Playboy Bunny: Girl Boss Edition
Every Halloween, women decide to get dressed up in their most empowering and sometimes provocative outfits. After all, Halloween is the one night where anyone can be virtually anything they want to be. However, a common misconception about the way women decide to dress up on Halloween is that they wear certain things in an attempt to satisfy men. In reality, women wear their costumes as a way to showcase their confidence and creativity.
Women's Halloween costumes have been sexualized and thought to entice men. You may think the goal of a woman wearing fishnets and a bodysuit would be to catch someone’s attention or compete with other women, but that is hardly ever the case. This is the moment to feel sexy without the fear of being judged. An unfortunate but truthful point is that because of unequal gender roles, it is unlikely that a man’s Halloween costume would ever be called “slutty”. Yet women face backlash for dressing up when… that’s literally the whole point of Halloween.
Image Courtesy: Daily Mail
What a woman dresses up as becomes their persona on the night of Halloween. Of course, we want to be Kylie Jenner for a night. Halloween is the opportunity for women to be silly, alluring, presenting themselves however they want to be seen. It’s not that we feel the need to dress sexy, it’s that we want to dress sexy. The stigma attached to why women dress the way they do on Halloween is overrated.
The truth is, every day, women are criticized for what they wear. Their skirt is too short, or that shirt is too low cut. It’s exhausting having to be constantly monitored and told that what they are wearing may be too inappropriate. Clothing is a source of expression. We wear certain things that make us feel good. This boosts our confidence, our mood, and overall allows our body to produce more serotonin because- we look good!
Image Courtesy: PopSugar
As sad as it is, people still judge. They judge the way something fits us, or whether it matches or not. However, on Halloween, it’s free rein. It’s time to let your hair down and let loose. While it is upsetting that women feel that Halloween is their one excuse to dress how they want, it’s the moment to go big or go home. Putting together costumes is a way to be creative and defiant at the same time.
In an article by MIC titled In defense of a woman’s right to wear a sexy Halloween costume, they mention how this slut-shaming spiral gets lost in conversation over women’s Halloween costumes when really, just like any other day, women can wear what they want. Being sexy doesn’t mean that you don’t respect yourself, it means you’re being the best version of yourself. As mentioned previously, Halloween is the moment to feel sexy on your own terms. Ignore the expectations that have been set by men this Halloween and wear what you want. So this Halloween, when you see women in their sexiest costumes, remember- we do it for us, not for you.
Strike Out,
Writer: Nikki Cohen
Editors: Faveanny Leyva & Lexi Fernandez
Tallahassee