Last year, in Round One of the great Halloween dress-up pageant, I discovered that while boys were sold cool costumes in the form of professional role models like firemen and astronauts, girls got to choose from a selection of not-at-all sexist options like crack whore cheerleader or, worse, Bratz dolls.
This year, things haven't changed.
I was perusing a seasonal Halloween shop near Union Square the other day, searching for a pair of fairy wings, when I came across the toddlers and young girls' section of the store. Maybe, I thought, maybe I'll find a costume for my 2-year-old daughter here.
Now most of these get-ups seemed to be made for the older-than-2, but younger-than-10 set, but I have to wonder: Do people dress their daughters in this crap?
First, the "Purrty Kitty." Is there really anything pretty about Playboy bunny-esque fur lining on a 6-to-8 year old?
Then there's what I like to call "Meth Belly Pirate" because this kid just looked drugged out. What's that Tina Fey line from Mean Girls? Halloween is the one holiday when you get to dress like a slut and no one can say anything bad about you? But for seven year olds? I am so not ready for this.
There seems to be an emphasis on pirates this year -- at least at this store. Scarlet pirate doesn't seem so bad, except I feel sorry for any real girl pirate who dressed like this on a boat filled with sea-bound mutineers.
Punky pirate is kind of funny, because when I think "Punky" I think adorable little orphan with rainbow hair twirls. I guess they went a different direction.
And then, finally, there's Leopard. This one is not so slutty so much as tacky -- something Mrs. Roper might have worn when she was eight. Come on, Parents. I know you're busy. I know you don't have time to break out the sewing machine and come up with your own costumes. But please, at the very least, don't let your daughter dress like a prostitute when your son is dressing like a professional. That's just not right.
