Catholic culture is not your costume. Opinion writer Maddie McMurrough says dressing up as a sexualized version of a culture or religion is unacceptable. (Graphic by Ingrid Perez)
I grew up a devout Catholic. My sister and I both attended Catholic school for years, I was an altar server every Sunday and I never missed confession. As a kid, my faith was a large part of my identity and influenced how I navigated my troubles.
Now, as a college student, I don’t go to mass often, I sure as heck don’t go to confession and I think I’m a little too old to don my altar server robes. But before you throw the term “lukewarm” and “sinner” my way, I am still a proud Catholic. I simply don’t participate in certain aspects of organized religion anymore.
However, just because I don’t practice like some doesn’t mean I don’t still hold those beliefs dear. You can take the girl out of the Catholic Church, but you can’t take the Catholic Church out of the girl.
No matter how far I stray from the pillars of St. Joseph’s Catholic School, one thing that boils my blood beyond belief is sexy religious Halloween costumes.
My culture is not your costume.
So, if you were planning to be a sexy nun, priest, saint or even Jesus, respectfully never cross my path.
This all started when I saw a TikTok of a girl stating she was dressing up as Joan of Arc for Halloween. Joan is a figure who has guided me through all of my times of trouble. So, naturally, I was ecstatic to see the iconic Joan bob, armor and sword come to life.
My excitement turned to anger when the girl threw on a bra, chain link armor and a skirt so short you could see her Holy Land.
Disclaimer: I believe that anyone can wear anything that makes them feel confident. In fact, I love crop tops and 5 inch inseam shorts on guys. It’s very Johnny Depp, circa “Nightmare on Elm Street.” I love girls who wear mini skirts and corset tops. Very chic.
Both men and women should be able to wear what makes them feel confident and comfortable. If a mini skirt and tube top do it for you, more power to you, girl!
So with that clarified, I am not shaming her for her clothes. I am shaming her for being disrespectful to something sacred.
Sexy religious iconography is never an acceptable costume. This applies to all religions. Keep your costumes out of churches, synagogues, mosques and temples of all kinds.
Not only that, keep your costumes out of certain cultures. I can preach about religious iconography all I want but I would be remiss if I didn’t say that this argument also includes cultures and lifestyles.
I really shouldn’t have to say this, but here we are: If your costume is a parody or a sexy version of any culture or religion, do not do it.
A nun’s habit or Native American war bonnet may not be sacred to you, but my goodness, it is to the people involved in those practices.
Now, in certain contexts, religious iconography costumes can be acceptable. My favorite example to highlight is Zendaya’s Joan of Arc look for the 2018 Met Gala: Heavenly Bodies. The Fiona Apple and Kate Bush takes on Joan of Arc are honorable mentions.
Now, you may be asking, why can Zendaya, Fiona and Kate do it, but not the nameless girl on TikTok? The crucial and most important factor is the message the costume sends.
These celebrities’ costumes were tasteful and respectful with their approaches. It was a tribute rather than a parody or hyper-sexualized version. That is key.
There are many videos of people vocalizing how these sexy religious costume trends are not only harmful, but disrespectful, too. Being a sexy nun negates everything nuns work and stand for, which I’m sure plays into the “fantasy” of the costume. Gross. For real, that is nasty behavior.
When their poor and offensive behavior is pointed out, the perpetrators then proceed to flip it around with, “Well, I’m not Catholic, so a nun habit doesn’t mean anything to me.”
Whew. It’s hard to find critical thinkers and empathetic people nowadays.
The Catholics upset by #SexyNun are in their full right to be. Native Americans canceling people who wear sacred headdresses and sexy Pocahontas costumes are in their full right to be upset. Any culture or religion parodized by a costume has every right to be upset.
Those kinds of costumes are appropriation and blatantly disrespectful. No ifs, ands or buts about it. If you really think about it, there isn’t any reasonable or respectable rationale to dress up in an appropriated costume.
So, when walking through Spirit Halloween this year, shuffling through the cheaply-wrapped, culturally-appropriated and offensive costumes, think twice before swiping your card. While it may be meaningless fabric to you, it is the world to someone else.
Stay respectful this spooky season, because there is nothing scarier than an inconsiderate and ignorant jerk.
Maddie McMurrough is an agricultural communications and journalism senior and opinion columnist for The Battalion.