Schools across the district are taking a stand against inappropriate Halloween costumes that glamourize sexual exploitation and a criminal lifestyle.
The Children of the Street Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing the sexual exploitation of children, has launched a national campaign raising awareness about inappropriate Halloween costumes, something the group feels glamorize a criminal lifestyle.
“Dressing up as a ‘pimp’ or ‘ho’ glamorizes the sexual exploitation of children and youth, which is a form of abuse and modern day slavery,” states Diane Sowden, executive director of Children of the Streets. “Not only are we asking the community to be socially responsible by wearing Halloween costumes which do not glamorize the sexual exploitation of our children and youth, we’re also asking children, youth and adults to take the notion of social responsibility one step further by not wearing costumes which glamorize the gang lifestyle.”
Pitt Meadows secondary is one school that will be banning students from dressing up in such costumes.
The school’s website states that students will be asked to go home and change if they wear inappropriate costumes that break the school’s dress code or glamorize the sex trade or a gang lifestyle.
Schools across the district are similarly banning the typically suggestive costumes associated with Halloween.
“We certainly don’t throw our code of conduct away because it is Halloween,” said Garibaldi secondary principal Grant Frend. “If a student shows up with an inappropriate costume, they will have to leave it at the office or go home and change.”
Beth Todd, who operates Jazz-Ma-Tazz Dance and Costumes in Maple Ridge, says the stereotypical sexy Halloween costume is less popular this year than in previous Halloweens.
“For women, the costumes are becoming less riské,” she said. “I think people are tired of it.”