Halloween Costumes Are Sexist
by thefeargirls
By: Justin Hall
There’s a lot of debate these days as to what does and does not qualify as “sexist,” so let me break this down. The root of sexism is one simple idea that has been instilled in our society for many generations:
Men are people, to be judged by what they can achieve; women are objects, to be judged by how sexually attractive they are.
Everything that can be described as sexist stems from that tragically widespread notion. For example, let’s look at a few Halloween costumes. There’s actually a convenient Tumblr page called Fuck No Sexist Halloween Costumes that gathers up loads of pictures from costume shops for male and female counterparts of various characters and themes.
Transformers!
Wow, that totally looks like a transformer!
And for the ladies…
Whoa! That looks like a… a woman wearing a skimpy dress.
Okay, let’s try something more innocent and less complicated. How about a Baby theme?
Well the proportions are obviously off, but otherwise that’s pretty accurate, I guess…
… You’ve got to be kidding me.
These are just two examples, of course, but you can go to the website and see for yourself — every women’s costume you can find is designed to be as ‘sexy’ as possible. If you’re a woman and you’ve shopped at a costume store, you’ve probably noticed this trend.
And honestly, let’s just observe this at face value. When designing costumes for men, the objective is to make it look as accurate to the source material as possible; when designing costumes for women, the objective is to make a sexy, skimpy, revealing outfit that looks sort of vaguely like the source material.
The message is pretty damn clear from where I stand: on Halloween, men dress like their favorite characters so they can pretend to be Batman or a pirate or whoever, and women dress like strippers so we can ogle them.
I don’t see how anybody can argue that this isn’t sexist. It’s definitively sexist. It’s the fucking epitome of sexism.
Justin, are you trying to say women shouldn’t be allowed to dress how they want?!?!
Hell no. I’m not slut shaming here. If you want to dress like a stripper, that’s absolutely your prerogative, and I won’t judge you for it. It’s okay to be sexy. I’m not vilifying the women who dress in skimpy outfits; I’m vilifying the corporations that manufacture nothing but skimpy outfits for women, and the culture that encourages, expects, and all but requires women to dress in skimpy outfits.
The problem isn’t that sexy costumes exist. The problem is that they exist at the expense of everything else.
If you want to buy a pre-made costume and you don’t want anything “sexy,” you’d better go to menswear, because that’s the only place you’ll find it. There are some male costumes that can fit either gender, but many are fitted specifically for the male body. And really, do you think you’re not sending any weird or negative messages to women by telling them that by wearing a concealing outfit that actually looks like the character they want to dress as, they’re crossdressing? Because that’s what it says on the sign — Menswear.
Like I said at the beginning, this is a symptom of a larger problem. This is just one thread in the vast tapestry of sexism. But it’s still a thread. Like everything else in our culture, Halloween costumes don’t exist in a vacuum; the way people dress affects our perception of the world. When we see women everywhere dressing in revealing outfits, the message we are taught — whether we consciously realize it or not — is that women’s purpose during Halloween is to look sexy. Maybe this wouldn’t be a huge deal if we weren’t also getting this message from so many other places.
And there’s nothing wrong with women looking sexy, but they should have more options than that, just like we do. Because women are people.
—-
Justin Hall is an aspiring writer. He runs a gaming blog called Ninja Game Den as well as a personal blog called Ninja Lounge House. His dream is to be a writer for a major gaming website. He has worked as a cashier at various retail stores for over two years.
This article was originally published on Justin’s non-gaming blog, here
The Fear Girls 
“Men are people, to be judged by what they can achieve; women are objects, to be judged by how sexually attractive they are.”
First, I contend that virtually no one claims women are not people – not even the most atavistic sexist.
Aside from that, you’re basically noting that men and women sexually select people based on different criteria. Men overwhelmingly favor physically sexier women – it’s our overriding characterization tool for determining whether to approach someone. Women, because they understand this, emphasize it. Women don’t favor a man’s physical sex appeal to the same degree as men do women’s; they are (I am oversimplifying, here) more interested in his personality, charisma, financial status and social standing. The notion that men and women both sexually select, but for different factors, should be painfully obvious.
So it’s pretty clear Halloween costumes are sexist – I’d be shocked if they weren’t, given who wears them and why (http://www.nrf.com/modules.php?name=Documents&op=viewlive&sp_id=7032). It’s skewed toward younger people, and most of them are attending parties; if you’re going out and socializing, you wear the appropriate attire. Furthermore, if these costumes are all that are sold, one can pretty reasonably infer there’s a market for them.
