It’s that time of year again when the abandoned department store in town gets temporarily turned into a veritable fun-house of all things Halloween-related. However, the options for unique costumes are highly limited, especially for females.
Georgia State junior Kim Bisnott, a journalism major, said that Halloween is just fun.
“It gives you the chance to dress up as someone else; make memories.” Her response to revealing costumes is, “Why not?”
“You’re young and you don’t get these chances forever,” she said. “Do what you want before you get tied down,” said Bisnott.
Ivan Hayes, an anthropology major at Georgia State, thinks that just because you can wear a revealing Halloween costume doesn’t mean you should.
“It’s not always appropriate,” said Hayes of the risqué costumes sold in stores. “You’re just calling attention to yourself in a negative light. It could make you seem like you’re a slut or you’re easy.”
Hayes said the supplier is to blame, but the buyer has a responsibility in the matter as well.
“Producers push [the revealing costumes]. But just because they’re stocked, doesn’t mean you have to buy them.”
Many other Georgia State students agree that when it comes to provocative costumes, it’s more about businesses making money than a moral issue for those who wear them.
“Retail stores like to generalize,” said Georgia State junior Albert Jumper, a philosophy major. “If [the stores] can generalize enough people, you can sell more. And sex sells – we figured that one out really quickly.”
Sophomore and biology major Lauren Griffith said that the people who design and make costumes are just responding to the demands of the consumers.
“Their ultimate goal is to sell. They probably do research into what’s going to sell best,” Griffith said.
Additionally, a recent survey by Visa Inc. revealed that younger Americans spend an average of $44 dollars on Halloween each year, a difference of about $15 dollars more than Americans over the age of 55.
“If you’ve got it, flaunt it,” said Griffith. “Each person is different so you can’t really judge them. Everyone has a different perspective and values. If they want to embrace that side of them, they should be entitled to do that.”
Griffith also said that as college students going to school in a major city, we’re exposed to controversial things every day and are thus more open-minded individuals.
Ultimately, it’s up to the individual to decide if they will be themselves or wear a disguise this Halloween. Whether you go as a sexy nurse or a zombie queen, as Bisnott put it, “Be who you want.”
