Why being a feminist icon was the best Halloween costume

This Halloween, I was Rosie the Riveter. As a feminist, I had no qualms about dressing up as a feminist, but I was nervous about what people would think and did expect to either get some confused looks or some negative comments. Instead, I got exactly the opposite. People looked at me and smile, and I even got a few high fives and “Yas girl!”s. I asked several men who they thought I was, and unfailingly, they all guessed Rosie the Riveter.

Based on people’s reactions, it became obvious that feminists are not few and far between. There are many of them, both male and female, at Bucknell who saw Rosie as a symbol to admire, rather than ignore. It made Bucknell feel more inclusive and open, rather than straight edged as it sometimes seemed.

Me and Lizzie Baker, 18, Undecided as Batman

I wasn’t the only girl in a feminist costume. Among the crowd were Harley Quinns and Wonder Woman as well as a few less popular feminist icons, and together we sent a message. Feminists at Bucknell are here to stay. Without realizing it, we used Halloween as a day of solidarity – a day to show our strength and presence.

It’s up to every feminist to decide who they believe is a feminist icon. For some, it might just be a powerful woman, for some, it might be a woman who made it against all odds. I felt unified with women dressed as female superheroes, because pop culture tends to see men as superheroes and women as damsels in distress, and anyone who goes against that is powerful. The female superhero was the most common feminist costume this Halloween, and it made a statement.

Lauren Ziolkowski, 18, Ashley Vecchio, 18 as Harley Quinn and Clarissa Hand, 18

Dressing up as a feminist icon may be fun, but it’s also empowering. As I left my dorm room as an obvious feminist, I was slightly apprehensive, but as the night wore on, I began to feel powerful. I felt unique and confident. Rosie the Riveter was a symbol of female power, and that message radiated.

Me as Rosie the Riveter

Dressing up for Halloween is normal. Many people currently see feminists as a crazy, radical movement, but making it a part of a fun, annual event normalizes the movement. It doesn’t make it any less powerful, but it shows people that feminism is nothing scary. There’s nothing radical about all women feeling comfortable with who they are. I used Halloween as an opportunity to show that.