Halloween is the holiday that you can dress as something (or someone) else for a day. On this day, you can do whatever you want with your body, and wear whatever you want, because you have the right to do so. It’s a known fact that women’s Halloween costumes throughout the years have gotten more and more sexualized. Society has called women that wear these sexy costumes “sluts” and “loose”, because of the clothes on their bodies. Regardless of how you feel about sexualized costumes, the slut-shaming needs to stop. It’s much easier to shame the individuals wearing these costumes than to try and change the society that makes the decision that is is better to shame than accept.
1. It effects everyone
Whether you’re planning to go out dressed as a Sexy Doctor or Chewbacca, someone is going to comment on your costume. If wearing a tiny costume is not your choice, don’t bash the women that choose to wear this. They have as much a right to rock their costume as you do for yours. So next time you go out remember that by spreading rumors about another girl’s outfit, you’re just fueling the fire.
2. It’s against our Franciscan Values
I’m not going to get religious on you, but our Franciscan values are just “good-people” values, or so I call them. By calling someone a “slut” because of their costume, you’re going against what Siena and our mission is trying most to portray. If you have a problem with someone’s costume, you should keep it to yourself, and not call these women names because of your personal beliefs and values. We are the Saints, after all: Do the halo proud.
3.It’s a confidence boost!
Some women may not be comfortable wearing tight clothes to class everyday, or sporting their sports bra at the gym, so Halloween is the perfect time for these less-confident women to discover themselves! They can go out wearing whatever they want, and they should not be shamed for wanting to know how they feel about showing a little more skin.
4. Your body, your decisions
This is pretty much self-explanatory. If a woman wants to wear a sexy-nurse costume to the townhouses, why do you care?! Her actions are not directly effecting you in any way, other than you may be jealous that she looks cuter than you. By taking part in this slut-shaming, we are telling other women that they are not allowed to choose what they want to wear, which is what we fought so hard for during the women’s rights movements.
5.She for She!
Emma Watson is known for taking part in the famous #HeForShe campaign, but we need to start thinking about a #SheForShe campaign. If women did not encourage slut-shaming and took part in it, men would be less likely to continue the behavior. Everyone is so caught up in the new-wave of feminism, but we need to accept that not everyone has the same views as you, and we should encourage those other people, not put them down.