Azure Jane Lunatic (Azz) 🌺 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
azurelunatic) wrote2012-10-25 01:08 am
azurelunatic) wrote2012-10-25 01:08 am
"Sexy" sexist Halloween costumes
Apparently this evening's entertainment is browsing http://fucknosexisthalloweencostumes.tumblr.com/, which is stuffed to the brim with some of the amazing and egregiously headpounding costumes that the internet has to offer.
Looking through, I've found myself mentally composing a rubric for scoring the sexism points of any given costume. This isn't a definitive scorecard, but rather a work in progress detailing things that I've noticed. Remember, any individual choosing to dress up in a way that entertains and pleases her, is her business; a systemic issue where the majority of options presented to women are "sexy", is sexist. Yes, making your own goddamn costume is a thing and it's very fun; I do it a lot. That doesn't excuse the recent trends.
Pointless sexual dimorphism. Does the basic concept of the costume need tailoring to fit different bodies? For example, a t-shirt is designed to fit fairly closely, and should be offered in straight-cut and curvy-cut styles in order to fit the widest range of people; similarly, a costume of what's supposed to be a tailored uniform should likewise be offered for typically male and typically female bodies. A banana suit is usually banana-shaped, concealing most of the wearer's body inside, with various holes for various appendages. There is usually only one cut, and often only two sizes (child and adult) to a banana suit. It is legitimately a unisex costume. Offering "banana" and "women's banana" is suspect.
No women's non-sexy option. If the basic version of the costume isn't unisex, does the specific retailer offer a women's sexy version and a women's modest/regular version? A women's modest old-fashioned nurse costume might consist of a white dress, white shoes, a cap with a red cross, and some medical props, while a sexy version would have the same basic elements but reveal much more skin.
Labeling. Given a functionally unisex costume (back to the banana suit) and a sexy costume, are they labeled "unisex" and "sexy", or "men's" and "women's"?
Ubiquity. Does any costume shop carry a modest women's old-fashioned nurse outfit, or is it all sexy nurses?
Spiderwoman vs. Girl Spiderman. My comics-fan friends probably have more than me to say on the topic of Jessica Drew and Peter Parker, but they are not the same person and it is wrong to pretend they are. There is a separate and sufficiently awesome female character, and her individual characteristics are being ignored in service of making a woman-tailored knockoff of the male character.
But Why Is It Pink, Though. If the woman's-cut/woman's labeled costume only comes in pink, and you don't care for pink in this application, you're stuck either wearing pink or wearing a costume that doesn't fit right. (Or making your own, or going as someone else.) Tif and I once saw a Pink Girl Superman outfit, which was two in one for facepalm. (Tif likes pink more than I do; she might have chosen that as a child, but the problem was that there was no girl's red and blue Superman outfit for girls who like their Superman or Superwoman a little more traditional.)
Dress Code Violation. Could you wear this to a work costume party without being in flagrant violation of the dress code? (Costumes that are clearly designed as lingerie, and are not being marketed as suitable for anywhere but the boudoir or the orgy, are generally not up for review. That "devil" costume that is a transparent red slip with matching panties and a headband? With the strategically placed fake fur? Being sold at that sexyfuntimes shop? That is a legitimate "sexy" costume that is in no way intended as streetwear. Ditto for those really brief tuxedo briefs, Mr. Bond. Enjoy the fuck out of that outfit, and please use enough lube and other appropriate safety measures.)
Is there a skirt? How short is it?
Are there shorts? How short are they?
Are there sleeves? Are there straps? How much of the shoulder is left bare?
Does it bare the midriff? How much?
Does it bare the sides? How much?
Does it bare the back? How much?
How much cleavage does it show?
Does it have cutouts in unexpected places, such as butt cheeks or underboob? How much is shown?
Does it feature inexplicable boots/leg warmers with short-shorts or a miniskirt? (Example: Sexy Chewbacca, with knee-down furry bellbottoms, and a short skirt, leaving bare thighs.)
Are pieces transparent or translucent?
How tight-fitting is it?
