When we were little, we were told we could be whatever we wanted: fire fighter, astronaut, president of the United States. You know the regular list of childhood dreams. Somehow, French maid prostitutes didn’t quite make most kids’ lists.

Yet, on Halloween, the one day we can be anything we want, many women choose to dress as sexy nurses, naughty police officers, erotic Raggedy Anns, etc.

Really? Is that how they see themselves? Or is it how they’ve been told others want to see them?

Whoever truly feels amazing letting it all hang out in a skimpy costume, even when members of the opposite sex aren’t present, should go for it. As one astute online commenter on Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville’s Alestle Live pointed out, “If you want to dress like a slut, then do it.” Absolutely. But only if you want to. 

Otherwise, it’s a self-respect issue. 

For sake of argument, I realize some men do expose their bodies in an attempt to please other people. This behavior, however, is generally seen in women, and provides the greatest implication for them.

Sherrie Wolfe, Executive Director at the YWCA of Ames, attributes this in large part to what media tells women is attractive. She says that the infamous French maid outfit has no reason to be so revealing except to “add a sexual nature.” The store offers this skimpy costume, and women, Wolfe says, buy the idea that they need to dress like that to be sexy. She also points out that if a woman were to wear a regular maid’s uniform that covered the cleavage, backside, and stomach, “there’s a likelihood it wouldn’t be considered a very good costume.”

Little girls start out dressing as princesses and cartoon characters, wearing the same amount of clothing as little boys. As time goes on, their costumes get more revealing: cheerleader, mermaid, cat suits, etc. It seems like the older you get, the more skin you’re expected to show.  

Somehow, most guys are still showing the same amount of skin as when they were toddlers. You just don’t see many guys dressed as erotic schoolteachers or naughty postal workers. Hmmm. And most of the ones who do show a little skin do it mostly for the shock value, not because they think it’s how to attract the ladies.

Before you assume that I’m overweight or jealous or some other ridiculous accusation, keep this in mind: It’s that attitude in the first place that makes women think they need to starve themselves and display their bodies to the world.

Wolfe says the messages about what is attractive affect all women, whether or not they fit the idea of a perfect body. She says that the need to conform to those messages is why we have so many women with eating disorders.

It’s also a problem to assume that anyone with a decent body would automatically want to show it off to you. Like the only reason not to show your girlie parts is because you’re “overweight.”

The other thing is, if someone who isn’t a “perfect” 36-24-36, feels great in a revealing costume, he or she should sure as hell wear it. Just as long as they wear it for themselves and not because they think someone else wants them to.

Wearing suggestive costumes might not ever affect your individual life (although it could). However, making women into sex objects works against the gender equality our society has achieved thus far. Wolfe says skimpy costumes are “a clear attempt to objectify women.” And when women objectify themselves, it shows that they either don’t want respect or don’t think they deserve it. I’m sorry, an erotic space alien costume is not going to get respect from anyone.   

Just make sure before you head out that what you’re wearing reflects what makes you happy and comfortable, and not what you think someone else wants. 

— Bailey Lewis is a senior in English from Indianola.