Happy Halloween! The LA Times has decided to celebrate the unholiest of holidays with a convoluted op-ed from conservative ideologue Charlotte Allen using Halloween as an excuse to bash both sluts and slutwalks. Because, you know, if you dress like a slut – whether to protest rape or to go to a Halloween party – it’s like you’re begging to be raped. Bad feminists! Bad Halloween revelers dressed as sexy nurses!
Here are a few of the more coherent passages from the piece:
[T]he SlutWalk feminists are in denial of a reality that is perfectly obvious to both the women who favor “sexy” for Halloween parties and (although perhaps not consciously) the SlutWalkers themselves. The reality is that men’s sexual responses are highly susceptible to visual stimuli, and women, who are also sexual beings, like to generate those stimuli by displaying as much of their attractive selves as social mores or their own personal moral codes permit. … It’s no wonder that SlutWalks have quickly outstripped (as it were) Take Back the Night as anti-rape protest. Women get another chance besides Halloween to dress up like prostitutes!
Just watch out, ladies, because dressing sexy is like waving a red flag in front of a bull, with your wallet hanging out!
[T]he vast majority of rape victims are under age 30 — that is, when women are at their peak of desirability. …
[T]he fact that rapists tend to target young women rather than grandmotherly types suggests that in the real rape culture (in contrast to the imaginary rape culture of some feminist ideology), the faux-hos of Halloween and their SlutWalker counterparts marching in their underwear — like a man walking at night with a bulging wallet — should be careful about where they flash their treasure.
So thank you, Charlotte Allen, for once again showing just why the Slutwalks are necessary in the first place.
Jill at Feministe has an excellent response to Allen’s nonsense, which points out that while, yes, younger women are more likely to be victims of rape,
Younger people are also the most likely group to be the victims of aggravated, non-sexual assault. … In fact, younger people are victimized by violent crime more often than older folks as a general rule. A person between the ages of 12 and 24 is six times more likely to be the victim of a robbery than a person over the age of 50; about half of people who report being the victims of aggravated assault are under the age of 25. Men are much more likely than women to be the victims of violent crime. In every age group, black people are the most likely to be the victims of violent crime.
So yes, it is true that younger women are more likely to be targeted for sexual assault than older women. But it’s not because of The Sexy — unless hormones and hard-ons are what are causing criminals to choose their (mostly male) targets for robbery and assault also.
So, really, the only really safe costuming strategy for young people on Halloween, regardless of gender, is to dress up like an old white lady. Â Might I suggest Dame Judi Dench?
kristinmh: Thanks! I was going to wear my Italian Ren dress, get paint all in my fingernails and over my hands and arms, stick a paintbrush behind one ear and go as Artemisia Gentileschi. But it turns out my chemise needs some work or possibly to be cut up for scraps – depending on how much effort and money I have to spare in the nest few weeks. And, you know, if I can figure out how the fuck to thread my lovely 1911 treadle sewing machine.
One second feminists are complaining that women only get sexy Halloween costumes to choose from, the next they’re fighting for their rights to wear sexy costumes. Good stuff. Also, this:
“It’s such misandry to suggest that men can’t control themselves if they see the wrong clothes. What are they, animals?”
“I walked around campus all day today as Wonder Woman, in a corset, binkini bottoms, and what my roommates referred to as “stripper heels.” With cat-eye eyeliner and glittery eyeshadow and all. Somehow I was neither sexually assaulted nor raped. I guess there must not be any men on my campus, because obviously they would have been unable to avoid their sexual urges.”
is a specious argument. Nobody has ever claimed that men in general can’t control themselves, just that those with poor impulse control may be influenced by a provocative outfit. The only ones in denial about this obvious truth are the slut-defenders and feminist apologists.
This obviously doesn’t mean everyone should switch their costume for a burqa, just exercise some common sense about where and when you go and what you’re wearing while you’re there. Sadly, in the world of sanctimonious know-it-all feminists, common sense is a scarce commodity.
Lauralot – At least you’re not the Joker with a baby Batgirl.
kristinmh: But Girl’s Costume Warehouse totally has a sexy jesus costume!
