Excellent breakdown on the construction of gender with costumes.
Going just beyond childhood, I’m remembering back in university days just how many men dressed as women for Halloween, to the point that it was an ongoing joke about how eager straight guys were to try drag on just that one day. I think Dan Savage has referred to Halloween as “gay pride for straight people.” Perhaps this is evidence of men pushing back against patriarchal norms, or at least testing out transgressing them temporarily?
The other big trend I recall from that age range was for gendered women’s costumes to be “sexy _____” with a version of anything made horny (remembering friends making fun of it talking about dressing as a sexy dead baby). That seems like an extension of the kids’ costume trends you describe.
I've noticed this too. What a creepy throw back!
Excellent breakdown on the construction of gender with costumes.
Going just beyond childhood, I’m remembering back in university days just how many men dressed as women for Halloween, to the point that it was an ongoing joke about how eager straight guys were to try drag on just that one day. I think Dan Savage has referred to Halloween as “gay pride for straight people.” Perhaps this is evidence of men pushing back against patriarchal norms, or at least testing out transgressing them temporarily?
The other big trend I recall from that age range was for gendered women’s costumes to be “sexy _____” with a version of anything made horny (remembering friends making fun of it talking about dressing as a sexy dead baby). That seems like an extension of the kids’ costume trends you describe.