Why are sexy costumes so popular among women on Halloween? Society

“Halloween in Girl World is the one day a year when a girl can dress like a total slut and no other girl can say anything else about it,” says Lindsay Lohan’s character. mean girlsShe delivers one of the film’s most memorable lines, which became the leitmotif: “We wear pink on Wednesdays.” Fashion historian Victoria Steele explained Face Although Hollywood costumes did not go into mass production until the 1930s, sexy designs became popular in the 1970s. Emphasizing that costumes have always helped people overcome social norms, Steele says, “It was the period when the sexual revolution in the 1960s reached people and women’s liberation, sexual liberation and gay liberation took place.” He points to his mistress, the Countess of Castiglione, as an example. Emperor Napoleon IIIwho goes undercover to show off more skin than she could in her daily life without costumes.

In both horror and true crime films, women are often represented as attractive women on the brink of death. This can be another starting point when looking for inspiration. It is pop culture itself that creates the sexual imagery that associates attractive women with horrific situations.

Costumes are not only an expression of creativity and fun, but also play an important role in reproducing the ideological beliefs dominant in society. By choosing a particular costume, gender expectations are perpetuated, and in doing so, it becomes clear how individuals adhere to social norms through self-control and conformity. Although of course every person can choose the costume he wants, it is clear that the types of costumes for women are generally characterized by sexy models. “The fact that women’s costumes are often sexy is another behavior that perpetuates gender stereotypes in which women are viewed as sexual objects and their value is linked to physical appearance,” says Cecilia Martín, director of the Psicode Institute of Psychology. and the author of the book love Orgasmico (Orgasmic Love, 2024). “The sexualization of women is normalized in our culture and Halloween is no exception. In my opinion, feeling free to dress the way you want and have different options to choose from, without having to conform to a sexualized standard, is an empowering act, but the current costume industry does not contribute to this. Women’s costumes are almost always “There are not many options for dressing sexy and differently,” she says.

Martín says that although costumes are a form of self-expression and creativity, if there was more diversity on the market, both men and women would have more options to choose from so they could reclaim their personalities and show themselves in an authentic way. However, since sexualization of women is the norm, options are limited. “If we take it into the realm of sexuality, women are socially imposed as objects of desire,” she explains.

Silvia Rubies, head of communications for Gleeden Spain and Latam, a platform specializing in non-monogamous dating relationships, says Halloween is a time when people tend to let go. “Women are staying ‘inside the party and behind the costume’ without feeling more watched, judged or stigmatized.” “It’s as if the fantasy within them, the shyness, the freedom to be whoever they want and to reveal their sexiest, most feminine aspects, were revealed for once with a perfect excuse,” he says. “Although the male gaze is unfortunately gradually disappearing, it is still there, but we can say that it is a way to oppose it and strengthen oneself. Why can’t a woman be a sexy nurse or a banana and dress the way she wants?”

According to a survey of 1,012 people by ZipHealth, 22% of respondents had sex while wearing their costumes on Halloween, and 15% plan to opt for a sexy design this year. “Halloween is one of the few times of year when social norms relax. ZipHealth and MedExpress’s communications officer, Dr. Being confident about your body is important for your physical and mental health, not just during Halloween but all year long, Ashwin Sharma tells EL PAÍS.

Martín emphasizes that the most important thing is that women can choose their costumes consciously, so that if they choose a sexy design from a position of freedom and originality, this can be an act that strengthens and reaffirms their autonomy. However, if the costume choice is motivated by social pressure to conform to a stereotype, it becomes a negative thing. “Given the culture we live in and costume choices that sexualize women and reduce them to their physical appearance, dressing sexy on Halloween is not a feminist act, quite the opposite,” she notes. While there’s no doubt that for many women, wearing a sexy costume on Halloween can boost their self-confidence and be a fun act of breaking social norms, there’s also undoubtedly debate about the culture of sensual costumes and what surrounds the practice.

As society conditions women to associate their self-worth with their sexual attractiveness, the question arises as to whether sexy Halloween costumes may actually be a form of empowerment or just another nod to the need for validation and the need to respond to patriarchal norms. “Women and girls have been socialized to believe that the most important thing about them is their appearance and sexual attractiveness. For women, their appearance is linked to their popularity. “We live in a culture that says the most important thing for young girls and women is to be sexy,” explains Dr. Sophia Choukas-Bradley. Pixel Flesh (2024), a book in which journalist Ellen Atlanta says that women are socialized to view themselves as objects designed to satisfy the male gaze.

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