I got into an argument with Leann about the topic of her most recent podcast: “slutty” Halloween costumes. I have quite a few thoughts on this matter, and I figured instead of co-opting her comment section to promote my slutty agenda, I should just write a post of my own.
First of all, the thing that grated on my nerves the most about this podcast was the frequency of the words “slut” and “whore.” Tag In The Seam is supposed to be a podcast for women… but, I guess, only certain women? Which, I mean, that’s fine; but if that’s the case, then define your audience. However, I don’t think that was Leann’s intent (as she clarified later in a comment) - but it sure came off that way. And as I said in her thread, some of us are a little tired of hearing those names thrown around - especially by other women.
So what do I think about “sexy” Halloween costumes? Well, WRT the costumes themselves, I really don’t care all that much. It’s a costume for one day of the year; if you’re an adult and it’s what you want to wear, then wear it. Now, as for why there are so few options available in stores for women, other than the “sexy” stuff - okay, that’s a topic worth discussing. (In the comments Leann says this was her original concern. Great, but let’s discuss it without demonizing women who choose to wear such costumes.) I think there are a few things at work here: first of all, supply and demand. Probably the manufacturers have found that sexy (I’m sick of putting it in snark quotes) costumes sell the best, so that’s where they put their focus.
Okay, you say, but why is there such demand for those costumes in the first place? I think it has to do, in part at least, with the largely sex-negative nature of our society. I think some women look at Halloween as a safe opportunity to play the role of the “slut.” They wouldn’t dare dress so scantily in their everyday life, for fear of being called a slut. It’s extremely unfortunate that this fear of shaming keeps some women from exploring things with which they might otherwise be comfortable. If our society were more open and accepting of sexuality, and women’s bodies, and didn’t like to throw labels around based on what a woman is wearing, would there even be a need for a special, set-aside day of experimentation?
Another issue is where costumes are located in stores. There are a lot of non-gender-specific costumes, and often those are placed in the men’s section. This, of course, is stupid; the notion of “male” as the unmarked case is something that should be called out for the bullshit it is. But without taking this into account, it’s kind of disingenuous to say that women only have sexy costume options. The problem in these cases lies with the positioning and marketing of costumes, not with a lack of available choices.
Plus, let’s face it, a lot of people who buy Halloween costumes at a store are lazy - like me. Actually, I’m so lazy that I can’t even remember the last time I had a costume at all. Usually I would wake up on Halloween and think, “Oh shit, it’s Halloween. Well, I guess I’ll wear black.” So having the forethought to order a pre-made costume a few weeks ahead of time was a major step for me! But, you know, my costume certainly isn’t the most creative or original thing out there. The really unique, creative costumes are always going to be homemade.
Frankly, much of Leann’s podcast and the ensuing comments just sounded curmudgeonly. “In my day, we went trick-or-treating barefoot - and we liked it!” And that’s okay; I mean hell, more and more I surprise myself with how often I scoff at the darn kids these days. But the thing is, I don’t think sexy adult costumes are anything new. I remember going to Halloween stores in Augusta as a kid and seeing plenty of sexy nurses, sexy devils, sexy this, sexy that. So they’ve been around for at least 20 years. Prior to that, I don’t know how much of a market there was for prefabricated Halloween costumes at all, so I’ll just stick with what I know.
So those are my thoughts on the matter. And Leann, this wasn’t a personal attack on you or anything; but I think this is a conversation worth having, and looking at from various angles. (There’s a joke in there somewhere, about looking at a sexy costume from a certain angle.) And stay tuned, readers; there will be Halloween photos after this weekend.
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19 Responses to "Let the frivolity ensue"
well ya know, back when I was young and single, we made our OWN costumes, we didn’t have none of these “store bought” outfits. Young people theze days.
As I was reading this, I honestly wondered why someone would be so worked up about this. So you don’t like sexy costumes. No one is requiring you to wear one. OK so the Krispy Kreme Donut costume is in the menz section. Maybe that’s because the retailer thinks men are the ones who would wear such. I wouldn’t wear a doughnut suit. Would you? honestly? If all that seems to be available in the store are sexy women’s things, come up with something on your own. Women are creative, right?
