Slutoween: 'Halloween is Supposed To Be Scary, Not Sleazy'

By Susan Jenkins

For many parents, a trip to the costume store can turn into a Halloween nightmare. There is the cost of costumes (average price is about $29) as well as the age-appropriateness of what the store is selling for children.

In her blog post Just Say No to Slutoween that appeared on the Huffington Post, Jenny Witte wrote to encourage parents to seek out costumes that aren't sexually suggestive. Witte wrote about how when she was younger, she was a cat for Halloween—and not a "slutty cat."

In case you missed it, a "naughty leopard" costume was reportedly pulled from the shelves of Walmart. Was it really naughty or was it just the use of that term in the costume's name that made people object?

Patch asked on several Facebook pages what readers thought about Halloween costumes for kids.

“Some for little girls make them look like little hookers!” wrote Kathy Watson on Anne Arundel Patch’s Facebook page.

“Many kids costumes are too sexy,” wrote Valerie Mettee on Parkville-Overlea Patch’s Facebook page. “Why can't a little girl just be a little girl?!”

“We need to go back to the days of the costumes that were plastic and you simply put them over your clothes,” wrote Alissa Brett on Odenton-Severn Patch’s Facebook page.

One commenter felt that scary costumes are appropriate for the holiday.

“I don't have a problem with scary ones,” wrote Melinda Pearson Bedard on Annapolis Patch’s Facebook page. “Halloween is supposed to be scary, not sleazy.”

What do you think about kids’ Halloween costumes—are they too risqué or scary? Leave a comment to let us know.