Could it easily be worn with stretch pants, a shirt, or some other sort of layering to render it acceptable to people whose modesty or comfort requires that?
Theiss Titillation Theory. Does it look like a wardrobe malfunction waiting for a place to happen, regardless of its actual security?
Wardrobe Malfunction. Is it a wardrobe malfunction just biding its time?
Fishnets. Are fishnets or tights used to imply pants without actually hiding skin?
Explosive Decompression. 100% accuracy in a costume, maybe not going to happen. Brain-meltingly bad ideas, like a "sexy astronaut" outfit that looks like a skin-tight, cut-down spacesuit? Aaaaa. Aaaaaaa. Aaa*splort*
Visible Face & Hair. The male or unisex costume has a mask. The "sexy" one has a headband with a miniature mask on it.
Jack Skellington Wouldn't Be Caught Dead In That Skirt. Cutting down iconic clothes in order to expose more skin, enough that the only thing to actually make the connection between the costume and the character is that mask on the giant hair bow.
The Pink Ranger Wears A Jumpsuit, Not That Fucking Dress. That character is already female. Why even does the costume need to be further feminized?
Fishnets & Platform Shoes. They're like ketchup, in a way. Just enough in the right place and time is tasty and fun. Glopping them over everything, just gak.
I Wanted To Be Iron Man But All I Got Was This Lousy Backup Dancer Costume: the opposite problem to Spiderman vs. Girl Spiderman: the women's costume is of a separate character, and that character is fuckall.
A Green Dress Is Not A Goddamn Alien. In sexifying the costume, a level of abstraction has been reached where only one vague connections remain between the costume and the concept, such as green standing for aliens.
That's A Culture, Not A Costume. This is racist, nationalist, xenophobic, and other forms of skeeviness that make any and all sexism into the minor issue. Bonus wrong-points for face paint to simulate a different skin tone.
Looking through, I've found myself mentally composing a rubric for scoring the sexism points of any given costume. This isn't a definitive scorecard, but rather a work in progress detailing things that I've noticed. Remember, any individual choosing to dress up in a way that entertains and pleases her, is her business; a systemic issue where the majority of options presented to women are "sexy", is sexist. Yes, making your own goddamn costume is a thing and it's very fun; I do it a lot. That doesn't excuse the recent trends.
Pointless sexual dimorphism. Does the basic concept of the costume need tailoring to fit different bodies? For example, a t-shirt is designed to fit fairly closely, and should be offered in straight-cut and curvy-cut styles in order to fit the widest range of people; similarly, a costume of what's supposed to be a tailored uniform should likewise be offered for typically male and typically female bodies. A banana suit is usually banana-shaped, concealing most of the wearer's body inside, with various holes for various appendages. There is usually only one cut, and often only two sizes (child and adult) to a banana suit. It is legitimately a unisex costume. Offering "banana" and "women's banana" is suspect.
No women's non-sexy option. If the basic version of the costume isn't unisex, does the specific retailer offer a women's sexy version and a women's modest/regular version? A women's modest old-fashioned nurse costume might consist of a white dress, white shoes, a cap with a red cross, and some medical props, while a sexy version would have the same basic elements but reveal much more skin.
Labeling. Given a functionally unisex costume (back to the banana suit) and a sexy costume, are they labeled "unisex" and "sexy", or "men's" and "women's"?
Ubiquity. Does any costume shop carry a modest women's old-fashioned nurse outfit, or is it all sexy nurses?
Spiderwoman vs. Girl Spiderman. My comics-fan friends probably have more than me to say on the topic of Jessica Drew and Peter Parker, but they are not the same person and it is wrong to pretend they are. There is a separate and sufficiently awesome female character, and her individual characteristics are being ignored in service of making a woman-tailored knockoff of the male character.
But Why Is It Pink, Though. If the woman's-cut/woman's labeled costume only comes in pink, and you don't care for pink in this application, you're stuck either wearing pink or wearing a costume that doesn't fit right. (Or making your own, or going as someone else.) Tif and I once saw a Pink Girl Superman outfit, which was two in one for facepalm. (Tif likes pink more than I do; she might have chosen that as a child, but the problem was that there was no girl's red and blue Superman outfit for girls who like their Superman or Superwoman a little more traditional.)
