Saturday, April 12, 2025

October 30, 2014

Is It Ok For Girls To Dress As Sluts For Halloween?

It's only a few hours until Halloween. Are you panicking that your outfit is too revealing? Or not revealing enough? Wear whatever you want. It's just one night. You can burn the photos...

I love dressing up. I’ll use any excuse to don a ridiculous outfit. Which is why I love Halloween. I love it because every year (for the past seven years) I have dressed up as a six year old ballerina fairy. This means I run around for the night in ballet pumps, pink tights, a leotard and a tutu. Plus wings. Always the wings. Whilst I’m mostly covered up, it’s still a pretty tight fit, revealing every curve. But hey. It’s Halloween. Let’s slut it up a bit, right?

Most girls and women I know use Halloween as a night to dress up in something you wouldn’t normally wear (unless you’re at AfrikaBurn).

 Halloween is, or at least was, one of the few socially acceptable opportunities to dress up and try out a different appearance and persona, even if it’s only for a night.

But it’s turning into a theme of “sexy sailor” and “slutty nurse”. I know one who managed to make a librarian look fun.

If you are a card-carrying feminist and don’t want the world to think you’re a bimbo or a slut, the message is clear: Do not wear something sexy on Halloween.

You don’t have to dress up all short and skimpy though… It’s your choice, and if you do, you need to be prepared for the onslaught that will probably come your way. But you can also dress like a hippo in a onesie.
I decided I wanted to change it up this year and dress something to the tune of Josie and the Pussycats. Then I realised that even this sweet, innocent cartoon was NOT going to make me look sweet and innocent.
The outfit would have to include even less than the tights and tutu. Uhm, no thanks. But good for you if you use this idea!
We need to stop bashing sexy costumes, because in doing so we’re bashing women who choose to buy them and embrace their own sexiness.
I love what Emily Shire has to say about what she calls ‘Slut-O-Ween’: “There’s no reason for adult women to feel guilty or defensive about showing skin on Halloween”.
And there we have it. If Paris Hilton can dress in next to nothing as a Playboy Bunny, why can’t we?
Girls, go out in your skimpy little outfits. But boys, it would be great if you all went shirtless for the night.
Read Emily’s article and thoughts on The Daily Beast.