Ruffled panties, fishnet thigh highs, and high heels are what can be found in a women’s costume in the year 2007.
Has Halloween become an excuse for women to dress provocatively?
Danae Dameron said yes, “I think that if a girl really wants to show off her body, she will,” said Dameron, as she explained that women these days use Halloween as an excuse to wear little articles of clothing and call them a costume.
“Women naturally want to show their bodies off and Halloween just gives them an excuse to do it,” said Dameron.
“The costume companies are going to make what they know will sell,” continued Dameron, “women want to buy these costumes that’s why the companies make them, girls who may want to wear little provocative outfits normally may not because they know others will talk about them, but Halloween gives them an excuse to wear whatever they want and not get questioned about it.”
Lalo Bellamy explained that he doesn’t see the problem with girls dressing up during Halloween. “I don’t have a problem with it. I like it. I think it’s a good thing, but if it were my daughter, I wouldn’t let it happen. If a women is grown, it’s her decision. If someone is young like 15, they shouldn’t be dressed that way.”
Psychology professor Billie Jo Rice made clear why she thinks women dress provocatively during Halloween, “I don’t think that women use Halloween as an excuse to dress, I think as a society we have accepted that women are supposed to dress revealing for Halloween.”
Rice explained that from a young age, females are taught that to be pretty and look “cute” they should have short skirts, revealing tops and make-up, like Barbie dolls. Boy dolls or action figures tend not to emphasize sexuality as much as girls’ dolls do.
Rice also explained that costume companies push this look on females, and women have bought into it and accepted that they are supposed to dress provocatively on Halloween. Companies typically don’t make provocative costumes for men.
“If you look at a police costume for a man, what do you get?” questions Rice. “Now think what a police costume for a women consists of, it’s very little and is revealing. It seems as though women have just accepted that it is OK to show off their bodies and display themselves like a piece of meat.”
Whatever the case may be, it can be agreed that Halloween has become more of an adult event than for children as Halloween stores cater to more adults than children.
In the Spirit Halloween store, located on Mall View Road, the entire back wall is dedicated to adult costumes for both men and women.
Another wall in the store is only for adult accessories, and there are various tables with adult-sized hats and other adult masks and costumes.