Dress Code Violation. Could you wear this to a work costume party without being in flagrant violation of the dress code? (Costumes that are clearly designed as lingerie, and are not being marketed as suitable for anywhere but the boudoir or the orgy, are generally not up for review. That "devil" costume that is a transparent red slip with matching panties and a headband? With the strategically placed fake fur? Being sold at that sexyfuntimes shop? That is a legitimate "sexy" costume that is in no way intended as streetwear. Ditto for those really brief tuxedo briefs, Mr. Bond. Enjoy the fuck out of that outfit, and please use enough lube and other appropriate safety measures.)
Is there a skirt? How short is it?
Are there shorts? How short are they?
Are there sleeves? Are there straps? How much of the shoulder is left bare?
Does it bare the midriff? How much?
Does it bare the sides? How much?
Does it bare the back? How much?
How much cleavage does it show?
Does it have cutouts in unexpected places, such as butt cheeks or underboob? How much is shown?
Does it feature inexplicable boots/leg warmers with short-shorts or a miniskirt? (Example: Sexy Chewbacca, with knee-down furry bellbottoms, and a short skirt, leaving bare thighs.)
Are pieces transparent or translucent?
How tight-fitting is it?
Could it easily be worn with stretch pants, a shirt, or some other sort of layering to render it acceptable to people whose modesty or comfort requires that?
Theiss Titillation Theory. Does it look like a wardrobe malfunction waiting for a place to happen, regardless of its actual security?
Wardrobe Malfunction. Is it a wardrobe malfunction just biding its time?
Fishnets. Are fishnets or tights used to imply pants without actually hiding skin?
Explosive Decompression. 100% accuracy in a costume, maybe not going to happen. Brain-meltingly bad ideas, like a "sexy astronaut" outfit that looks like a skin-tight, cut-down spacesuit? Aaaaa. Aaaaaaa. Aaa*splort*
Visible Face & Hair. The male or unisex costume has a mask. The "sexy" one has a headband with a miniature mask on it.
Jack Skellington Wouldn't Be Caught Dead In That Skirt. Cutting down iconic clothes in order to expose more skin, enough that the only thing to actually make the connection between the costume and the character is that mask on the giant hair bow.
The Pink Ranger Wears A Jumpsuit, Not That Fucking Dress. That character is already female. Why even does the costume need to be further feminized?
Fishnets & Platform Shoes. They're like ketchup, in a way. Just enough in the right place and time is tasty and fun. Glopping them over everything, just gak.
I Wanted To Be Iron Man But All I Got Was This Lousy Backup Dancer Costume: the opposite problem to Spiderman vs. Girl Spiderman: the women's costume is of a separate character, and that character is fuckall.
A Green Dress Is Not A Goddamn Alien. In sexifying the costume, a level of abstraction has been reached where only one vague connections remain between the costume and the concept, such as green standing for aliens.
That's A Culture, Not A Costume. This is racist, nationalist, xenophobic, and other forms of skeeviness that make any and all sexism into the minor issue. Bonus wrong-points for face paint to simulate a different skin tone.
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This may be my new favourite line ever.
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I've seen too many sexy fourth of July costumes. And sexy Leprechaun. And sexy you-know-what-I think-that's-a-Pilgrim costumes. So: Is This A Costume Or An Excuse To Get Laid? probably ties into Dress Code Violation.
(On a different note: do they make costumes of the Captain America Back-up dancers. And where do I get this Iron Man back-up dancer costume. Also man I'm redesigning the Sailor Scout uniforms to be . . . Not bathing suits with skirts seriously who goes crime-fighting in that and this is a useful checklist for "Is This Costume Stupid?" Hopefully the redesign will be significantly more functional???)
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Have you seen this? Mildly NSFW, but gets the message over.
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I do kind of like the pink Superman shirt but not that it is the only one they had in the women's section, wtf.
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