My little guy is four and completely smitten with superheroes. Being utterly uncrafty myself, I decided to browse Amazon for some ready-made superhero costumes for preschoolers. One of my main concerns is the weather during trick-or-treating; I want him to stay warm without covering up his costume with a bulky coat. So, I was on the hunt for something that would allow for long underwear underneath.
For boys, the options are endless: Batman and Superman costumes come with long pants, padded chests, and even helmets. They can head out on Halloween fully covered and cozy. But when I looked at the girls’ options, I was surprised to find that they have, quite literally, slimmer choices for warm, full-coverage costumes. Take a peek at this boy’s Batman costume: ©flickr/Jinx!… and compare it with this girl’s version: ©michaelsnead/flickr.
What if my son wanted to be Superman? The typical costume is quite warm: ©flickr/Dan Forsberg. But the girls’ Supergirl and Wonder Woman costumes, on the other hand, are a whole different story: ©popculturegeek/flickr.
And if he chose to be the Green Lantern? Here’s a boy’s costume from Amazon and, unfortunately, here’s the girls’ version.
It seems that while boys can dress as powerful superheroes, girls are often left with skimpy and rather revealing costumes. For instance, look at Captain America for boys vs. girls, or Robin and Spiderman—the differences are stark. ©flickr/Da Da Z.
It’s as if Halloween for boys is about embracing power and imagination, while girls are expected to freeze in miniskirts and knee-high boots. The way we choose costumes sends a message: we want boys to have fun, but girls must balance fun with looking cute, which often translates to sexy.
Meanwhile, my son has decided he’s going to be Weed Whacker Man, a character straight out of a Carl Hiaasen novel. Luckily, Weed Whacker Man wears mostly his own warm clothes, so no chilly nights for him!
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In summary, while boys enjoy a variety of cozy superhero costumes, girls often face limited and less warm options. As we navigate these choices, it’s essential to consider not just the fun but also the comfort of our little ones.