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It's not too late: Feminist Halloween Costumes

Social Commentary post by Kjerstin Johnson, Submitted by Kjerstin Johnson on October 30, 2009 - 3:55pm; tagged costumes, feminist celebrities, halloween.

Sure, there's Rosie, Lady Gaga, and this lovely list of pun-tastic pro-choice outfits for you to choose from, but it still seems like it's hard for feminists to get a break on Halloween! Here are some suggestions from the Bitch Media office....

Peggy Hill

Jennifer K. Stuller called this Arlen, TX native "the most empowered and progressive of cartoon women" (and she hasn't posed for Playboy!). Cattle ranching, roller derby, and mothering are just some of Peggy Hill's pastimes.


Costume: "mom" jeans, 80s glasses, Spanish textbook

You might also consider: Daria Morgendorffer


Guerilla Girl

Hitting the art world where it hurts since 1985, this undercover group of activists is any easy outfit with a message!

Costume: black clothes, gorilla mask, name of rad female artist (or, if you really want to make a statement, go as Venus de Milo with a gorilla mask!)

You might also consider: actually dressing like a rad female artist, such as Frida Kahlo

Angela Davis

Black Power activist, political prisoner, academic. This is an especially frightening outfit...if you're the FBI circa 1970.

Costume: megaphone, hoop earrings, Afro, broken handcuffs (it's a metaphor!)

You might also consider: Dolores Huerta (see: America Ferrera)

Gloria Steinem... undercover as a Playboy Bunny

That's right. The Sexy Feminist Costume.

You might consid---OH IS YOUR MIND STILL BLOWN?



Ida B. Wells

This 19th century anti-lynching activist worked tirelessly, and co-founded the NAACP as well as advocating for women's right to vote.

Costume: Old-timey clothes (frilly collar, long skirt, etc.), newspaper (Check out this awesome Ida job!)

You might also consider: Emma Goldman


Ellen Ripley

Kick-ass or treat! Aliens, parasites, and insubordinate spaceship members will quake at your feet.

Costume: white tee, fatigue pants, ginormous automatic weapon

You might also consider: G.I Jane


Hopey and Maggie
Ghostworld's Enid and Rebecca are so five years ago! Why not go as this invincible Cali duo from Jaimie Hernandez's Love and Rockets?

Costume: Hopey: crust punk tee, ripped black pants, trench coat. Maggie: tight pants to show off curves, heart on sleeve (optional)

You might also consider: Tank Girl


Jem and the Holograms

If you're feeling especially ambitious and creative, grab some friends and go as this '80s cartoon rock band (...it's doable!)

Costume: make-up, hair dye/wigs, colorful blazer, keytar, GLITTER. LOTS OF GLITTER.

You might also consider: the Powerpuff girls


What feminist figure are YOU going as this Halloween? Share your costume, photos, and tips below! Have a good weekend and Happy Halloween!

"Share"

Comments

20 comments have been made. Post a comment.

I'm going as Buffy the

Posted by Anonymous (not verified) on October 31, 2009 - 3:26am

I'm going as Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

The Patriarchy

Posted by Mae (not verified) on October 31, 2009 - 5:10am

My girlfriend and I are going as the patriarchy. I'll be wearing a skirt, pearls, and apron and holding a tray of cookies and she will be in a suit and tie carrying around The Wall Street Journal. I'll be saying a lot of, "Yes, Dear"s.

OMG I LOVE IT!! I wish I had

Posted by LaurenD (not verified) on October 29, 2010 - 11:12am

OMG I LOVE IT!! I wish I had a girlfriend just so I could steal this idea.

Xena, Warrior Princess and Gabrielle

Posted by kind one (not verified) on October 31, 2009 - 8:47am

That's what me and my friend are going to a party as. We were so into that show around 10 years' ago.

where can you buy it ive

Posted by pinkashes (not verified) on September 30, 2010 - 6:19pm

where can you buy it ive been looking for one thats xena or gabby but i cant find it help!

Xena!

Posted by Anonymous (not verified) on October 31, 2009 - 11:42am

Xena!

