Slut Shaming - America's New Halloween Past-time

by Olivia Collins

Slut shaming on the Internet has always been around. However, this time of year it tends to be even more prominent. 

Slut shaming falls right in line with all the other horrific things that come along with Halloween. Except it’s way scarier.

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When concocting the idea for this article I had a pretty good idea of what I was going to say. I was going to write about how women need to stop trying so hard to be provocative, and men need to mind their own damn business about it. But the more I thought about it, the more my views changed.

If a girl wants to wear a provocative costume, good for her. I went on Twitter and typed “slutty Halloween costume” in the search bar, and the majority of those commenting on girls’ revealing costumes were teenage boys and grown men. Half of them were shaming girls, while the other half were applauding and objectifying these girls as if their only reason to dress up is to please men. Both groups are equally disgusting.

Where’s the middle ground?

Despite the fact that some girls do enjoy dressing up in revealing costumes, there are some who don’t, and it is nearly impossible for them to find a decent costume. It seems like every Halloween store I go in my options are either “slutty nurse” or “hotdog”; there’s no in between.

Even the eight-year-old girl I babysit was complaining about having to wear pants under her costume because all the zombie ones were only short dresses.

This creates a frustrating paradox where girls are shamed for wearing provocative costumes, yet are only given subpar alternatives. I’ve noticed teenage girls especially don’t feel pretty unless they’re wearing something revealing.

Double standard much?

There’s constant pressure to be provocative, yet constant backlash and slut shaming for those who are. It’s a disgusting double standard that needs to stop. Grown men that objectify and shame these girls on social media seriously need lives.

These are the type of people that perpetuate rape culture and sexism in our society. And sadly the Internet just gives them another platform to do it.

What do you think, girls? Are you tired of being judged for making Halloween sexy? Do you want better “conservative” options, or just for the slut shamers to shut up? 



IMAGE BY: ROMITAGIRL67