Bend mom hunts in vain for appropriate Halloween costume

Halloween is supposed to be a holiday that’s fun, and maybe a little frightening, but not frustrating.

A Bend mother took her daughter shopping recently, and said it was an eye-opening experience. Other parents are equally frustrated with ‘Tween’ Halloween costumes. Some are even turning to making their own instead.

Before posting a frustrated Facebook post, and a comment to KTVZ’s page, Kathryn Rutledge went to a few stores in Bend, looking for a costume for her 12-year-old daughter. She did not find what she was looking for.

“Something that I became blatantly aware of is that there aren’t really any appropriate costumes that we feel are okay for our daughter to wear, that isn’t sexualizing her,” Rutledge said Monday.

To Rutledge, it’s more about how girls perceive themselves their whole lives,and not just a Halloween costume.

“It is not okay that we send this message to our girls,” she said. “They don’t have to use their sexuality, they can use their minds, their hearts, their talents, without using their sexuality as that being their only option to succeed. To me, that’s the message that advertising companies are sending.”.

It’s been a hard year for the Rutledge family. Her daughter was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She is receiving treatment in Portland, but suffers from migraines.

“We’re trying to make things as normal for her as possible, and keep things as stable for her as possible,” she said. “And when I take my daughter shopping, tell her we are going to go take her to buy a costume, and there’s nothing appropriate,” it’s frustrating.

Other families we talked to were split on the subject. Some are fine with the costumes, and say they understand boys and girls want to dress differently. Others agree with Rutledge that “tween” and older children costumes have become too provocative.

Rutledge said she has decided to make a homemade costume. She is heading to a fabric store to pick up supplies for a loofah costume! She said she might add a rubber ducky to her daughter’s headband as a finishing touch.

Spirit Halloween store employees said the most popular costumes this year are Suicide Squad and Star Wars characters, but also, of course, the presidential candidates.