When I was small, I had a trusty Halloween 'costume' that I repeated year after year: a long velvet dress from mum's hippy days, and - actually, that was it. Then I told people I was a witch and stuck out my little hand for sweeties.
My lack of effort then was an accurate forecast of my costume apathy now. When it comes to theme parties, I can't muster even a tenth of the excitement that seems to consume everybody else. At the end of a working week I struggle with the concept of leaving the house, let alone springing into action to get dressed in Something Beginning With X, or: Someone From An Obscure Film The Hosts Are Really Digging Right Now. Or: Pimps and Hoes. Or: One of Your Friends (actually, that one could be funny. Why don't more people do that one?)
Much to my ongoing dismay, the dress-up options are endless.
BUT: are they really? Not so much for women, the internet has discovered. As the blog F**k no sexist Halloween costumes points out, followed by a raft of commentary, options for ladies are actually pretty limited. And by 'limited', I mean nearly naked - or nothing. Because while men's costumes are designed for a night of fun and humour, their female counterparts are made to showcase T&A.
In other words, the default role of ladies - as sexual objects first and foremost - can be found even here, in an industry touting comedy and fun. But that's the thing with defaults; they're so ingrained, it's not until you really, really look at the difference between a male banana costume and a female banana costume that things become clear. Things like PEEL THE ZIP TO REVEAL THE BOOBS!