Also – the ‘sexy baby’ costume you’ve linked is being sold by a lingerie store, so the fact that it’s raunchier than the male equivalent is unsurprising.
Are you sure? “Women don’t favour a mans physical sex appeal”
I’m female, I have always been physically attracted to my partner before I tend to get to know is personality.
I walked into a sex store last night looking for a replacement tongue bar (it broke at night and i didn’t want the whole to heal over) i was their with my partner and we both noticed
A) distinct lack of male costumes
B) male costumes sold in the sex store looked more like the ones you’d see from a party shop, yet (and not surprisingly as it was a sex shop) women’s costumes very revealing and tasteless
D) the only “sexy” male costumes were items like gimp clothing. (on a separate issue there was an abundance of plus size women’s costumes)
I compare these to the party shop i walked into about a month ago and it wasn’t too different except they had less cleavage and mini skirts in place of micro skirts and only a few practical women’s costumes all of which were still dresses and skirts just longer and covering.
there is no denying there is a market out there for this stuff, but there is also no denying that it is sexist.
Garrett, everything you say is so incredibly asinine. I’m not even sure where to begin.
“First, I contend that virtually no one claims women are not people – not even the most atavistic sexist.” Step down from your ivory tower, these people DO exist. https://twitter.com/rooshv
“Also – the ‘sexy baby’ costume you’ve linked is being sold by a lingerie store, so the fact that it’s raunchier than the male equivalent is unsurprising.” That changes nothing. The point is that they exist- not where they come from.
“It’s skewed toward younger people, and most of them are attending parties; if you’re going out and socializing, you wear the appropriate attire.” Yeah I forgot that everyone dresses like a tramp when socializing. Pants are for losers, am I right?
Yes, Roosh is a pick up artist. Given the overwhelming vitriol he and that community receives from practically all women and a large majority of men, I think it’s fair to say that again, *virtually* no one claims women are not people. The fact that you can point to one particularly egregious asshole does not invalidate that statement.
“Yeah I forgot that everyone dresses like a tramp when socializing. Pants are for losers, am I right?” I realize this is anecdotal, but every single Halloween party I’ve been to after high school has been about getting drunk and hooking up, and I have not heard of a single other sort from any of my friends. Perhaps I am only friends with bad people. I didn’t mean to say women must always wear sexy clothes in social situations, but that in the area that these costumes are primarily marketed towards, that’s the intended function.
“That changes nothing. The point is that they exist- not where they come from.” Oh! Well, you can buy a nun’s habit (http://www.halloweenexpress.com/nun-costume-p-3736.html), so non-sexy costumes exist, and therefore sexy costumes change nothing!
I’m not saying American culture hasn’t become – that’s absurd. I’m saying that the fact that women are marketed more revealing Halloween costumes is not sexual oppression, ‘the Patriarchy,’ or any . Feminism and the Sexual Revolution re-wrote the rules for the expression of female sexuality – this is what we get, as a society. What annoys me is the uniquely feminist idea that all or most men think of women in aggregate as sex objects all of the time (We must, if that’s why we disregard women’s intellectual capacity and other abilities).
“I think it’s fair to say that again, *virtually* no one claims women are not people. The fact that you can point to one particularly egregious asshole does not invalidate that statement.”
“I didn’t mean to say women must always wear sexy clothes in social situations, but that in the area that these costumes are primarily marketed towards, that’s the intended function.”
“That changes nothing. The point is that they exist- not where they come from.” Oh! Well, you can buy a nun’s habit (http://www.halloweenexpress.com/nun-costume-p-3736.html), so non-sexy costumes exist, and therefore sexy costumes change nothing!”
So lets be clear here… you can’t back up any of your claims, you change your statement when *I* can prove you wrong, AND you respond with logical fallacies. Talking to you is a complete waste of time.
You should probably take yourself out of the gene pool.
The definition of ‘virtually’ according to Dictionary.com is “for the most part; almost wholly; just about.” If you don’t see how *one* asshole doesn’t invalidate the statement that *most* people don’t agree with that view, I understand your confusion about my statement.
With regards to Halloween parties – I’m assuming that the majority of Halloween parties are similar to the ones I’ve been to for people in my age range. If that’s not what you’ve experienced, I can see where we disagree (and I recommend you go to more exciting parties). Given I made the point about Halloween costumes in the context of who’s buying them and for what based on the polling data I presented, I don’t understand how my statement has changed. I’m just clarifying it; if I was unclear, my condolences.
