What’s with the trashy Halloween costumes for teen girls?
The Party City circular that arrived in our Sunday paper had an interesting grouping of costumes for teen girls.
While I think they were advertising a witch costume for teen girls what I saw was a hooker witch costume for teen girls.
The Batgirl costume also appeared to actually be a Hooker Batgirl costume. The Sailor, devil, milk maid, pirate, Red Riding Hood and even Raggedy Ann all appeared to be working the streets with ridiculous short skirts and some revealing bust lines. Just FYI, the Pocahontas outfit covered the most skin. Here’s the Web site so you can see what I’m talking about.
I’m not trying to say this is Party City’s fault. It just happens to be the Halloween costume circular I looked at. But it is a problem over all in society.
I think it was the movie “Mean Girls’ a few years back that said Halloween was when teenage girls got to release their inner slut. I personally think that’s pretty scary!
(Here the actual quote from “Mean Girls”: Cady: [voiceover] Halloween is the one night a year when girls can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it.)
How did Halloween become the holiday to look trashy?
What do you think of the teen girl Halloween costumes that are mass produced and available in stores? Do you think they are too revealing? Are you shocked by what you see teen girls going out in on Halloween?
What are your rules for costumes, especially for teen girls? What is your teen daughter going out as? What are some good costumes that won’t make them look they’ll be working on a corner later that night?
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133 comments Add your comment
Vork
October 21st, 2009
9:44 am
@Stan
My point exactly I may read the first paragraph of any of motherjanegoose’s posts and move on.
It’s really her “holier than thou” attitude that caused me to say something in the first place.
jess
October 21st, 2009
11:37 am
let em bone!!! thats what its for..to get them all sexy and in the mood…for the soon to be future s*uts! who wear them
I agree with
October 21st, 2009
2:08 pm
Vork on the MJG issue. Although she seems like she may be likable in person, her blogs are self centered and boring. I rarely see a day’s blog where she doesn’t stress the fact she gets paid to talk and she’s been told more than once that we all get paid for what we do well yet we don’t have to throw it out there for everyone. I sense that somewhere there’s a lack of esteem within her and is the reason she brags so much.
On topic, My 18 year old daughter is a straight A student and is going to a party as a playboy bunny. Yes, she looks sexy but it’s Halloween people, not church so lighten up.
Sarah
October 21st, 2009
2:13 pm
I AM a teen girl and not interested in looking like a hooker for halloween. I worry about what im going to wear for a party as much as the next girl but THIIIS is ridiculous. if you google halloween costumes all the costumes are the same. all the alices and snow whites and red riding hoods, your lucky to find two options. and youre right, theyre all waaaay too short. even with tights id feel naked. and yet theres nothing i can do, i refuse to wear anything so shameful but what else is there? every costume store is stoked full of this junk. help?
collegechic
October 22nd, 2009
12:33 am
sarah…u might want to check this out…there are actually real college co-eds that think the whole dressing like a slut ordeal is over-rated:
http://www.collegefashion.net/trends/do-halloween-costumes-have-to-be-slutty/
collegechic
October 22nd, 2009
12:39 am
here’s another:
http://www.collegefashion.net/college-life/10-cute-halloween-costume-ideas-for-any-budget/
Dawn
October 22nd, 2009
5:44 pm
I’m amazed at the adult costumes too. As an adult woman, if I wanted to buy a costume to be a doctor or a race-car driver or a police officer, all my options at the Halloween stores would be slutty versions.
If you look at the men’s versions of the same costumes, they look like actual doctors, officers, etc.
When is the last time you’ve gone to the hospital and your female doctor was wearing a teddy with a stethoscope…or your female police officer’s uniform looked painted on?
Mike in Miami
October 22nd, 2009
6:13 pm
I have no problem with girls wearing half-naked Halloween costumes if they choose to, as long as they are 18 or older. There is a problem, however, with preteens or young teens wearing
revealing, sexualized costumes on Halloween. I agree what was said about not growing up so fast. Slow down girls, enjoy your childhood. Once an adult you can wear all the skimpy costumes you want and treat yourself like a piece of meat if you want to. But really, a 12 year-old should Not be wearing a skimpy”milk-maid costume” like I saw advertised recently.
