Someone dressed up as one of your favorite horror characters, but doesn’t know as much as you do about them? Doesn’t matter. If it upsets you, then you’ve lost the mission of the horror genre: bonding over the shared love of scary movies. Don’t be that guy in high school who wouldn’t include you in his circle. The one that made you feel like an outsider for loving the strange and the macabre. Welcome newcomers with open arms, because the truth is, they need you. They need your guidance, lest they be steered in the wrong direction, toward the Twilight franchise.
What’s really upsetting is how sometimes it’s not even a horror costume, and people still get angry over the choice of clothing. If you’re at a raging Halloween party and you look over and see a sexy pineapple, you shouldn’t be moved to fury. You should be moved to laughter, perhaps even until there are tears, because that is quite possibly the most ridiculous idea I’ve ever conceived, and I would unleash a hearty bellow if I saw it.
On a more serious note, we need to rid the world of the notion that women who wear racy clothing are automatically being objectified by men, and that they only wear cute costumes to attract men. To say that every time a lady tries to look pretty is just for a man is to say that womens only sense of approval comes from men. Every single time we do our makeup, every time we curl our hair, and every time we wear a top that slightly bares our bosoms, we are doing it for men. Personally, I can’t think of a more misogynistic viewpoint than that. Feminism doesn’t mean that one group of women (or men) get to determine what is appropriate for all females. Feminism is the realization that women are people, too, and they can wear whatever the hell they feel like. Honestly, in this day and age, when you’re considered “fat” when you’re bigger than a size three, and the media floods our heads with images of perfectly air-brushed, petite beings that we’ll never live up to, isn’t it refreshing when a woman is actually confident with her body? In a world where it’s so easy to get caught in society’s idea of beauty, isn’t it nice to see someone who’s happy with herself, just the way she is? No matter how big or small, tall or short, promiscuous or chaste, self-assurance is something to be celebrated, not mocked.
One counterpoint I will make is that there needs to be more options for women when it comes to Halloween costumes. Sure, it’s perfectly fine if someone wants to be a sexy Chucky (pictured). However, I personally would prefer to wear overalls that touch the ground. The opportunity to wear a more realistic version of Michael Myers’ jumpsuit should be just as prevalent for women as it is for men, so each person can decide for herself which costume she feels like wearing.
When it comes down to it, it’s not just bloggers who ridicule titillating Halloween costumes. It’s everyone who makes a rude comment, and takes time out of his or her day to be bothered by what someone else across the party (or the internet) is wearing. If it doesn’t affect you personally, than frankly, it isn’t any of your business. Although I am sympathetic to the frustration that comes with seeing one of your favorite horror icons re-imagined as cuter, less-covered depiction, at the same time, we must stop and ask ourselves: who cares? Halloween isn’t about tearing each other down. It’s about eating too much candy, getting covered in pumpkin guts, scaring your friends, and basking in the joy of the spooky season. Let go of your preconceived notions, and just be happy that everyone else is enjoying the holiday just as much as you are.
