First thing’s first. House keeping. I reeeaaally need to do some house keeping around here. I know. I promise you, I’ve cleared off a spot on my metaphorical table for you to have tea over this topic. I’ll get to the rearranging of this blog (which will still host tasty plant based recipes, health and fitness tips, and things to do in Denver and surrounding mountains); but will also include random trinkets and tidbits I’ve found and NEED to share.
Like this:
Halloween Horror Story: Feminist Dad’s Scary Visit To The Girls’ Costume Aisle
October 23, 2013 by WYSK Guest Contributor
Have any of you seen this?! Or even experienced it in your own world? It’s new to me. When I was growing up, I was one of two things: a witch or a scarecrow. Not a cute witch. Or even a pagan-nature mama Gaia inspired witch. See here:
Anyway, has it really changed all that much since I was a kid in the 80s? Say it ain’t so! Are little girls really forced to be a fairy princess, wear pink, or wear costumes that already hint at the hyper-sexualized costumes that older girls and young women don on All Hallow’s Eve? Are there really no choices for little girls when it comes to “career costumes”? Why can’t the “career costumes” be marketed as such, instead of “Boy Career Costumes”? I know plenty of women doctors and have met a few female firefighters. I also know some male nurses. I’m having a boy. If he wants to be a nurse for Halloween or for his career, I will support him.
What messages are being sent to our children? I suppose one could argue that they are the messages that we allow or reinforce in their home lives. But still. Let’s say I’m a busy working mom or dad. Let’s say I don’t have time to make a great home-made costume. Or let’s say I suck at sewing. Let’s say I have to go to a big box store to buy a costume. It does make it a bit more challenging. I could let my little girl choose from the “boys” section, but would she? Would she get made fun of by her peers if she did? I could also let my girl be a super-hero in a tutu.
For years I’ve said that I don’t have a problem with this. I mean, there are little girly girls. I was one of them at times. I loved Barbies. I loved pink. I was given the option to play with He-man dolls and army figurines, but they didn’t appeal to me. I also equally loved: making mud pies, catching fish (sorry poor aquatic creatures), riding bikes, staring at stars and clouds, flying kites. I want my children (both boys and girls) to have these options. To be able to explore what they truly love or are curious about, and to not be ridiculed or made to feel different about it. To be encouraged to seek out what they love and try on what costumes and options life has to offer. To be inspired. To be free. To be unlimited by social opinion or commercialism.
Is that too much to ask?
Rhetorically yours 🙂
-Keri