Don’t confine women in expectation this Halloween
Growing up, Halloween was one of my favorite holidays. You ran around all night with your friends, dressed up in fun little costumes and ate sweets until your stomach was about to burst.
As an adult, Halloween festivities are quite similar to those of my fond childhood memories, although college students tend to savor alcohol as opposed to candy.
One thing that hasn’t changed is the fun little costumes. In fact, they may have gotten smaller since we were kids. Every Oct. 31, countless college women walk around wearing provocative costumes that sexualize a wide range of characters, from the classic sexy kitten to some interesting versions of ‘Sesame Street’ puppets.
Dressing up in a sexy Halloween costume doesn’t insinuate anything about a woman’s character, because the entire basis for the holiday is to be anything but yourself.
Some people look down upon these women for exposing their bodies to the public in such a sexual manner. Some would even call it degrading – but I disagree.
The fact that so many women are comfortable enough with their bodies to wear such revealing costumes isn’t something people should chastise; it’s something that we should celebrate.
Seeing so many beautiful, confident women who aren’t afraid to show off their assets (pun intended) empowers me to love myself and my own body.
This liberation means women should be able to wear whatever they want on Halloween – and any other day of the year. If a woman wants her costume to be strictly body paint, that should be acceptable. On the other hand, if a woman wants to show up to the party in a full zombie bride costume, that should be acceptable too.
In this era of sexual Halloween costumes, I worry the idea is planted in women’s heads that our costumes have to be provocative, which is certainly not a reality.
Liberation swings both ways. A woman should never feel pressured to buy that slutty nurse outfit when she really wants to be a clown, complete with a wig and a giant red nose.
If a woman wants to cover up, that’s her choice. It doesn’t make her any less beautiful or less confident than the women who are dressed provocatively.
It all comes down to personal preference and wearing what you will be most comfortable in.
It shouldn’t matter whether a woman wants to wear a skimpy outfit or if she wants to conceal her body, because that’s a decision she makes for herself.
We live in a nation that grants us the right to have freedom of expression, and we should all take advantage of that. We may be a part of a world where the opinions of others carry a great weight, but you should never let other people dictate who you are and especially not what costume you wear.
Stay true to yourself this Halloween, and you’ll let both your inner and outer beauty shine.
Photo courtesy Kristina Paukshtite.