As for the logical fallacy – yes. It’s the same one you used, which is why I brought it up. The existence of a sexy/non-sexy costume doesn’t invalidate all the other ones. I think the discussion of why Halloween costumes at mainstream vendors are similar in sexiness to one being sold by a lingerie store is an interesting discussion, though. In fact, my original comment was *why* I thought this was the case, which I believe has significant implications on what it means to be a young woman in America. In your rebuttal, you intimated I was a moron.
And finally – I’m not going to reproduce, ergo out of the gene pool, so you may sleep peacefully.
Garrett, ask a few women close to you – say, your sister, or your best friend’s girlfriend, or your mom – how many times in their lives they have been catcalled, followed, harassed with words like “baby” or “honey” or “show me them titties”, groped, propositioned sexually by a stranger, called a bitch, called a slut, yelled at from a car, sexually assaulted, slut-shamed or raped.
Then come back here and tell us more about how feminism is super wrong about the fact that it is absolutely normal in this society for men to use sexuality to shame, degrade, and marginalize women.
Then tell me more about how ads in which a woman is photoshopped to look like a beer bottle are not proof that our culture literally turns women into objects for consumption. (In case you’re wondering, there’s a whole documentary on the subject! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJvfBCcA5mk)
Please.
I’ve had to content myself with asking my girlfriend and my two female labmates – and I’ve only asked them about being sexually assaulted and raped (The legal or popular definitions). The three of them have never been subjected to either, or didn’t tell me if they have. I’m aware that many women have had these horrible things done to them, and my heartfelt sympathy goes out to them.
I’ve stuck to these two things because I don’t believe women have the unalienable right to feel comfortable, in the same way that men don’t have the same right (I can only imagine the strange glances a man would get if he complained about emotional turmoil from a unwanted woman catcalling him). I cannot fathom what damage is done to a woman’s psyche if a man she doesn’t want to talk to refers to her as ‘baby;’ surely, if such a thing is so terrible, she could use the radical, extreme measure of ignoring him (and if he’s persistent, she could defend herself like a man would have to).
As for advertising, women are oversexualized and expected to conform to a certain standard; and so are men. Men are shown images of a sort of ‘classic’ masculinity (http://www.genderads.com/page6/males/males.html) and expected to conform in the exact same way as women are to their particular role. You’re absolutely right, though – advertising is highly sexualized.
The funny thing, though, is that most women are buying it up! Given women account for 83% of consumer spending in this country, it seems a little peculiar to claim that marketers are intentionally insulting their largest customer base in order to sell things to them (Unless the Patriarchy is making women buy things?).
the legal or popular definition, please provide evidence for this popular definition. you’ve changed the argument to suit you as you may understand that yes women do not like being objectified as sex objects and yes it happens all the time and no it should not be acceptable. I’ll tell you from my experience…
there were some trades people fixing the ceiling in our open plan house, so the kitchen was adjacent. I simply asked “if I did the dishes would I be in your way?” the reply was “No, can I watch”
I am 23 years old, he would have been old enough to be my father. he objectified and and sexualised me washing the dishes in my own home. where are the boundaries? at what point can we say to society this has to stop. As far as your definition goes this is ok and I should ignore them?
let me tell you more…
While out walking my dog, (this started when I was about 13 years old)
I have been wolf whistled at
ask by many males in cars if I “would like a lift”
followed by “are you sure”
I have been stared at and called names
I have been yelled at from passes by in cars including fidget, get your tits out, show us your boobs, tits out for the boys, take it off, suck my cock, blow me. etc…
let me give a little bit more perspective, I do not know any of these people, I do not dress in mini skirts or short shorts or other provocative clothing I am not “asking for it”. I will however concede that i am not unattractive though my genetic make up which places me at about average attractiveness neither justifies this behaviour.
no it’s not nice especially when your not wearing anything provocative or doing anything to provoke this behaviour.
Just because there isn’t a physiological inpact doesn’t mean the problem isn’t important, there is significant psychological impact. On a side step, what would your reaction be if a male said to you “your a fucking dumb C@nt only good for slavery”. I’m sure you’d feel pissed off and that it was unwanted. now imagine this person was physically larger then you.
Now imagine it wasn’t just one person during your life time, you have been told this in different contexts different occasions and by people of different social status, at a rate of one a fortnight. Now imagine seeing your “type” being advertised to as if it were socially desirable to obey, and that if you obey you will be somehow happier. do you think you could just ignore this? remember it is still continuing, you see some of your “type” actually working as slaves. you see it in movies, you hear older generations talking about how it is ridiculous you could do anything else.
