Why women look sexier in Halloween costumes than in real uniforms
By Michelle Ngo on 10/24/2011 | Read more from Michelle Ngo
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When you think of firefighters, police, and other heroic occupations, you usually think of sexy men in uniform. That’s because of how male-dominated these occupations traditionally and still are. So seeing a woman in these uniforms may still strike some as unusual. Some may even describe a woman in uniform as unsexy. Yet seeing a woman in more feminine attire like that of a nurse or a secretary can be very attractive. There must be countless fantasies about women dressed up in those outfits. But women in traditionally male outfits are not as appealing.
However, there is an exception: when you see women in the skankified Halloween versions of cops and firefighters. You know, the ones where their attire is skin-tight and reveals cleavage, a lot of leg, and sometimes midriff. Women are sexier when they expose more skin. This goes for any outfit they wear. They are constantly objectified and judged based on their looks. Nothing new here, really. But wearing the Halloween versions is the only way they can make a masculine uniform look sexy.
In real uniforms, women are not as sexy. Why is this? Women in uniform are judged not by their heroism but their sexuality. Heroines are few, but sexy, normal females are ubiquitous. It is easier to be noticed for one’s looks rather than for what one does. Women have to constantly fight society to be accepted as viable workers. And looking good while doing their job is also part of their job. Even the titles firemen and policemen reinforce the notion that only men perform these duties. Language is influential and can deter young girls from following in this path if they believe it is only paved for men.
But when we see a woman in continuously male-dominated careers, it is even more admirable because we know she had to struggle through societal expectations towards acceptance and equality just to do her job. And she still might even get shit for holding that kind of job. Judith Butler claims that we perform our gender everyday, whether it is through our actions, how we speak, or what we wear. Nothing about being a firefighter or cop suggests femininity. So props to the women out there who are passionate about what they do, who don’t give a damn about what their outfits are. Hopefully more people will begin appreciating what you do more than how you look while doing it.
“Female Police Officer” photo by thivierr used under Creative Commons License
“IMG_6696″ photo by joeltelling used under Creative Commons License
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CM says: 03/19/2012 at 9:02 am
Um, omg, are you serious? That girl in uniform is So, So, So Sexy. The costumed girl looks cheap and uninteresting in comparison.
Michelle says: 04/4/2012 at 6:17 pm
I agree. Seeing a person, man or woman, in real uniform garners so much respect. There’s many more admirable values that comes to mind when I look at people in real uniform, like courage and honor. The costumed female is trying too hard to be sexy. Sexy can be many things (intelligence, ambition, humor, etc), but it’s not how much skin you reveal