Friday, October 12, 2012

Choosing an Appropriate Halloween Costume

Below is a repost of one of the earliest posts I wrote. I am just as dismayed now as I was four years ago, when I first wrote this, by the scarcity of modest Halloween costumes for women and the pervasive sexism that this represents. I continue to boycott these types of costumes and I hope you will too. 
Is it just me or could nearly all women's Halloween costumes be described as "Slutty ______"? Seriously, it's all just different versions of the same prostitute costume. I thought Halloween was supposed to be scary, not objectifying.

They don't pull that crap with men's costumes. They sell men's doctor costumes, but only "sexy nurse" for women. Men can get a fire fighter's costume, but sorry ladies, you'll have to be "Hot Stuff". I thought this was the 21st century. Can't women be doctors and fire fighters too? (I know, theoretically I could wear a man's costume, but I'm 5'4", so it's unlikely any would fit.) 
Let's compare two costumes in the same theme: prisoners. They are similar down to their little hats, except that the man is covered up in loose clothing while the woman is in a low-cut, skin-tight mini-dress. AND they are charging women $15 more for half (or a third) as much clothing. These are from the same catalog.

It's time for us to vote with our dollars, ladies. Just say "no" to overpriced, skanky costumes. Even if you can't sew (I can't either!) you can throw a sheet over yourself and say you're a ghost. It'll be retro cool.

2 comments:

  1. This is so true. I can't believe the options they have out there right now. I think this is why I don't really like Halloween and usually don't go to parties that require dressing up. Everyone wears next to nothing and it's ridiculous.

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  2. Hear, hear! When I was in my teens, I was all about wearing the skanky costumes to attract attention, but looking through online catalogues is depressing these days. Not to mention looking at the costumes for young girls... They're almost as sexualized as the adult women versions! It's disgusting and wrong.

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