“Halloween, as a child, is one of the greatest days ever. Halloween meant dressing up however you wanted, collecting pillowcases full of free candy and staying up way past your bedtime. As a college student, however, the new idea of Halloween breaks my heart.”
“

Halloween, as a child, is one of the greatest days ever.

Halloween meant dressing up however you wanted, collecting pillowcases full of free candy and staying up way past your bedtime.

As a college student, however, the new idea of Halloween breaks my heart.

The focus of costumes for girls has shifted from dress up to pin-up.

Ladies, before you buy that French maid costume, read on.

Halloween is not an excuse to dress scantily, and doing so will not positively affect others’ views of you.

Sure, those Daisy Duke shorts flaunt your legs, but they also show off more than strangers need to see.

Yes, that hula girl outfit showcases your flat stomach but I can guarantee that is not what all guys are going to notice first.

In the end, what it really boils down to is self respect.

If we, as women, allow ourselves to be seen as only our bodies and not our minds then we have no one to blame but ourselves.

Chances are that most girls choose the costumes they do because they want to attract or impress others.

Our motives are misplaced, however, because while our bodies may look good to the guys, a relationship probably does not.

All of this, though, is assuming that you really do look as stunning as you think you do.

Sometimes self respect has to do with knowing your limits and not testing them.

Accept that some outfits do not flatter your shape.

Realize that more attention is not necessarily a good thing and that occasionally when people stare it is because they cannot believe what they see, not because what they see is beautiful.

Though you may be proud of your body and view Halloween as prime time to display it, one cannot help but wonder if you would be just as proud to dress the same way around your parents or even grandparents.

Probably not because, much like me, they would be heartbroken.

They might be upset because you objectify yourself.

They might be upset about your lack of modesty.

Mostly, they might be disappointed in the fact that none of this crossed your mind before you put that costume on.

As Halloween approaches, I hope you consider all of these factors before choosing your costume.

Choose a costume that demands respect from others.

Choose a costume that compliments your body and personality.

Choose a costume that your parents would not be ashamed of.

Most importantly, choose a costume that your fifth grade self would have been proud of.

“