It is not wrong for women to expect better treatment, we’re not talking isolated incidents we’re not talking that the clothing is a cause though that is it sexist and that it exists as such in a negative way and reinforces a negative stereotype which has a huge impact on just over half the human population. that’s right there is more women then men, because little female sperm are stronger then male sperm.
Garret, your girlfriend and friends are probably trolls. Whats that saying? “Birds of a feather…”
Garrett, sexual assault and rape are merely the most physically damaging manifestations of sexual aggression. You say that I should ignore catcalling – albeit in an extremely condescending way – and in most situations, I do ignore it, because that’s all I can do. (Also, please know that it’s not cute when you insinuate that I’m too sensitive. Please know that it’s obnoxious and insulting to my intelligence, and it makes you look like an ass.) But it’s also not that simple, because catcalling, sexual harassment, unwanted sexual propositions, and slut-shaming are far more subtle, and far more insidious. This is not about “comfort”. This is about feeling safe, and being safe – and normalizing sexual aggression in those more nuanced forms also normalizes more severe sexual violence. I’m glad that women around you haven’t experienced rape or sexual assault, but saying that the other forms are trivial is completely missing the point.
As a more fleshed out example: when I’m standing on a corner at night waiting for a bus and some guy yells out his window at me to “show me them titties”, my reaction is not “Geez, I’m uncomfortable! That guy is so rude!” My reaction is “Is he going to stop his car if I don’t respond, or is he going to stop his car if I do respond? Is there anyone around? Is there somewhere I can run to? Do I have anything I can use to protect myself?” In that case, I was completely alone on a street in the city around 10 pm, waiting for a bus that was supposed to be there five minutes earlier, with nothing but a purse and the clothes on my back. So, not in a great position to defend myself. In this instance, a man expressing his desire for my body out his car window caused him a brief moment of satisfaction, while my physical and emotional safety were threatened because I happened to be in the vulnerable position of being alone and a woman. Yet you think that I don’t have the right to be angry about this?
And if you’re questioning that this fear is a rational response, I have ample personal experience to warrant it. I was raped by an acquaintance when I was 18, and sexually assaulted (and very narrowly not raped) by a man I only knew in a professional context while traveling when I was 20. You’d think, gee, I would have learned how to fend them off after the first time. And the reason I didn’t see the second sexual assault coming was because I blamed myself for the rape (because my friends at the time told me I was a slut and just didn’t want to admit it – slut-shaming, ding dig ding!), and I trusted that this second guy’s subtle sexual aggression over the course of the trip would not spill over into “real” sexual aggression. And I was wrong to trust that – but it way was more wrong of him to try to rape me. So life has taught me, as it has taught so many other women, that trusting a man you don’t know with your physical and emotional safety is naive and dangerous. So why should I trust a man who calls me baby on the train, or a man who yells out a window about my body?
As for men in advertising, Man As Rugged Individual Standing On Mountaintop is nowhere near as destructive a trope as Woman As Slab Of Tits With Bikini On. Yes, there are cultural norms dictated to men through advertising. Yes, these are bad and incompatible with a good deal of the male population. But you draw a false equivalence here. While the effect that normative masculinity has on men can be emotionally devastating to individuals who don’t fit that mold, the portrayal of ideal femininity as passive, weak, shallow, and stupid (but sexy! Always sexy!!) normalizes actual physical violence against women. Men aren’t shown as beer bottles in magazines; women are. 1 out of 6 women in the United States report that they have experienced a rape or attempted rape, as compared to 1 out of 33 men. (Cited from RAINN.) Where do you think that fivefold difference in numbers comes from, the sky?
And lastly, fuck your “heartfelt sympathy”, because your willful ignorance is part of the culture that let that guy rape me, then patted him on the back for it and told me I was crazy.
Peace out, I’m done.
And sorry – just to clarify, I’m specifically talking about straight men and women in the instance of normative male and female gender roles/sexuality in advertising, which I realize is extremely heteronormative of me, but I feel that the cultural othering of GLBTQ folks is a separate and complex issue that I can’t adequately speak to here.
To the woman writing under the alias skittles,
As the editor of this blog, I’ve made a point in recent articles to avoid getting involved in the comments section for a number of reasons. But I feel compelled to break in for a moment and say a couple of things to you. First that what you’ve written here is incredible, beautiful and overwhelmingly poignant. What you’ve experienced is unjust, painful and as you pointed out very clearly – not uncommon. So it is for these reasons that from the very bottom of my heart I want to thank you for sharing this. It means the world to our readers, our contributors and in a very personal way, to me. You are a true inspiration and the reason we continue to write and run this non profit blog.
Fondly,
Sophia Rowland
editor-in-chief