Again, it is the Parents who are to blame. I mean, look at the show “Toddlers & Tiaras”, Parents like that are pathetic. The self-obsession is sickening. How about teaching your children real self-esteem building activities that focus on their abilities, not their looks. Yes the Halloween costumes is about making a quick buck, but at our children’s expense is too high a cost. Let them enjoy their innocence.
carmen
October 23rd, 2009
2:22 am
i think the problem starts at home, once a parent allows a child to wear something it becomes permissible to wear anything else. i don’t have as much problems with the teens as i do for the 10 and 11 year olds. my little sister is ten and when she showed me the kind of outfits her friends were wearing for Halloween i warned her that she wasn’t even getting near that area. some of these girls don’t even have chests and they want to show it off. i don’t care if any one else lets their child dress like a whore but i make sure that i educate my sister that there is a fine line between sexy and slutty and what is age appropriate and isn’t.
Mo's mom
October 23rd, 2009
12:14 pm
Halloween is a commercialized celebration of the spirits of the dead. My son’s school does not acknowledge it but instead celebrates the life of JESUS and calls their party Hallelujah.
Luckily, my son has decided that he doesn’t want to dress up at all.
PRAISE GOD!
Shannon bee x
October 24th, 2009
8:00 am
Look why havv yooh wasted your tyme chating about these clothes when if yooh don’t want your kids wearing then then make them wear shorts under skirts or leggings and all mams must be handy with a sewing machine if its 2 low then just a a bit of fabric here and there and make it higher I meen its only one day a year just because you dress like say suprewoman that dosnt meen you have her pocrea so just because you show a little skin dosent make you a slut your more likly to have slut for a daughter if you make her wear skirts downto her ancels because thenwhen she is old enough to leave she will be more lickly to go mad when she can its only one day a year and its dark enyway so who is going to see enyway and FYI I have to children of my own so I know what I am talking about
BigSherm7
October 24th, 2009
9:32 am
It amazes me that women complain about not wanting to be viewed as sex objects, but as soon as you can say the word HOOTERS, they’re breaking their neck to be viewed as . . . SEX OBJECTS . . .
BigSherm7
October 24th, 2009
9:35 am
Now where’s the Girls Gone Wild gonna be this time??? Oh, in Rome, not Italy, Georgia, a so-called Red State . . . let’s set good personal examples, pray for others who may be blind to how their personal appearance is improper, speak to the issue in the spirit of love, etc.
JAM
October 24th, 2009
11:35 am
OK – I did a search and found this blog. I have a 17 year old daughter who just showed me her halloween costume which is absolutely atrocious. She and her friends came up with the group idea to be Santa’s helpers. She sewed big red ribbons on sheer white knee socks, found a santa hat with pom poms and went out and bought a red dress at Forever 21. She works and often buys her own clothing. The dress is a pretty, satin short number but is one or two sizes too small and way too short. She intends to wear this with very high, red patent leather pumps.
I am a feminist and I thought my daughter was too. I think she looks like a hooker in this outfit and can’t imagine she would be able to sit or bend over in this dress. She thinks she looks great. What I am wrestling with is how to discuss this with my daughter in a respectful and productive way rather than in a way that will end in yelling and crying.
I keep wondering why anyone would want to dress in a way that would make every boy in a ten mile radius want to have sex with you on the spot. I also don’t understand wearing something that you would never want your grandmother, uncle or aunt see you in.
My daughter is a good kid, has a boyfriend and is not sexually active because she says she is not ready. Her boyfriend seems to respect that in her. The selection of such a trashy costume for halloween seems to be so contrary to how she lives her life. Any advice??
Angie
October 25th, 2009
11:23 am
Pshhh! You think that is trashy i’ve seen worse. i go to a school where they roll th skirts all the way higher than that.The only reason why you wouldn’t want to wear that is if you hated your body and wanted to hide and wanted to be a ghost for halloween because you didnt want anybody noticing you. i mean they where’nt that bad.. It would sorta matter what the person would actually be like. If it was a cute person who likes wairing cute things then it would be different. but if it was someone who was wearing tops going up to their belly button then yeah i it would look really trashy. Halloween has changed and the thing in Mean Girls so untrue. Girls should respect themselves and if their looking for trouble then somethings wrong with them. I still dont know what im going to be for halloween but you should wear what teachers are approved of. Im suggesting that you’re a mom but it depends on what you wair with it. If your daughter wants to wair a cleavage revealing top just tell her to [ut a little top on under neath and if you dont like much of her legs showing tell her to put knee high socks or leggings it still looks cute. Im just making a point that not all girls look like that
Dave The Wave
October 25th, 2009
3:48 pm
I bet if we had this debate in a public place some of you would get physically violent with each other.
