Glancing around at the parades of students up and down the off-campus streets during this weekend of amazingly warm weather revealed nearly-nude nurses, gypsies, and even self-described prostitutes and pimps wearing less total fabric than a T-shirt.

For many Syracuse University women, the ultimate challenge of an SU Halloween weekend is not how to cram in going out with work or where to find the best party; it’s how to put together the sexiest costume.

As many women scramble in excitement to either buy or make such costumes, and many on campus laud their looks with extra attention or whistles, a definite attitude pervades in everybody’s minds: these girls are dressing like sluts. Whores. Skanks.

It’s the weekend to dress like a ho. And yeah, we already covered that. But let’s re-examine this attitude. It’s quite bizarre. Bizarre, that as a scantily clad Barbie-costumed woman walks by, the equally scantily clad dominatrix eyes her with a venomous death stare, scoffing at her audacity and ‘sluttiness.’ Equally bizarre is that the boys who nod and raise their eyebrows with approval also believe – but may not admit – that the promiscuous dress equals promiscuous behavior, or at least a significant sign that this chick has no morals.

Just like on any other day, when a woman chooses to dress in an ensemble that shows off every curve, or painstakingly toned muscle, she may be doing it to attract attention from that hottie across the room, or the street. Maybe she wants to hook up, maybe not. But why do we pass a judgment based on a tube top?

Despite what anyone says, the great majority of the time women dress up (or down) for their own pleasure. It’s fun to feel the wind on the great expanse of a revealed back, exposed shoulder or inner thigh, especially when they’re usually covered by a thick Syracuse sweatshirt or jeans. Right or wrong, you feel hot and confident.

So why defend this? It’s hard to believe we still place these labels on women based on what they wear. Why do we use what they wear as an indicator of their sexual behavior, and why do we question their motivations? Why do men look at women who dress – perhaps for them, perhaps not – as easy? It’s not an open invitation to ogle, fondle or do worse, as the old ‘I couldn’t help myself – look at what she was wearing!’ argument goes.

Speaking of men, two were dressed in their birthday suits at one party. Despite some surprise, most people discussing their peers’ costume du jour were impressed that they had such balls (no pun intended). They were IMPRESSED, and did not for one second say, ‘Wow, what sluts. I know why they’re doing that, they’re complete whores with 10 STDs.’ These men knew they looked hot, and felt confident in their own skin. That’s all that mattered – to everyone.

And, like men, if a devilishly dressed woman does want to have sex, and quite a bit of it, that shouldn’t be a problem requiring a degrading nickname. Her morals may be just as honorable as her angelic female friend next to her, who has pledged chastity ’til marriage. No one else has the right to judge. Sluts or prudes? Just sounds like two more costumes to me.

Published on October 31, 2004 at 12:00 pm