Less About Candy Bars, More about the Eye-Candy
It has come to my attention that there is more to Halloween than one would believe. It is not a holiday reserved for kids who want to dress up as other characters or people and to get free candy from friendly neighbors. Oh no! It is the holiday that old white haired perverts prey on innocent children. Are we setting up the children to be the fantasies of the older generation? Teenage girls show up to strangers’ houses in miniskirts, low cut tops, and fishnets, outfits that are “barely there”. “Trick Or treat!” What’s the real treat and for whom?
Today, it has been adopted by the adult entertainment to risqué “costumes” turning wicked witches and bubbly bumblebees into barely there outfits that. Twisting our childhood fairy tales into outfits, that beg for attention and angle towards promiscuity. The adult industry has transformed the child’s holiday into a sex-starved business dressing teens for foul play; companies add garters, low cut blouses, and even shorter skirts.
For example, Miley Cyrus' younger sister (image below), at only nine years of age, she decides to strut down a carpet in a dominatrix outfit; too young to know what that even means but just old enough to wear the costume? Where are the parents? Where's her older sister? Mileyfan says: “Most costumes for tweens are like that! It is hard to get a costume not like that and if she wants to be a vampire that is pretty much all they have! I am 13 and I think you should give her a break she doesn't need all this dumped on her!” (examiner.com). This comment taken from The Examiner is primary evidence of the social acceptance the costume companies have permitted.
Costume designers are so focused towards selling their merchandise that they have merged the gap between youth, teen, and adult. Adding to the sizing, are the specifically labeled “tweens” which target those who aren’t exactly teens yet but just in between. With this distinct sizing, they still offer costumes which sexualize girls at such a young age. How long will we allow Mean Girls’ character Cady’s statement that “Halloween is the one night a year when girls can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it” fair true? Inappropriate costumes do not apply solely for the female population, parents have also began to complain that the costumes for boys have become increasingly violent year after year, from swords, to guns, to light sabers. Is this all a figment of our imagination? Are we allowing our angels, our poor boys to become the future gangsters and pimps? There is hardly anything wrong with a little positive motivation when behaving boys do deserve praise. Where have all the less controversial costumes gone? The law abiding citizen? The friendly fireman? The portly policeman?
Is it appropriate for one to say that the day reserved to honor the lives of the dead has become a manifestation for unsuitable costumes that beg for attention in all the wrong aspects? Our society has encouraged commercialism to enter homes through purchasing candy for hyperactive kids to overfill their caffeine needs. But it doesn't just stop there, it ambushes the young minds by creating this ideal image that the “hottest” costumes this year are those that are exciting to the eyes and invite some serious child predators. Should there be age limits to those who can and cannot purchase these provocative outfits? Should we allow Halloween to be advertised as the holiday predators look forward to?
By Monica Chow
November 24, 2009 at 4:01 PM
Awesome Monica
November 24, 2009 at 4:02 PM
before anything i want to congratulate all of you for all these amazing work that you guys did.! this article was the first one i read, and i did love it way to much. =] monica you make good points, but what i like is how you kind of also gave your point of view. and everything you said is true, halloween is no more a thing to just celebrate but for perverts to take advantage of girls or little kids.! besides i like the title, its amazing.!!! and the picture you used are more attractive to the reader. [not because it's a girl looking sexy.okay] but yeah i really like it.!<3 =]
-- jessica moreno:)
November 24, 2009 at 4:06 PM
I never thought of it that way. I always thought of Halloween as a day to go out and have fun with the homies, but apparently it is more dangerous than I thought.
November 24, 2009 at 4:10 PM
I think it has been true that people now a day don't really think about the people that have past away. But having fun that night and scaring people way is what they really think is all about. But not going back and realizing or really learning about what Halloween is really is all about why is has become a holiday through out the world.
November 24, 2009 at 4:12 PM
I THINK THIS ARTICLE WAS SUPRISING...SAME I NEVER THOUGHT OF IT AS THAT WAY HALLOWEEN WAS A DAY TO GO OUT AND PARTY HAVE FUN WITH DA HOMIES, BUT I SEE ITS DANGEROUS......
-LUNA=)
November 24, 2009 at 4:13 PM
I THINK DIS ARTICLE IS B AWARE OF GIRLS DAT WEAR ALITTLE BIT OF CLOTHESS BECAUSE YOUUUHHH NEVER KNOW WAT DEY KOULD B
November 24, 2009 at 4:14 PM
-LALA
November 24, 2009 at 4:15 PM
well dat is true that teenagers are wearing short dresses and i think that this article is saying the whole truth. This article was the first one that I have read. I use to think that halloween was supposed to be fun and having a great time but when i read this now i know what to do. I should listen to my mom now.
November 24, 2009 at 4:20 PM
i strongly agree withh thee article i likeddd how youu informed thiss message to yourrr readers
November 24, 2009 at 4:21 PM
Great job Monica. I agree with you, now girls don't dress the right way during this holiday. They seem to show more than what they have to.
November 24, 2009 at 4:22 PM
I like how you expressed tis information to your reader and i agree with that there are wrong things that Halloween has turned out to be.
November 24, 2009 at 4:24 PM
To all, great job with the page! In regards to this particular article, it is an accurate critique of our contemporary society, which is unfortunately often largely driven by its capitalistic desire to gain profits, and at times, at the cost of compromising many of society's long-standing traditions. I commend your effort to raise awareness on the issue and encourage you to continue expressing your voice through this wonderful medium!
-- Mr. Pesqueira
November 24, 2009 at 4:26 PM
i agree with u. halloween is just another commercial holiday where big companies try to sell candies, costumes and other junk to kids.
November 24, 2009 at 4:27 PM
I have read that article and as a teenager i was shocked to se that young girls at this age are dressing up like that. there are limitations to what u wear when going out and having fun. but as far as this. its not kewl at all.
November 24, 2009 at 4:30 PM
Great job very nice i think most of its true but not every thing is right so be care full on what u say! but very nice i enjoy reading it.
November 24, 2009 at 4:41 PM
This was an interesting and informative article for all types of audiences!!!
November 24, 2009 at 4:42 PM
WHAT I THINK IS THAT MANY PEOPLE DONT THINK OF THE REAL THINGS THAT GO ON IN THAT DAY
November 24, 2009 at 4:43 PM
....
November 24, 2009 at 5:35 PM
This article brings great insight for many who have failed to see what's wrong with Halloween today. I just hope young girls take it into consideration next year when choosing their costumes; preserve your dignity and self-worth, girls!
November 24, 2009 at 9:26 PM
I'm glad that this idea of halloween has been brought up. Costumes today, especially for women and young girls, have become extremly skimpy and has definatly changed the original purpose of trick or treating. Awesome job Monica! :)
November 25, 2009 at 4:17 PM
I want to congradulate you guys for all the hard work, and i very much agree with the article, but like many things in life people lose the true meaning of the holidays.