Mother Talkers

Inappropriate Halloween Costumes

by gloria

Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 11:32:30 AM PDT

In order to find to-the-minute Halloween costumes for the kids, I searched online. They weren't sure what they wanted to be, so we all sat behind the computer to look. Cristian finally decided on The New Goblin from Spiderman 3. But in searching kid costumes, I found that there were hardly ANY that were appropriate for girls.

When did Halloween for girls become synonomous with turning every character "slutty"??

What do you think of this Cheerless Leader? How about this Temperamental Alice?

I guess I'm not the only one that noticed this, as this morning I read this article from Newsweek entitled Eye Candy. The article goes on to say that little girls are wearing costumes that look as if they're designed by Victoria's Secret.

And while complaints about "slutty" kids' costumes may seem like a yearly parents' lament, the industry has been ramping up the sex appeal to ever younger groups of girls. It's not just 10- and 12-year-olds who have gone Halloween trampy. Now 6- and 7-year-old models are featured in catalogs wearing child-sized versions of skimpy costumes that used to be reserved for adult boudoirs. If you think we're exaggerating, note that they're actually selling something called a "Child's Chamber Maid Costume." And, many of the tween girls in the photographs are wearing more make-up than Christina Aguilera on awards night. More disturbing may be their expressions--they look as if they've been told to give the camera their best "sexy" gaze.

How disturbing.

The article goes on to say the following:

Dr. Sharon Lamb, also on the APA task force, has recently coauthored a book, "Packaging Girlhood: Rescuing Our Daughters From Marketing Schemes," which includes a chapter devoted solely to sexy Halloween costumes. Lamb points out that most Web sites selling kids Halloween costumes divide merchandise along gender lines, and typically offer more choices for boys than girls (boys get to be doctors, police officers as well as gory monsters and "Star Wars" characters). Of the 22 girl costumes featured on one Web site Lamb looked at, 15 were cheerleaders, divas and rock stars. "That really limits girls' imaginations," says Lamb, who surveyed 600 young girls for the book, many of whom admitted to dressing up as something sexy for Halloween in order to get attention.

So it's really up to us to help our daughters expand their imaginations so they know they can be more than an object of sexual desire.

Thank God Karina decided on making her own costume. She's going to be Wednesday, from the Addams Family

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Tags: Halloween, girl costumes, inappropriate (all tags)

Permalink | 30 comments

  • Well, my daughter is (0 / 0)

    dressing up as a character from a video game...Dixie Kong from the Donkey Kong games, I believe.  Last year she was a witch/wizard type character with the long white gown and long white wig.  

    I suppose we shouldn't be surprised...this seems to be a trend, this sexualizing of very young girls.  Do you think, as far as Halloween goes, maybe there is also the influence of the religious right and their aversion to anything suggesting the occult of the supernatural?  Can't let your kid be a witch or goblin or vampire...so, that leaves the girls with slutty as one of their few options?  Also plays into their idea of women being seen only as vehicles for reproduction/sexual gratification.

    by tjb22 on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 11:40:00 AM PDT

  • Wow. (0 / 0)

    That really pisses me off. What business could a young girl possibly have dressing as a freaking French maid??? Or a sexy witch??? And what kind of parents would allow it???

    UGH.

    I know they say these things are cyclical. I am hoping and praying that by the time my daughter is a tween, we will have cycled back to some sense of sanity. Because there's some serious insanity going on right now.

    by Erika on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 11:48:18 AM PDT

  • The French Maid (0 / 0)

    Without a doubt, this one freaks me out the most (okay, the pink jailbait costume is about at the same level of freak-out).  

    I mean, French Maid costumes are for fantasy play.  That's it. That's the whole point of them!

    Reason 12,900,008 why I am okay with having just sons.  Sorry, moms of girls!!!

    Miles and His Favorites: The World As Seen By an Eight Year Old

    by Hillary on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 12:14:05 PM PDT

  • Really a problem for teens (0 / 0)

    When Leah was littler - it was easy to stay away from these - clearly inappropriate, and not what she wanted.  But now, at 16, she wants so mething "cool" and "fun", but she's so turned off by the costumes we found online.  "isn't there ONE that doesn't have a bare midriff?"

    She's not going trick-or-treating, just hanging with friends, but she still wants a costume that's cute and not slutty!

    She's doing a "witch" from her own clothes, and some from friends.

    by Sue in Queens on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 12:18:08 PM PDT

    • Chilly (0 / 0)

      When I see all the midriff baring, I think of all the freezing cold Halloweens where I grew up. It was not unusual to have a parka over our costumes!
      Not only are young girls encouraged by the costumes to be sexualized and slutty, but to also freeze their asses off Trick-or-treating--I guess just like real streetwalkers!

      by Amy on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 09:27:11 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  • to me (0 / 0)

    this is no surprise or shock.
    long has halloween been an excuse for women to get dressed up "slutty." it only makes sense that the trend would move downward, to our little girls.

    if you cannot tell, i am highly disgusted. i hate most of the costumes for women. i think they lack creativity and objectify women, and many women think it is funny, and appropriate. blech, disgusted.

    We cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home. - E.R. Murrow

    by lorin on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 12:27:03 PM PDT

  • So happy (0 / 0)

    my DD [age 10] chose to be a mime this year. She is wearing her own black pants, a black and white striped shirt borrowed from a friend, and we bought her rainbow suspenders and a black beret. She likes to come up with her own thing so fortunately [so far] is not influenced by these risque costumes.

