On Halloween

Hi guys! It's that time of year again!

The time of year when we all gather round and decide which mask to don and display to the public. The time where girls decide to be ironic or sexy, cute or funny. The time where boys decide they can be muscular macho men or perverted old men. Whether you decide to be scary or funny or cute or sexy is up to you. The Halloween store is your oyster, so go be a pearl.

It's been debated and argued about over and over again on social media. Have costumes for girls/tweens/teens/women become too scandalous?

Truthfully, we know they are. Obviously kids should have the opportunity to be kids, but whether or not we allow them to be is another thing. Personally, I've always erred on the side of being cute on Halloween rather than sexy, simply because it is not in my nature to be overly sexual. That's not my personality.

Much scare

While we like to see Halloween as a time to hide who we really are, I think it's a time that people actually reveal who they really are. Barring the numerous murderous clowns, serial killer costumes, and zombie outfits. I'm assuming most of the population isn't running around with a serial killer-clown-zombie alter ego. But girls who are comfortable wearing thigh high fishnets and a tiny pouffy skirt when they're fourteen only prefaces to the kind of person they'll grow up to be. (Sorry, girls, you have a lot of growing up still do to.) I am all for body positivity and doing whatever makes you happy and being confident in yourself, but up in Canada, if you're wearing those tiny skirts and fishnets, that ain't fooling anyone.

Also, can we just talk about how expensive it is to buy those tiny costumes? For a mere handful of cheap fabric and itchy crinoline, you're looking at upwards of $60 CDN. Even Value Village won't sell you a "whole"(-ish) costume for less than $50 CDN if you want the whole thing. To piece it together by yourself would be a lot cheaper. It also involves a little work and creativity, but I think it's worth it in the end. Nobody wants to be a Karen:

Too many Mean Girls gifs? YOU DON'T EVEN GO HERE!

Parents, I'm not one myself, but please, if you don't want your little girl to dress like Regina, then don't fork over the money to buy them a costume you don't think is appropriate. My parents never failed to miss an opportunity to remind me that so long as they hold the purse strings, I'm pretty much putty in their hands. (Despite my many efforts to become an anarchist and resist authority - Sorry, Mom and Dad).

The only place where dressing "too sexy" is a a huge issue is when costumes are geared for girls under we'll say 15 cause after that, chances are peer pressure is a scary thing. Ultimately, I feel like parents have a huge impact on whether or not their child dresses "sexy". People can tout the body positivity speech all they want, but actions speak louder than words, so don't bash other women whose bodies may not suit the conventional notions of what it means to be "sexy". Let's all just support each other this year and not judge anyone for choosing the costumes they'll be sporting this year. Mind blowing, I know.

Just the other day, I was browsing around the Halloween store, looking for some inspiration for a sexier Captain America/American Dream Girl outfit when I noticed a little boy who was between 8-10, scrutinizing a sexy Snow White outfit. That was super weird. As soon as I began perusing down the aisle, he guiltily dropped the costume and ran to his mom. So, I think the impact of the "sexy" costume isn't just a thing that impacts females, but also males. Explore your sexuality however you want, but kids ought to have a chance to be kids and if that means hiding the sexy princess costumes and giving more clear boundaries, then why not?

Adults can be sexy, and kids don't have to be exposed to it. That's that. All in all friends, be safe,  do you, and have a happy halloween. 

Leave a comment or post a pic on what you're being for Halloween this year and don't forget to follow and share this blog if you like the content! 

XOXO

-A. Bean

This year, I'm being the American Dream Girl, and the BF is Captain America ;)