Soapbox: Stop shaming others for their Halloween costume choice

Halloween is the one time of year that I don’t feel guilty returning to my dress-up box. The magical game of “make believe” I enjoyed as a child, coating on my mother’s makeup and rocking a feather boa seems normal again once autumn rolls around. But as I’ve grown older, I’ve realized that the costumes I see individuals of my same gender wearing at parties no longer resemble princess, fairies or witches. The hemlines on the incredibly overpriced costumes lining the aisles of seasonal stores have grown much shorter and necklines plunge even deeper. It’s become normal in some of my social circles to be critical of these costumes, and even more critical of the women who chose to wear them:

“Did you see that Minnie Mouse costume? Could that girl be any more slutty?” “Does she realize she’s basically prancing around in a bra and underwear? What a skank.”

Chances are, all of us could admit to directing similar comments to those donning revealing costumes at Halloween festivities. But I don’t think we realize how harmful and degrading such comments really are. I would argue that devaluing a human based on their choice of dress is not only wrong but incredibly hateful.

I mean, think about it: can you accurately guess the number of sexual partners the girl on the Playboy Bunny costume has had just by looking at her? Can you assume that the girl in the leotard and kitty ears is actually down for sexual intercourse? No. So, why do we try?

It’s common in our culture for individuals, especially women, to police each other based on choice of dress. Worst-dressed lists in tabloid magazines mar the names of celebrity women for having the gal to enjoy a day at the beach whilst wearing a bikini. Women who dare to wear the same dress to an event are positioned against each other in a brutal contest of “Who Wore It Better?” Some women and girls have made it a habit to compare their bodies to others’ as a way to critically evaluate their worth as a woman. And when we feel uncomfortable about our bodies, we tend to attack those who wear more revealing clothes because we see ourselves as inferior. I’ve noticed that these behaviors worsen around Halloween as it is now completely normal to wear far less clothing than one would on a day-to-day basis.

Slut shaming, or degrading an individual’s perceived sexuality as a way to make them feel guilty, is an attack on sexual freedom. Perpetuating these ideas contributes to the ever-so-hideous “rape culture” which exists in our society today: that women who choose to wear less clothing are “free game” to those who would like to take advantage of them. Assuming that someone is sexually liberal for wearing spandex is ridiculous; calling someone hideous names for showing some skin is not okay.

I’d like to propose that next Halloween, we keep our hateful comments regarding another person’s choice of dress to ourselves. In fact, refrain from such comments every single day of the year. Because a person’s value is not determined by the amount of skin they are showing. Let’s enjoy Halloween as a time to dress how we want without worrying what other people are whispering. Dress how you want to; let it all “hang out” this year. But most importantly, remember that all bodies deserve respect, no matter how they are dressed.

— Manda Perkins is a senior studying journalism and English. For Halloween this year she plans to dress up as Mary Poppins and trick-or-treat, whether her grumpy neighbors give her candy or not. Send comments to manda.perkins@hotmail.com or on Twitter @perkins_manda.