    But I just read somewhere this weekend [on here? I can't remember] someone saying she had been to a halloween party [adults] and she was the only one not dressed as a scantily clad "something" -- witch, nurse, cheerleader, etc. I went to a halloween party [granted, a family party] and the women were dressed as a hippie [me], little red riding hood [demure version], a queen, and a scarecrow.

    I obviously hang with a different crowd.

    by Lisa in Austin on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 12:30:39 PM PDT

  • we were talking about this last night... (0 / 0)

    at rehearsal. One of our cast has a day job at the Estee Lauder counter and she was shocked at the young girls coming in for sexy makeup for their Halloween parties. Our director mentioned there is a new book out that blames a lot of this on 9/11. The author claims that we now want our men to be more manly and take care of us and that women are going back to a more subservient role to complement it... whatever. I think it is simply and obviously perpetuated in our media and by clothing stores. I have a two year old daughter and an 11 year old sister and I will NEVER buy anything at JUSTICE!! Oh my goodness! I walk thru the mall and think.. what little girl needs a pair of shorts that say "cutie" on the butt? That is a pedophiles dream!!

    Since the house is on fire - let us warm ourselves.

    by michgs on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 01:32:45 PM PDT

  • Makin' em only (0 / 0)

    Period, if I'm sewing all night long. costume patterns are MUCH better, even the "sassy" ones for adults:
    title=

    They aren't any cheaper once you get down to the fabric and the buttons and what not, but they are hands down a better choice. Plus they hold up SO MUCH BETTER- my nieces can wear my old costumes.

    That said, those not so handy with the sewing machine can maybe hire a mom in the neighborhood that is?

    by lilianna28 on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 02:42:38 PM PDT

    • have you sewed this one (0 / 0)

      L? Use the vest for the Captain Feathersword costume?

      When I was growing up, I think I only had one bought costume, when I was 11 and was a devil - we bought the cape, tail and headband. Everything else I had at home, though, and it definitely wasn't a "naughty" devil.

      by Rachel on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 02:47:21 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  • Wow, and not a good wow (0 / 0)

    As a mom of 2 daughters this is really disturbing.  I definitely cannot imagine allowing my daughters to wear anything even remotely like this.  What are these models' parents thinking ?!??!

    by Anu on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 02:44:57 PM PDT

  • Oh I know I'm gonna get villified for this (0 / 0)

    but liza actuall went as a combo Cheetah Girl and something called a Runway Fashion Diva.  Her dad's fiance and her mom made the costume - modeled on a catalogue picture Liza showed her.  a Picture which was just ON THE NEWS related to this very story.
    ah.... I'm not too concerned. She had fun and she's still my little girl -- one neighbor said to her "you're the girl with the beautiful smile I see at the pool' and Liza just beamed back and said "I got to wear LIPSTICK today!"  so even though she was all divaliscious she was definitely still my 8 year old all excited over candy and the novelty of lipstick.  

    here are some links to her photos (yes my Lame city trick or treats on the sunday before  Halloween...in broad daylight...wimps! LOL)

    Liza Halloween 2

    Liza halloween 2

    by MKatherine1966 on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 05:02:25 PM PDT

    • That's okay MKate (0 / 0)

      My daughter (9 now, 8 then) was the above linked "cheerless leader" last year (minus the make-up, fishnets, lacey gloves and furry boots and with a longsleeved leotard and tights beneath)!  We can burn in mommy-hell together ;-)  

      by TeachPeace on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 05:41:44 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    • I think it's tame (0 / 0)

      Compared to the photos on the diary, I think Liza looks pretty tame.  It's age appropriate.  Maybe she was wearing enough stuff underneath but there was nothing sexual (at least to me) about her outfit.  Aren't the Cheetah girls fairly wholesome anyway?  A lot of the girls at the after school program where I taught choir last year introduced me to them and they seemed age appropriate from what I could gather.

      by music teacher on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 06:03:33 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    • Katie (0 / 0)

      when do we ever villify you, my friend!? If for no other reason that we fear the NE tongue blistering!!! ;-)

      Liza looks adorable. If you hadn't explained the combo, I would have thought, "Patsy from AbFab, with brown hair and no up 'do!" Sweetie, Darling.

      by Rachel on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 06:27:51 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  • When did it come to this (0 / 0)

    Let's see, when I was young, I dressed as a nurse, Snow White, a gypsy, and Princess Leia.  Back in the 70s, or at least where I lived, there wasn't a problem using a costume more than one year.  Even as a teenager, I went as a flapper, Boy George, a punk rocker, and a soldier (wore my Nat'l Guard dad's camo pants & dog tags).

    Maybe since I didn't like (nor would I have been allowed to leave the house) dressing like a slut in general, it didn't interest me at Halloween.  Also, I am a literature & history nerd.  But dang I looked cute!

    by cynmill on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 09:07:20 PM PDT

  • Just to add (0 / 0)

    I SAW a girl in the little jailbait costume otu with her MOM today!  What?  She must have been 11 years old!

    What do you mean, uh-oh? Toddler & baby pictures

    by round peg inna square hole on Wed Oct 31, 2007 at 03:44:32 PM PDT

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