10 Kids’ Halloween Costumes Inspired By Rad American Women, From Angela Davis to Patti Smith
This article was originally published on .
Ah, Halloween season is upon us — and so are the mercurial whims of our children.
“I want to be a princess!”
“No, I’m gonna be Cinderella!”
“I changed my mind, I want to be a fairy!”
“Elsa! No, Alice in Wonderland!”
Back too are the options. Cue the collective groans of feminist parents across the land. There are a number of and that feature feminist Halloween costumes, and . But there’s always room for more, and has got you covered!
Like me, you too can dress your thoroughly indoctrinated offspring as a super-cool activist, athlete, pilot, dancer, rock star, judge, doctor, or writer. All costumes are easy, low-budget, and seriously cute. No store-bought Elsas here, OK?
(No disrespect to Elsa, kids who dress up as Elsa, or parents whose kids dress up as Elsa. I’m the author of a feminist kids’ book and my kid was a store-bought Elsa last year. She might be Elsa again this year. At least I got her to dress up for this post!)
For real though, at a time when , these costumes are a great way to have fun and educate others.
Without further ado, behold — the Rad American Women of Halloween.
Angela Davis
Angela Davis is an iconic activist, author, professor, and scholar. With her signature Afro and raised fist, Angela makes for a pretty sweet costume. A turtleneck was a frequent wardrobe item of hers, though any funky ’70s top works. She also sometimes wore glasses, and often rocked hoop earrings. A black leather jacket, a la the Black Panthers, could work as well.
No blackface. Ever. Cultural appropriation is real. Halloween is fun, but please be culturally respectful and responsible when dressing up. OK? OK.
Bessie Coleman
Amelia Earhart is a popular not-a-princess costume for girls, but “Queen” is a rad option too — especially for kiddos of color!
An aviator hat, goggles, and bomber jacket or trenchcoat is all you really need. This costume is from a few years ago, and it’s what inspired this post . I had never heard of Bessie Coleman until I saw this kiddo on Halloween and asked her mom who she was dressed as. “Bessie Coleman!” Camille told me proudly. I promptly went and looked her up.
Dolores Huerta
How about legendary labor leader Dolores Huerta? All you need is a sign, some “work clothes” (a denim shirt, jeans, and boots), and maybe an UVAS NO button if you’re fancy. And voila: Si se puede!
Dolores is 80 years old and still fighting the good fight — I like to think she’d be honored to know that kids are representing her on Halloween!
Florence Griffith Joyner
OK, so maybe radical activism isn’t your Halloween thing. Maybe you’re more into Olympic champions with super rad style. How about Florence Griffith Joyner, or as her friends call her, Flo Jo?
The possibilities are vast — flashy one-legged leggings, gold medals, 1980s athletic attire, long fake nails.
Dress your kid up and let her run down the street like the fastest woman in the world.
Isadora Duncan
Is your kid really into being a ballerina? How about suggesting Isadora Duncan, who basically invented modern dance and wore super fun costumes? Think scarves, Grecian gowns, and bare feet (you’ll want to have your kid slip on some shoes for trick-or-treating, of course). Show your daughter some and let her dance all night long.
Kate Bornstein
Kate Bornstein is a radical transgender author, activist, and advocate with fabulous style who’s always smiling. Dressing up like Kate was super fun for this kiddo.
Costume is tinted glasses, a cute hat, lots of fabulous jewelry, denim vest, a big smile, and a drawn on labret piercing below her bottom lip. And if you want to get creative with some markers, Kate also has great tattoos.
Patti Smith
Or maybe you want go a little more rock’n’roll with a Patti Smith costume? It’s a good time for it too—she’s got , and it’s almost .
The iconic Horses album cover is insanely easy to recreate — white button-down shirt, black suspenders (or black ribbon made to look like suspenders), black pants, messy hair, black jacket slung over shoulder, badass facial expression. Long live Patti!
Sonia Sotomayor
If you have a black graduation gown (or last year’s wizard robe), it’s incredibly easy to become Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Sonia Sotomayor! Make a cardboard gavel, grab a lace doily, and BOOM—you’re on the Supreme Court.
Dr. Virginia Apgar
A doctor is a pretty common Halloween costume, but consider getting more detailed and being a specific doctor, like Dr. Virginia Apgar. Apgar was a pioneering physician and anesthesiologist whose work with newborn babies and mothers was revolutionary. Just add a baby doll and when people are like, “Oh, you’re a doctor, that’s great,” be like, “Yeah, I’m Virginia Apgar specifically.”
Zora Neale Hurston
And finally, if you want to go legendary, literary, and vintage, how about Zora Neale Hurston? Zora was a major player during the Harlem Renaissance, so the look is 1920s or ’30s New York City. Zora was wildly talented and seriously stylish, so this is a fun one.
These are just some of the women featured in Rad American Women A-Z . Your child could go as Lucy Parsons, with an old-timey dress and May Day sign; Rachel Carson, with a microscope and copy of Silent Spring; or Nellie Bly, with a vintage coat and travel bag.
Thanks to all the mamas—Hindatu, Soma, Miriam, Lena, Amanda, Leslie, Karya, Camille, and Rhea—who dressed their kids up and took pictures for us.
Kate Schatz
is a feminist writer, activist, and educator. She is the author of The New York Times Best Sellers list Rad American Women A-Z and Rad Women Worldwide, and the accompanying journal, My Rad Life. Kate is the co-founder of Solidarity Sundays, a nationwide network of feminist activist groups, and she speaks often about politics, resistance, feminism, race, parenting, and more.
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