The pictured girl above dresses up as Red Riding Hood for Halloween, but as she gets older, the costume becomes more provocative. Cartoon by Ashley Lawrence.
By FLORA LECHTRECK – Staff Writer
As Halloween approaches, many people begin searching for the perfect costumes. However, most stores only have costumes for girls that are overly sexy for what they are supposed to represent.
Around Halloween, young women begin to look for costumes in a sea of glitter and miniskirts. However, these costumes are becoming increasingly over-sexualized. Not only do these costumes not resemble what young girls want to dress up as, but the only costumes available in women’s sizes usually resemble lingerie instead of a Halloween costume.
Women wearing sexy costumes is not the problem. People can dress however they would like, but women should have options for what they want to wear.
The companies that sell these costumes try their best to make anything sexy. With costumes such as “Sexy Sea Turtle”, “Sexy M&M”, and “Sexy Nun” being among the most ridiculous.
When I was 10 years old, other girls who were not as tall as me were dressing up as princesses, and fairies, meanwhile I had to look at costumes like “Seductive Maid” and “Firehouse Hottie” as they were the only ones in my size. I began to realize how ridiculous this “sexy Halloween” trend was.
Last Halloween, I decided I wanted to be Rick Grimes from The Walking Dead. I looked around for a costume in my size that resembled Rick Grimes, but the only one that fit me was “Sassy Rick Grimes,” the female version.
I contemplated just buying the male costume, and living with how large it was, until I saw the price tags. The male costume was almost $30 more expensive. It dawned on me that maybe this could be part of the reason many women settle for being sassy rather than being a zombie hunter.
I ended up buying the “Sassy Rick Grimes” costume and spent the night very cold, uncomfortable and self conscious. While my friends were having fun, I was making sure that no one was looking at my costume.
Girls today, do not have a lot to choose from when it comes to Halloween costumes. They are influenced by advertisements and magazines to wear less on Halloween. They begin to think it is expected of them to wear these costumes, and many even believe it is their fault when they receive negative attention.
After searching many Halloween stores, I found that the only costumes for women only offered minimal coverage, while almost all male costumes offered at least moderate coverage. Whether it includes miniskirts or not, women should have more options of how to dress for Halloween. Halloween should be an equal opportunity night when it comes to body coverage.
