In my quest for Halloween costume ideas, I discovered something truly terrifying! Costume marketing! AHHHHH! When did it become the norm that all women’s costumes must include a miniskirt, corset and fishnet stockings???
It was a chilling experience to rummage through 717 items in the category “sexy costumes” and only find a total of 37 products for men! 37!! Yes, that means there were 680 erotic ensembles for women to wear. Clearly since I’m a woman I should realize it is breasts above brains. It doesn’t even matter that I was able to figure out the simple math problem above without the assistance of a calculator as long as I wear stilettos.
Even more frightening is how gender stereotypes are actively promoted d
uring a holiday that could be about breaking boundaries. This sexy pair continues the idea that boys can grow up to doctors and women become nurses. Just in case you forgot that women are made for careers assisting men rather than leading them. As adults we should be able to move past these assumptions, but I guess that would be ridiculous!Not to mention the logistics of these come-hither costumes. Remember, the end of October usually fosters a nippy forecast. Men have their fully clothed costumes that are still considered sexy. On the other hand, women are relegated to clothes that might actually turn them into ice queens.
I’m not saying that sexy can’t be fun or part of your Halloween celebration. Who decides what is sexy? I mean, it seems mandatory to show pounds of flesh in order to feel attractive. Locating a female costume that is pretty, but not risqué is like finding a needle in a haystack. The injustice leaves women with the choice between being a whore or a prude. Neither of which seems like a lot of fun.
What really scared though was how these types of costumes are being marketed to teens.
“Flaunt, flirt, and follow the Yellow Brick Road to this adorable Dorothy costume! Straight out of a sexy storybook…” It would be wrong to dismiss the development of sexuality in teens, but promoting costumes catered specifically to their sex drives may not be the smartest thing.
The symbolism of some of the descriptions is downright creepy! As with this description:
“You'll look good enough to eat in this Storybook Riding Hood Teen Costume.”
Sexualizing teen girls in this way is not a healthy statement about our society and it reinforces the importance of looks over substance to our youth. Not to mention, I failed to find sexy costumes that blatantly targeted teen boys.
I say let’s take Halloween back from these costume stores. Go to thrift stores, use imagination and dress up however your heart desires. Most importantly have fun this October 31st and remember only 4 days later you get to be Uncle Sam and vote!!!
(The election keeps me very nervous despite my candidate’s rise in the polls. That is why I wrote about something else scary! Next week though, I will bring you a comparison of the Republican and Democratic platforms.)
Sexualizing teen girls in this way is not a healthy statement about our society and it reinforces the importance of looks over substance to our youth. Not to mention, I failed to find sexy costumes that blatantly targeted teen boys.
I say let’s take Halloween back from these costume stores. Go to thrift stores, use imagination and dress up however your heart desires. Most importantly have fun this October 31st and remember only 4 days later you get to be Uncle Sam and vote!!!
(The election keeps me very nervous despite my candidate’s rise in the polls. That is why I wrote about something else scary! Next week though, I will bring you a comparison of the Republican and Democratic platforms.)
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