Halloween is a time of creative expression for people, and some are willing to go the extra mile. Whether that means designing your own costume or “putting yourself out there” with lewd attire, Halloween manifests the motto of “dress to impress” in various ways. With scandalous costumes, however, comes the risk of taking it too far, but maybe looking like a goofball gets stale after a while. What do our writers from the Life section advise students to remember when going out this Halloween?
Maleena’s Response:
Slut. The term used to degrade women for centuries. Yet recently, many females and individuals have been reclaiming the common insult in a less shameful way.
As Halloween rolls around the corner, I am sure you have heard the buzz around campus regarding costumes—ones of all shapes and forms. This brings into question the morality of Halloween costumes. After all, Halloween is a holiday largely targeted toward children which has morphed into a time when people typically wear as little clothing as possible. Should we be dressing up in silly outfits to give people a good laugh? Or should we be flaunting our bodies? Is either choice necessarily better, or is there simply one option that is wrong?
The answer to these questions is not so clear cut, but if there is a perfect time to wear three pieces of fabric in public, that time is now.
Wearing a funny costume can still be appreciated, especially if done right. However, far too often, people who choose this route are judgmental to others who do not do the same. Please, wear whatever you want on Halloween, but do not use this as an excuse to shame others. Being happy and confident in whatever you put on is the most important thing. This is not a time to be hateful or say you are “not like other girls.” Men, women and gender-nonconforming people who are willing to take advantage of a socially acceptable occasion to be risqué should be applauded, not looked down upon.
Taking control of your own sexuality is empowering. On Halloween, people are less scared to reveal more skin and are backed by the actions of others. Women have turned wearing slutty costumes into something that lessens the pain of being labeled as trash—simply based on attire—into something to be excited about. People should not be ashamed of their bodies and if Halloween is the time you want to show them off, then by all means, do so!
Scandalous Halloween costumes are a way for people to express themselves in terms of their own sexuality and creativity. They encourage people who have been degraded throughout history for their anatomy to be proud of the bodies they live in. So, if you are comfortable, go dress as slutty as you want and have a happy Halloween!
Michelle’s Response:
Growing up, the fun of Halloween was dressing up and trick or treating, something that college students don’t typically do anymore; if you do, I am not judging—free candy is free candy. So, what is left for us? Costumes and going out with our friends. Now the question is, which is better: ‘slutty’ Halloween costumes or funny Halloween costumes?
I am partaking in the ‘sluttier’ costumes this Halloween. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean I believe they are the better choice for college students. Many college students will go out for Halloween, and most will dress to look good or take cute photos with their friends.
For these reasons, I believe that funny Halloween costumes turned ‘slutty’ are the best option for college students. It is important to consider that everyone has a different idea of ‘slutty’ and how far they’d really like to take it.
Ultimately, I believe that both ‘slutty’ and funny Halloween costumes have their advantages and disadvantages. One may feel more inclined to choose a more scandalous costume to fit in at the typical college party, even if they feel uncomfortable doing so. On the contrary, students may choose a funnier Halloween costume because they feel more comfortable in it, though they may feel out of place if they go out. Or you may just not care, which is good, and I strongly encourage you to follow what you think you’d feel best in.
I am going to be Sharkboy from “The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl” this Halloween, and my costume includes a cropped shirt and a short skirt because that is what I will feel best in. On TikTok, I saw a group of girls dressed up as “South Park” characters, but with a twist; the costumes weren’t scandalous, but they had skirts to make it look cuter. I saw another girl dressed up as Perry the Platypus from “Phineas and Ferb” in a dress. So, when I say that funny Halloween costumes turned ‘slutty’ are the best option, know that I don’t particularly mean it in the usual definition of the word.
Costumes like these show your creativity, have a bit more style and look cool because you came up with a unique idea. You would also be less likely to have the same Halloween costume as someone else. I like to have a more niche costume, but I am not very creative when it comes to planning out costumes. So, if you are like me, taking a costume and making a cute interpretation of it is an easy way to have a unique, simple costume.
The most important aspect of Halloween is staying safe and having fun. As long as you are doing those two things, nothing else matters. But I hope to see some creativity this year with people making more scandalous yet funny costumes.