Sexy costumes reinforce sexist stereotypes
Michelle Chance
Historically, women throughout the ages have used their sexuality as a means of control and power.
The Egyptian Queen, Cleopatra used it to form alliances with foreign countries.
Marilyn Monroe used it to become a movie star as well as the President’s mistress.
In fact, “the oldest profession in the world,” prostitution gives women the sexual clout over men in the form of hard currency.
However, times have changed.
Women have fought for the right to vote, for equal income, and most importantly have learned that their true influence comes from exercising their voice and actions, rather than sexual prowess.
Unfortunately, the world is not ready for women to be accepted as capable competitors alongside men.
The media consistently portrays women as sexual bimbos.
This image has infected our society with the notion that women truly are nothing, but pieces of meat.
When Halloween rolls around every year, costume chain shops exemplify this same sexploitation of women.
Nearly every costume marketed toward women is provocative and daring – giving the woman who buys it a false sense of empowerment.
You see, having sexual power over another individual only lasts so long. In casual sexual relationships, it is typical that one partner will become disinterested after the deed has been done.
The power and attention women get while dressing sexy on Halloween are fleeting, superficial feelings.
As innocent and fun as Halloween is meant to be, society has turned it into a commercialized peep show of scantily clad ladies.
But of course, there is nothing wrong with expressing oneself. Halloween gives everyone the opportunity to become anyone they imagine.
However, “Men’s sexual play thing” is a costume not only donned during All Hollow’s Eve.
Many women often dress as provocatively at work as they do on Halloween.
Alas, the problem here isn’t the smutty costumes.
Our culture is the issue.
The sexist images that are circulated worldwide which demean the true abilities of women are the first problem.
But the biggest problem of all is with the women who blindly accept these images and seek to initiate them.
Women: Stop exhuming the “traditional” roles and images that we laid to rest generations ago.
Remember where your power is truly held – within your brain, not your bra
