To a certain extent, our beloved Cady Heron in the hit classic Mean Girls is totally right. As a female, your Halloween costume options do a complete switcheroo right around the time you start shopping at Victoria’s Secret.
What used to be a Wednesday Addams costume becomes a sexy Wednesday Addams costume. A Belle costume becomes a sexy Belle costume. Not to mention, the options of Sexy Playboy Bunny, Sexy Nurse, and Sexy Cat suddenly become available.
And for a lot of girls? It’s fun to put on that push up bra and your hottest fishnets and rock that Rocky Horror vibe. It’s great to flaunt your sexuality and openly love your body. It’s fun to hang out with your closest pals on the spookiest night of the year, while your hips are certainly not lying.
But even though Mean Girls clearly pointed out the difference between your sixth Halloween and your nineteenth Halloween, it kind of missed a really important target.
Even though our society encourages women to show some skin on Halloween, people still whisper. People still talk. People still overtly sexualize women. And people often judge us for putting something “slutty” on.
And getting judged for an outfit that flaunts your sexuality and empowers you?
Yeah, that really hurts.
Don’t get me wrong–different girls like different things on Halloween. Some girls would much rather slip into Godzilla footie-pajamas than a mini-skirt. But that doesn’t mean that one is necessarily less awesome than the other!
But the girl in the footie-pajamas isn’t a prude for not showing off her cleavage, and the girl in the mini skirt isn’t a slut for showing off her rockin’ booty.
And yet, girls are still going to hear those words on Halloween because of their costumes.
“Slut.”
“Whore.”
“Tease.”
And those words promote rape culture and isolate women.
Just because a girl wants to dress up in tight spandex does not mean that she wants to have a hookup with someone.
Just because a girl wears flashy makeup and does her hair really nice does not mean she is a tease.
Just because a girl maybe wants to have a CONSENSUAL hookup on Halloween does not make her a slut. There’s nothing wrong with having sex. Sex is awesome! Just remember to use protection :)
Women should not be judged for whatever level their sexuality might be at! We are human beings who’ve got it and want to flaunt it.
Also, remember the difference between compliments and sexual harassment. Saying “Hey, wow, you look great tonight! Best Harley Quinn I’ve seen tonight!” is completely different from directly leering at someone body.
And telling someone that they’re too fat/thin/tall/short/etc for a costume? Totally not okay.
Like. Seriously. Don’t do that.
Halloween is a time for everyone to hang out, dress up, tell spooky stories and have a genuinely good time! So please make sure that everyone can have fun.
And if you see anyone slutshaming or being icky towards someone else, please tell them to stop!
Be respectful of women and have A SUPER GREAT HALLOWEEN!!!