Meller would have a fucking heart attack at the thought of a feminist harpy who sews and crochets, wouldn’t he?
I wish SisterB had been able to find a NephewB-sized fez, because he would have made the cutest damn Doctor! Sigh.
So, this “under30” group that is just so very rapable…is that “everyone under 30” or something more narrow like “15 to 30”? Because Charlotte, she is not so great at interpreting stats and I’d rather believe this was breathless hyperbole and that Charlotte did not just paint the vunerable stautory rape crowd with the “peak of desirability” brush.
Yup, ONLY women dress provocatively for Halloween:
http://www.foundshit.com/pizza-delivery-costume/
lol. Blitzgal, a bunch of guys went around topless for Halloween claiming to be the wolf pack from Twilight.
Okay, got some pics. This one doesn’t show off the outfit very well, but it’s also the only one I currently have at my disposal in which I’m not making a stupid face:
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t92/Lauralot/100_0306.jpg
My cat has just committed a serious crime, probably.
So here’s a detail picture from back when I was sewing this, before I had the wig, boots, and lasso.
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t92/Lauralot/100_0267-1.jpg
Ah, the “bulging wallet” comparison. You know, that kind of comparison can be used to great effect:
TIPS TO PREVENT BEING ROBBED:
1)DO NOT DISPLAY SIGNS OF WEALTH
1.1)JEWELRY
-Jewelry is a surefire indicator of wealth. As such, you shouldn’t wear necklaces, earrings and other piercings, bracelets, gold chains, cuff links, rings (including, but not limited to engagement rings, class rings, championship rings and wedding rings), watches, etc.
1.2)PERSONAL ELECTRONICS
-Another surefire indicator of wealth, this includes laptops, palmtops, mp3 players, Walkman, hand-held gaming devices, radios, cameras, etc.
1.3)CELLPHONES
-Cellphones are also indicators of wealth. Do not answer or make calls in public and keep it on silent at all times. Burglars may hear your cellphone ringing and know instantly you are in possession of a valuable item.
1.4)PERSONAL TRANSPORTATION
-Cars and motorcycles are definite signs of wealth. Do not own one of these, for it may cause you to be robbed.
1.5)WALLETS
-A bulging wallet is very tempting for burglars. Attempt to keep it hidden at all times. Never pull it out in public.
-Likewise, avoid carrying bags, fanny packs, purses, briefcases, and any other container which might have money.
1.6)MONEY
-Money is, of course, what most robbers are after. Try to never let anyone see you have money. The same applies to credit and debit cards of course.
2)BE CAREFUL OF THE MESSAGE YOUR CLOTHES SEND
-Do not wear trendy or expensive-looking clothes. This is an indicator of success and may cause burglars to rob you.
-Do not wear tight-fitting clothes, for they are particularly good at highlighting your wallet.
-Do not wear baggy clothes, because it may cause robbers to think you’re hiding something.
-Do not wear clothes that are old or tattered. It may make robbers think you’re homeless and attempt to rob you, due to being an easy target.
-Do not wear non-trendy clothes. Such clothes may cause robbers to mistake you for a Hipster. Hipsters are known for having money, and as such, robbers may try to rob you.
3)RISK BEHAVIORS
-Robbers may try to rob you when you’re intoxicated. Luckily the solution for that is simple: avoid all alcohol and any other mind-altering substances.
-Do not go to bars, nightclubs, parties, etc.. These places are normally filled with strangers, which may turn out to be robbers.
-Buying things alerts robbers to the fact that you have money. Ideally, you should never make any purchases when anyone is watching.
-Using ATMs can be dangerous. It is preferable to get your money at your bank. If you must use an ATM, do not let anyone see you using it.
-Walking through dangerous neighborhoods may attract the attention of robbers. If you live in or near a dangerous neighborhood, do not go outside unaccompanied, and especially not at night.
-Living in high-class neighborhoods is a definite show of wealth, which may attract the attention of robbers. Do not go outside unaccompanied, and especially not at night.