I was a nuva-ring, as was

Posted by Megan (not verified) on October 31, 2009 - 11:54am

I was a nuva-ring, as was suggested on a list of pro-choice costumes that Bitch linked to; I wore all pink and carried a hula hoop with me. But yesterday, at a party, I saw the most horrifyingly anti-feminist costume. A girl wore a nude leotard, with red paint (blood) hand prints on the body and over the nipples of the leotard. When asked what she was, she replied, "a dead rape victim."
WHAT would possess a woman to do that? It was terrible.

I've noticed that some

Posted by Emily (not verified) on October 31, 2009 - 12:55pm

I've noticed that some people think it's cute to go as things like dead rape victims. I recently went to a party where a girl dressed as a "battered housewife" and was all "heheheh" about it, instead of maybe.. I don't know, putting a positive spin on it (if you can?) and educating about the issue. It was... UGH.

I was actually a zombie

Posted by Anonymous (not verified) on October 31, 2009 - 7:12pm

I was actually a zombie retro housewife tonight, and 2 people asked me if I was a battered housewife! I was like... who would make that into a costume seriously? that's horrible. I didn't know people were doing that on purpose...

Taarna from Heavy Metal

Posted by Anonymous (not verified) on October 31, 2009 - 1:12pm

I would go either as Sechmet the lion headed goddess, or Taarna from the original Heavy Metal movie. Both of those bitches kick butt.

Wait. What? You must be

Posted by Anonymous (not verified) on October 31, 2010 - 9:09am

Wait. What? You must be kidding. I don't know what I would do if I heard the words "I'm a dead rape victim!" come out of a woman's mouth. Amazing.

I was totally a PowerPuff Girl

Posted by Claire (not verified) on October 31, 2009 - 1:52pm

My friends and I last year did PowerPuff. I had to be Blossom as I was the only one with long enough hair. This year has been Rosie the Riveter (should be done at least once) and Maid Marian, but my Robin Hood is a girl so I still got to subvert the system in a full length medieval dress.

The goal is to either be Wonder Woman (should also be done at least once) or Princess Leia/ Padme Amadala next year. Preferably in one of their more kickass outfits.

I am going as Coraline, made

Posted by Jessica (not verified) on October 31, 2009 - 4:12pm

I am going as Coraline, made the costume myself (:

I went as Kaylee Frye from

Posted by HeatherC (not verified) on November 1, 2009 - 9:56am

I went as Kaylee Frye from Firefly, and it was awesome. :)

Marge Simpson!

Posted by Alexia (not verified) on November 1, 2009 - 4:56pm

Why all the love lost just because she was in Playboy? I love Marge! I wore a blue afro wig, strung some red beads together, sewed a green tube dress, and wore some $5 red flats. It was awesome! Like Marge!

I went as Emily Dickinson,

Posted by Anonymous (not verified) on November 2, 2009 - 4:21pm

I went as Emily Dickinson, and my friends were Sylvia Plath and Sara Teasdale. All dead poets, all AWESOME.

Great Ideas

Posted by Laura (not verified) on January 5, 2010 - 2:06pm

Lots of good ideas here! There is a retail chain in New York called Ricky’s NYC that has a ton of fun costume ideas, including some you discussed here. You can check it out online at http://www.rickyshalloween.com or http://www.rickysnyc.com .

Peggy Hill wore jean shorts,

Posted by Anonymous (not verified) on October 30, 2010 - 6:55pm

Peggy Hill wore jean shorts, not jeans. Pfft. And you have to do the hair and you have to wear the sleeveless 'oxidized sterling silver' top, extra-large size 16 shoes, and so on.

Get yr Peggy Hill right.

Miss Bennett

Posted by Amanda (not verified) on November 1, 2010 - 2:13pm

I was Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice, because I had this Regency-style dress lying around that I made on a whim last year. Add an updo, some long gloves, and a wrap/shawl/scarf thing, and there you go! 1813 proto-feminist.

Rosie

Posted by Anonymous (not verified) on November 2, 2010 - 2:35am

I was Rosie the Riveter. It kicked ass. My husband helped me throw it together in no time - last minute idea. He made me the little Westinghouse Electric badge with my picture in the middle instead of Rosie's.

http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa395/xenologue/alex_the_riveter.jpg