Halloween is finally here! In almost a month, people of all ages will be dressed up as whoever they want in order to go out, get some candy and have fun. However, Halloween may not be as gender-equal as we all assumed. Costumes for women have a serious issue when it comes to how they are designed and marketed: women’s costumes are generally portrayed in a more sensual light than their male counterparts. This problem is evident in both marketing and design.
A trend like this is not hard to recognize. Search “fireman costume adult,” and unless the costume is specifically for a little girl or a man, nearly every woman’s version is modeled by a skinny, stereotypically Hollywood-beautiful woman, while most men’s costumes are designed to look normal.
This issue is far from new. Since the 1930s, Halloween costumes have increasingly become less scary and more focused on self-expression. People are more encouraged to dress up as anything they want, such as a fictional character (of the same gender, that is), an occupation, or something original and creative. While this sort of freedom against previous holiday norms is welcomed, women’s costumes have consistently been designed to appeal to the male gaze and marketed toward skinny, conventionally attractive women.
One would think this trend would die out far after women’s rights became more accepted, but that is not the case. In 2025, women’s costumes are more expensive than men’s costumes, are more cheaply made, and, of course, are always created to be as provocative as possible. There is absolutely nothing wrong with women who enjoy those kinds of costumes—in fact, they can boost body image and push back against outdated norms about modesty. However, that demographic should not make up the majority of all women’s costume options.
Women deserve better costumes this year. Every woman who celebrates Halloween—regardless of background, body type, or identity—deserves affordable, higher-quality costumes that are not made to objectify them. Women and girls should be allowed to dress up however they wish without being labeled for looking too attractive or not attractive enough. They should be allowed to dress up as whoever they like, regardless of the character/costume’s gender, and they should not be judged based on that alone.
Halloween is one of the most beloved holidays of the year, and everyone should be able to enjoy it however they want—without worrying about whether they look “appealing enough” because of what the costume packaging suggests.. Please, enjoy the holiday this year, ladies, wear whatever you want, however you want, regardless of what some Halloween costume marketing team wants you to dress.
