"Slutoween"

Look, it's sexy Indiana Jones!

I have a confession: I hate Halloween. This is unpopular with Halloween enthusiasts young and old and I have been met with looks of utter disgust when I tell people that, yes, I hate Halloween.

First, I don't like manufactured scary things (movies, haunted houses, etc.). The world is a frightening enough place as it is. I don't need to watch some woman being hacked up with a chainsaw by a masked man for entertainment.

Second, I don't like costumes. I've always had an fear, although I admit, an irrational one, of mascots. At profession sporting events I would cower behind family and friends as not to be seen by the mascot (what is this anyway?!). I don't know why these people in furry get-ups think that they can give me a hug, pat my head, and honk my nose just because they are in a costume.

As an adult, something new bothers me about Halloween. Yes, it's fun to get together with friends for a Halloween party. And like Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Arbor Day, Halloween is another excuse to drink. However, when I was younger I dressed up as a rabbit; a bag of Jelly Belly's; and as a pair salt & pepper shakers with a friend. However, there is a current trend with women and girls to dress up as, for a lack of better work, a hooker. The trend epidemic is so popular, there is even a name for it: Slutoween.

Women will put on a mini-skirt, stilettos, a bra, and some ears, and voila! She's a sexy bear. Leggings + tank top + ears= a sexy cat. Basically, a scantily clad outfit + ears = the standard female Halloween costume.

I don't have a problem with miniskirts--wear whatever you want, respect yourself, and have fun. My issue with the Slutoween epidemic is the lack of creativity and the fact that Slutoween has been marketed to girls. Frankly, it's gross how early girls are sexualized and not just on Halloween. Check out Limited Too or Abercrombie Kids; tight t-shirts and mini skirts are marketed to little girls as young as four.

You might say that girls want to wear sexy costumes. I argue that they "want" those costumes because it is the only thing that is marketed to them. Walk into any store that sells clothes or costumes and you'll find completely gendered boys and girls sections. Boys are sold Batman costumes and girls are sold mini dresses that resemble princesses or witches costumes. It is so ingrained in our culture that no one seems to notice anymore.

Mean Girls brought this phenomenon to the mainstream when the main character Cady states, "Halloween is the one night a year when girls can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it." Yeah, that's pretty scary.