This Friday our daughters' daycare/preschool has its annual Halloween party. For the most part it's a fun event with a lot of cute kids. But every year there's a couple of the girls who wear these costumes that make the other parents wonder wtf their parents are thinking. Here are a few examples of what I'm talking about. Last year the winner of the WTF! costume award was a 6 y/o who came dressed as a Bratz doll, complete with ass-revealing skirt, tube top over padded bra, fishnet stockings, and clear heels. I'm almost afraid to wonder what it will be this year. What possible argument could be made in support of this (by anyone who's not actually a pedophile, I mean)? Any suggestions on how these parents could explain to their daughters in a tactful, feminist, non-authoritarian way that the costume they've chosen is inappropriate?
0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Scariest Halloween Costume.
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.feministing.com/cgi-bin/movabletype/mt-tb.fcgi/9979
I have problems with Halloween in general, and how many women mistake it for Dress Like a Ho Day. I mean, people can wear whatever they want and I usually don't care, but don't use a fun holiday as an excuse to desperately vie for the male gaze.
As for parents convincing their kids of non-exploitative costumes, I think it's important to talk about their future costumes early on. "Hey, you should try to do something really original this year! How about Medusa with a toga and plastic snakes in your hair?" or "How about something funny/creative/different this year?" That gets a discussion going, and if a kid or teenager is excited about a clever idea for a costume, they'll be less likely to stoop to the generic Sexy Nurse or Sexy Maid or Sexy Witch or Sexy Devil (and the list goes on).
Wow, most of the costumes are ick. And I say most because the Lolita costume is something I would wear. I mean, it's a teen costume, not a little girl costume, and anybody who knows anything about where they got the idea for that costume knows that it's a Japanese style. There are a lot of different types, the most famous is Gothic Lolita. And I happen to think it's an awesome style for anyone teen and up. And that was in fact a teen costume.
There was one more outfit I would wear, but I do think is inappropriate for young girls. It's sad how they are making girls grow up so fast anymore, I fear for my future daughter if I have one.