Rise up out of those coffins because it's only the best bloody month of the year, October!
Spooky season means butternut soup, hot chocolate, lots of layers, horror movie marathons, and, of course, Halloween.
With this ghastly chill in the air and the scent of pumpkin spice drift down the street (it's only basic if you let it be), our minds turn to the best and most frightful event of the year. Planning costumes since September 1st and convincing the people in your life to get on the theme, this night is one I’m looking forward to every single year.
Now, I am not going to act like I'm not biased here, I live and breathe Halloween all year round. I have ghosts tattooed on me, my room is decorated with all kinds of spooky paraphernalia, and I handmake mostly all my looks months in advance, so it’s safe to say that I LOVE Halloween. But, something that got me thinking a little bit more critically this year was how sexy we make Halloween.
Dont get me wrong, I love a sexy nurse costume as much as the next person (obviously dedicated healthcare workers are always hot), however, something it’s not just for one night. The constant sexualisation of gothic and alternative fashion, specifically when it comes to women and girls, is all year round.
Gothic icons have always had an air of sex appeal. Some names that come to mind are Elvira, Morticia Addams, and Fairuza Baulk. But what is it that makes the gothic woman so desirable?
Well it's that age old idea of the taboo of course! The strange and unusual nature of something that's different to the norm. The idea of the 'other.’
A woman who embodies and embraces dark and odd things is seen as an oddity amoungst general society. What's more sexy and attractive than something new? Or more enticing than something you're not supposed to think about?
Now, with this comes that push too far into oversexualisation. It is rampant on apps like TikTok where alternative comments sections are filled with remarks about 'big titty goth gfs' and 'goth mommies.’
This objectification and sexualisation is so commonplace online, it has led to a surge in 'goth' explicit materials such as pornography and OnlyFans accounts, which play on this hypersexualised version of gothic and alternative culture.
These assumptions that any and all gothic, feminine people fall into the fantasy of dominant and hypersexual can be incredibly damaging and often leads to harrasment on social media, dating sites, and even seeps into real life.
Fetishisation of this subculture is truly the scariest thing going on this Halloween.
BAT’s all, folks! I’m AJ and I’ll talk to you next month, where I’m sharing special insights from a medical professional. WITCH-ing you a SPOOK-tacular Halloween.
For now, we know you’re DIEING (I’ll stop now) for more, you can catch up on previous articles here.
Written by AJ Craig
Edited by Emily Duff