I’ve said it again and again. If you’re going to get worked up about womens issues, find a real one, like…I don’t know…physical abuse, unwanted pregnancy or abortion, illiteracy. Something that really impacts lives.
Probably old, but always relevant:
http://www.khumpty.com/archives/2006/10/26/girlss_costume_warehouse.php
You tell it Sista! My tinkerbell costume is all about empowering women!
Or something..
Heh. So you decided to go with Tinkerbell! There will be photos, I hope.
Good for you if your Tinkberll costume is all about empowering women. My costume isn’t about empowering anybody, it’s just a freakin’ costume. But you know what they say, that whole personal/political line…
Or something.
Amber, you are onto something…women like sexy costumes because on halloween, they can be brazen and “tarty” and no one will judge them for it.
I love halloween, greatest holiday ever. I went as a nun (non sexy) last year…DO’H!
Yes, the secret is out… I’m going as a sexy nun. And Rusty is going as a priest. (Not a “sexy priest” nominally, but he’s always sexy.) A good time will be had by all!
Wish I could get my beau to play nun to my priest :p
I’m gonna go as a religious fundamentalist! oooooscary….
The whole “Sexy ____” costume thing doesn’t bug me too much, though it does feel incredibly unoriginal. Basically, you take the uniform of any occupation, tart it up a bit, and there’s your costume. Given enough time, we’ll be seeing such Hallowe’en hits as Sexy Mortician, Sexy Vagrant and Sexy Day Laborer.
rootie - wanna borrow my Druid Preacher Man costume?
what I find absent from this discussion is the idea that we sometimes (often?) create costumes out of what scares us.
so what scares us? going by a short and totally anecdotal (very non-scientific) inventory of my halloween memories - the following things scare us, in general:
monsters
vampires
hippies
presidents of the united states
blood
supernatural spirits
space aliens
women being sexual
women not being sexual
boobies
women’s bodies make folks go “eek! hahanervouslaughter…”
more sociological than that I cannot get without several more years of college.
When I was trying to find a costume this year I saw a sexy mental patient (very short straightjacket) and a sexy pharmacist (very short labcoat). They both seemed pretty silly to me–I guess you can “sexy up” any costume if you make it really short and/or low cut.
I personally didn’t want to wear something incredibly revealing this year because a) I would be cold and b) I’m mostly over my own exhibitionist phase/need to have my sexuality validated by putting it on display. But if other women want to, more power to them.
Not really left out - that’s sort of what I was getting at w/ the whole thing about women using Halloween as an excuse to safely experiment. Why? Because we as a society are afraid of overtly sexual women.
But you know this. :)
Btw, Thomas, I would love to be a sexy mortician. That would rock.
Sara - I take exception to this: “need to have my sexuality validated by putting it on display.”
Why is it always interpreted negatively when women dress in a “revealing” way or whatever? Why is it assume dthat they need to have their sexuality validated by putting it on display? That’s a pretty narrow viewpoint I’d say. Can’t you just do something because you want to do it? (False consciousness card won’t play here…)
We already discussed this a bit in person, but what I think is interesting is what these costume makers deem as “sexy” (i’ve reinstated the snarky quotes :D). Short and tight apparently equaly sexy. I think my costume is sexy (and when you see it you may disagree)but in a totally different way.
I was thinking Primitive Baptist Disapproving Mother.
SD suggested I go as an Amish Stripper. I’d wear a long blue dress and flash my ankles.
“Need to have my sexuality validated by putting it on display” was my description of my own motivations for doing so, back when I did that sort of thing. I was not ascribing such motivations to anyone else.
Wait, wait. I was supposed to wait for Halloween to be a Sexy Mortician? ‘Cause I used to go goth, and “Sexy Mortician” was pretty much my normal attire.
Damn.
Surprise, surprise, I blogged this chez moi too! I’m dressing up like a witch tonight. I suppose it will be slightly sexy a la Stevie Nicks, but at least I’ll be covered up, and I didn’t spend a dime, I’ll be doing it all with clothes I already have at home!
>SD suggested I go as an Amish Stripper. I’d wear a long blue dress and flash my ankles.
!!!