-Living in a middle-class neighborhood may attract robbers that would be detracted from
robbing high-class neighborhoods because of added security. Do not go outside unaccompanied, and especially not at night.
-Do not use public transportation. Robbers may take advantage of the crowd to rob you.
-Do not show weakness. If you are very young, very old, handicapped, or otherwise physically limited, stop that, seriously, what’s wrong with you?
Simply follow all of these tips, and you’ll be safe from being robbed (well, unless the robber breaks into your house or is someone you know and trust, but what are the odds of that?).
GOOD LUCK!
And I see everyone was discussing their Halloween costumes while I was typing out my wall of text. Sorry for derailing.
The best parent-child costume I ever saw was a guy at Comic-Con dressed as Luke Skywalker, with a baby on his back dressed as Yoda.
And I see everyone was discussing their Halloween costumes while I was typing out my wall of text. Sorry for derailing.
Don’t apologize! It’s hilarious! And it made me realize one of the creepiest parts of the “flashing your wallet in a bad neighborhood” analogy: you’re supposed to think that any neighborhood with men in it is a “bad neighborhood,” and basically you shouldn’t be going outdoors at all.
I think it’s time for the fabulous Wanda Sykes:
The best parent-child costume I ever saw was a guy at Comic-Con dressed as Luke Skywalker, with a baby on his back dressed as Yoda.
I’ve seen pictures of that costume! It was awesome.
I didn’t end up going anywhere this year that would justify a costume. Just as well because I was having trouble coming up with ideas. Last year I went as the Eleventh Doctor. None of my friends knew what that was, and most of them couldn’t tell I was wearing a costume (I dress weird). Oh well.
And since it’s Halloween, and I just finished it yesterday, here’s my latest vampire drawing.
David – I take it you’ve never seen Dame Judi Dench in 1968’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. ‘Cuz daaayyyumm.
I’d vote Helen Mirren, especially from “The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover” – she was 45 then, and looked *stunning* –
Also, where do I sign up to be a slut-defender? I would be proud to volunteer.
@Shaenon
Thanks 🙂 It always annoys me that these guys’ solutions to not get raped is for women to pretty much stay at home and not do anything. Plus, I have a bulging wallet. It’s got a ton of receipts and bank statements and whatnot. I’d like to think that if I was robbed, people wouldn’t go “well, you shouldn’t have that much stuff in your wallet. The thief obviously thought you were loaded”.
The sad thing is, some of those “rape prevention” tips are good general safety tips, and I probably wouldn’t mind them as much if they were presented as such, but even then, if you use them to pretty much condemn someone that didn’t or couldn’t do something to protect themselves is all kinds of douchey. What is this, the Wild West?
What is unacceptable and where shouldn’t we wear it? As Holly’s pointed out many times, when dealing with one of our more obnoxious trolls, lots of men (and their Tokens) like to howl about women “dressing like sluts,” but very few are able to provide precise, meaningful, common-sense descriptions of what exactly that entails, except for, you know, “You’d better listen to what I say all the time or you deserve violence.”
Nobody has ever claimed that men in general can’t control themselves, just that those with poor impulse control may be influenced by a provocative outfit.
Clearly you haven’t been around here long. The MRAs on this site love to claim that women’s clothing will send men into a foaming-at-the-mouth rage at any moment, and that women should expect this.
I think I may have figured out a solution to the issue of what to wear to protect ourselves from rapists.
Granted it may be a bit difficult to get out of in a hurry but…it is pretty hard to get into without an actual sword:
Suit of Armor
You can even jazz it up a little with some carpet and PLUMES. No word on if drapes should be used or not.
I must admit I’m not a fan of the sexy Halloween costumes. One because of the vid KathleenB posted is so true and two because I think Halloween should be about horror and emphasize the macabre. Even Elvira Mistress of the Dark managed to keep some scary elements with the sexy. Also these “sexy” costumes just speak loads about our culture’s ideas about women. It’s only acceptable to dress like that on Halloween, any other time and you’ll be called a slut. Oh who are we kidding, even on Halloween the women in those costumes will still be called sluts.
That being said this article was still a steaming pile of victim-blaming bullshit. T