ways, such as wining.

While Miami Carnival will differ from Caribbean Carnivals, namely Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago, Miami Carnival aims to bring Caribbean Carnivals to the United States by having similar styles of music, costume, and dance.

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Submitted by Sarah Diamond

=References = Carnival Info (2013). Miami Carnival. Retrieved from []

Miami Broward One Carnival (2014a). About us. Retrieved from []

Miami Broward One Carnival (2014b). What is Carnival? Retrieved from []

Scher, P. (2005). From the Metropole to the Equator: Carnival Consciousness between New <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">York and Trinidad. In C. G. T. Ho & K. Nurse, (Eds.), //Globalisation, Diaspora & Caribbean Popular Culture// (pp. 45-63). Kingston: Ian Randle.