Even Better Halloween Costumes

By: Clarissa Wong

Halloween has quickly changed from days where we dressed up as Disney
princesses to sex objects.  Now, Halloween is seen as the day where girls
across the country are allowed to unleash their inner tramps, as the
movie Mean Girls pointed out, “In Girl World, Halloween is the one night
a year when a girl can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say
anything about it.”

Rather than a sparkling pretty princess dress, we wear tightly-fitted
French maids dresses. Rather than the pink plastic heels with our favorite
Disney princess’s face in the middle, we wear the highest pair of sleek
stilettos. Rather than the red lipstick we borrowed from mom, we have a
thick mask made up of bright eye shadow, pink blush, and long fake eye
lashes as if we have to hide that little girl within us.

But why? Why do we have to dress up in these degrading costumes of
porn stars with the clingy white nurse outfits, the short cheerleader skirt,
the low cut cleavage and midriff schoolgirls’ tops that were never even
appropriate for the summer? How did Dorothy turn into a sex kitten when
all she wanted to do was go home? How did a Girlscout get reduced to a
just a mini skirt? And what happened to that wart on the witch’s nose?
Perhaps I didn’t notice it because suddenly the she is no longer a scary,
ugly witch, but a scantily clad woman.

Frankly, Halloween is the night where girls are not only seen as sexual
objects but are expected to be. Not only do they bare their cleavage, but
also their insecurities.

It's time to take Halloween back! Here are some Halloween costumes that
don’t objectify girls, and some of them are - shhh - even a bit empowering
for women!

- Audrey Hepburn: All you really need is a classy
black dress, a pair of big sunglasses and a pearl
necklace.

- Nurse: All in white or dressed in scrubs!

- The King from Burger King: Seriously, all you need
is a mask. Plus it’s hysterical.

- V for Vendetta: You only need a mask and black
clothes. Check out the movie for other ideas!

- Flapper: Go back to the 1920s with this classy and fun costume.

- Jester: The hat is so cute!

- Pilgrim: The up side? You can use it again for Thanksgiving!

- Medusa: She can turn men into stone, need I say more?

- Fairy: Add an inexpensive pair of wings to your
favorite dress and poof!

- Athena: The Goddess of wisdom, or any other Greek
Goddess is pretty cool. Use a sheet to drape a dress and
adorn your hair with some leaves.

- Scarlet O’Hara: You get to wear a big southern belle
dress - this is one you'll probably have to find at a
costume store, though.

- Sponge Bob: Okay, maybe you really won’t want to be him unless you
want all the little kids to follow you arond.

- Hippie: You don’t really have to buy a costume for this one if you got tye
dye clothes!

- Cleopatra: Dress up as one of the most powerful women in world history.
Some gold jewelry and a white dress makes this an easy costume.

- Rag Doll: The doll before Barbie.

- A girl from the 50s: You know, like in Grease? Borrow a leather jacket,
tie a kerchief around your neck and roll up your jeans, and you're all set!

- Rosie the Riveter: I think this one is awesome! Throw on a button-down
shirt and wear your hair in a kerchief. Just make sure to pump your fist
and practice your “I mean business” face!