Fuck No Sexist Halloween Costumes has started a collection of paired costumes that illustrate an enforcement of the gender binary by the holiday industrial complex (yeah I just made that up). Pairing matched costumes, she shows how dressing up becomes an opportunity to “do” gender difference.
Lots more at the site.
Ghostbusters costumes sent in by @broshenko. Thanks!
Comments 61
Lunad — October 24, 2012
This is sad, because in many cultures, festivals where people wear costumes are an opportunity for gender-bending and upending traditional order - both a great outlet and a powerful reminder of social construction.
Amy Gleason Austin — October 24, 2012
Dan Savage addressed this issue in his intro-monologue for his podcast this week. He said, in a nutshell, that people of both genders show flesh to attract men. So if hetero men are wearing revealing costumes, they will be perceived as queer by their cohorts. Women and gay men wear revealing costumes, because that's a strategy to attract male attention. Hence the binary. There are other ways of attracting female attention, if that's what you're into, that don't have to do with showing a lot of flesh.
He also went on to say that Halloween has become a Hetero Pride Day, and that it's good and healthy for consenting adults to cut loose and celebrate sex and sexuality (see also: Mardi Gras, Carnivale) in the same way that the gays do with pride parades.
Interesting take on the issue. He did not address the issue of revealing costumes for little girls, which I take issue with personally.
Kelsey — October 24, 2012
And this is one of the many reasons I make my own costumes.
Vicky — October 24, 2012
I am 46 years old and I love dressing up for Halloween. I love being scary and dressing as a ghoul or monster. But, I also get a kick out of acting out by dressing up sexy! I wear professional and modest clothes every day to work. Don't judge!
Celebdiur — October 24, 2012
Why do the men look so damn bad?!
myblackfriendsays — October 24, 2012
sexy bacon > regular bacon.
Bagelsan — October 25, 2012
As a girl I dressed up as a normal (read: clothed) National Geographic photographer, and I was promptly mistaken for a boy. Looking sexyfied is part of being identifiably female, nowadays. >_<
G/Lew — October 25, 2012
"Holiday Industrial Complex" Nice one!!!
Kann auch ein Junge zu Halloween als Prinzessin gehen? — October 26, 2012
[...] man sich dann noch die Auswahl an Halloween-Kostümen für Männer und Frauen so an, dann möchte ich sowieso jedem Mädchen und jeder Frau dazu [...]
Naughty Bits: Lingerie News for 10/28/12 — October 27, 2012
[...] The opportunity to “do” gender differences comes at Halloween. F&%K No Sexist Halloween Costumes has started a collection of images that compares Halloween costumes for men and women that have the same theme. With costumes ranging from farmers and leprechauns to pool tables and bacon, the site shows how the Halloween costume industry enforces the gender “binary”. [...]
Why Even Good Girls Dress Bad on Halloween | — October 29, 2012
[...] As for funny vs. hot, it does appear the hot girl always wins. Funny works for male costumes but doesn’t translate as well for female costumes. Even the stores know this. Take a look at how differently the same characters are made (photo from Socological Images) [...]
Smile — October 30, 2012
America land of the free enough said...
Scott Cochrane — October 30, 2012
I don't know if comments are still being reviewed for this article, but the dichotomy exists for gay/straight men as well. For an example of how gay men are expected to dress more provocatively, please see this tongue-in-cheek article on "10 Rules For Sexy Gay Homosexual Halloween Costumes" at HommeMaker.
http://hommemaker.com/2012/10/15/10-rules-for-gay-homosexual-halloween-costumes/
anon — October 28, 2013
Why do you care the only person you can change is you
Inga Turner — October 29, 2013
Sad how predictable it is. The men look slightly ridiculous, while the women are as oversexed as they can legally get.
Banana suit supporter — October 29, 2013
But really the only good male costume there is the banana suit.
CWR Writers’ Roundtable: Halloween Costumes | Culture War Reporters — October 29, 2013
[…] man, that is just ridiculous. I love seeing the guy and girl versions together. Like a banana costume for one, it’s essentially just a yellow dress for the girl and an […]
wemakethechange — April 9, 2014
[…] http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2012/10/24/a-halloween-gender-binary/ […]
Sociological Images | lasocblog — October 27, 2014
[…] This post for example looks at a variety of different Halloween costumes that enforce certain gender roles for males and females. While male costumes are presented as the object themselves, such as a banana or tootsie roll, the versions of the costumes for women all have to be made sexy in some way. This blog is presenting images like this and getting people to look at things differently and see the roles and inequalities that are enforced within our society. […]
You've been gnomed — October 30, 2018
Just buy the mens costume no one is forcing you to buy a sexy one. But I do understand there is still a problem with that, because there are no enough choices and I agree there should be more.
Paulette — February 6, 2023
When it comes to advertising, I feel that everything always go to sexy with the woman. less clothes, more customers. is it right? NO! but it works.