Timus
October 25th, 2009
6:22 pm
This reminds me of a conversation I was having with a coworker about young girls dressing slutty. I told her that I believed they would have plenty to time when they were older to express their sexuality and I thought it was inappropriate for teenage girls to walk around the subdivision with boy shorts on that were two sizes too small and THEN with the elastic rolled down so they should show more skin. My coworker got quiet. I immediately knew that I must have been describing her daughters. As a one of my kids school principals once said” “Don’t advertise if you’re not selling!!” Moms and Dads they will have plenty of time for that when they reach an appropriate age!!
jc
October 25th, 2009
11:23 pm
hey adults yea maby some costumes are a big no no but let us teens enjoy our youth will you??
teenagegirl
October 26th, 2009
5:30 pm
…make ur own costumes. i makin alice in wonderland with a twist, aka cuttin up the dress n apron addin sum fake blood.
not slutty, girls do wear dresses, and wearing shorts under the dress.
most girls dont buy those costumes, they make their own.
Danielle, Get Green Girl
October 26th, 2009
7:37 pm
Thanks for writing about this! I was a teen girl not too long ago, and I can remember hating Halloween costume shopping for the mere reason that I felt FORCED to purchase one of these sexy outfits. I never wanted to wear these trashy costumes but fear of not fitting in got the best of me.
I think stores should not be allowed to market these costumes to young audiences and parents need to monitor the purchasing of these costumes. We need to advertise and promote more wholesome, fun costumes to teens.
I recently wrote about this issue on my blog for teens: http://getgreengirl.blogspot.com
http://www.get-green-girl.com
mike shuppel
October 27th, 2009
1:28 pm
Good God…Societal evilutuon. Life imitating art once again? How did we expect society(Americana) to respond to the NOW movement ? Females want to be and feel attractive.Why would a happily married woman leave home to work with cosmetics and sexy clothing and jewels?This is a new biological equilibrium inprogress.
Remember these young girls are not wearing bikinis and high heels .
I took my son to JCP for school clothes-everything was sculls,pentagrams,rolled up dollar bills and self-destructive and now dead rock stars from back packs to underwear.I believe we should be concerned with the “death obsession” more so than cute little girls ,who, in essence will be our source
of life once they achieve womanhood.
May only peace , Love and respect surround you.
Jenny
October 28th, 2009
4:53 pm
Enter your comments here
Trisha336
October 28th, 2009
4:54 pm
Halloween is a day to dress up.
Tom Baker
October 30th, 2009
3:34 pm
As far as I’ve seen (morning talk shows) its not just teens. Costumes for younger girls are trashy and vile as well. If enough parents buy them, they will be back next year and trashier. It’s always about the money and nothing else. Britney Spears and sex sells no matter what age.
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kim
November 10th, 2009
7:45 pm
My 13 year old daughter made her costume this year. I am very proud of her for doing it too. We always made our costumes, why not keep up the tradition. I saw a lot of moms very willing to buy their children these slutty costumes at Spirits. They had no problem with them at all. I think a lot of moms love it too from what I see.
Dyke123
December 4th, 2009
9:40 am
went to the website. not impressed. could be sluttier.
Chris
December 29th, 2009
4:04 pm
Just let them flaunt their little ass and puss
Sandra
January 16th, 2010
1:48 pm
I just have too say being the mother of 4 teenage girls and 1 boy. That buy the ag of 13 they should be aloud to wear whatever they want, no matter how sluttly. Obviously, not too stutty, but you have to let teenage girls make the mistakes and stop trying to correct them. we wont al ways we around to teel them what to do and when to di it. They should learn on there own, after all, were noy there for guidance love and care. :)
Dorothy Costume
January 27th, 2010
7:26 am
You have a startling blog. I also love fancy dresses. For more update I will stay more.
Dorothy Costume
Dorothy Costume
January 27th, 2010
7:35 am
Pleasant Post! I am delighted to see your blog. Thanks for flaunt your dear post to me.
Dorothy Costume
moomashoo
March 3rd, 2010
8:39 am
i know right? I’m 16 and i dont even like that sort of crap xD.
I was just looking for a nice in wonderland costume and all they had was these super short sluttish dresses. I just wanted the long alice dress where it was at least a little below the knees @_@;;;
teengirl
July 17th, 2010
2:48 pm
im a 13 year old girl and i love halloween
i do not dress like a slut on halloween at all
last year i wore a long blck top , neon tutu, black leggins, neon leg warmers and HUGE homemade butterfly wings
and i love the film mean girls, and yes, its true what they say in it
but thats for when im 17 +
and ‘FYI’ i have my unique sense of style – not slutty but some of my outfits are short/ low but they are deffinatly not slutty
and this applys for most teen girls
so get off our backs – this is a confusing time and everyone knows it
and even if we do look slutty who cares if we think we look good then we dont care – and that makes us happy where as most of the time we feel like we look crap the typical ‘too thin, too fat , to this to that’
so just leave us alone ok ?