In 2017, the movie Wonder Woman was released. Not only did it feature a female protagonist (with an accent) who constantly had to save her fellow male companions—the movie itself broke the box office record for female directors. Overall, Wonder Woman was a fantastic movie with a meaningful message that helped to inspire women all around the world.
Wonder Woman costumes will be flying off the shelves this year. It’s a basic fact of Halloween season: the iconic female characters from recent best-selling movies are almost always the star characters on the trick-or-treat scene. Last year it was Harley Quinn, and this year, it will be Wonder Woman.
However, I believe Halloween is a perfect time to show respect and admiration to other women who can be overshadowed by today’s pop culture, and unite our female power to show tribute to some of the most influential and powerful women on our planet.
1. Rosie the Riveter
There’s a big reason that she’s number one on our list of women to dress up as for Halloween: Rosie the Riveter is one of the first female icons for change that swept the nation. This woman, actually loosely based off a real person, is the reason that women were first included in the workforce, which led to everyday women being able to lead everyday jobs.
Although we still have a lot of work to do in breaking the glass ceiling, we owe so much to Rosie for allowing us to be able to follow our dreams to work in any job we please.
2. Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Ruth Bader Ginsburg is not only one of the most powerful women in our country, she is also a trailblazer for women’s rights who works everyday to secure them for us. As the second woman to ever serve on the Supreme Court, Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a formidable force whose landmark cases include her majority opinion of U.S. v. Virginia, in which the court ruled that qualified women could not be denied from the Virginia Military Institute.
So yeah, as far as women to dress up as for Halloween, being her for the night will probably score you the power to make men kneel as you pass, because she’s a legend.
3. Sonia Sotomayor
Finding a Latina role model is an amazing way to embrace your culture and feel proud of your roots. In this case, if you want to represent another amazing woman from the Supreme Court, Sonia Sotomayor is your girl. Known for her fiery passion, Sonia Sotomayor is my favorite Latina role model because her life serves as an inspiration that working hard and never giving up on what you believe gets you to high places.
4. Statue of Liberty
Even though she’s made of copper, iron, and steel, our Lady of Liberty is still a very important woman in our world, and a perfect idea for women to dress up as for Halloween. As an icon to immigrants of hope and progress, the Statue of Liberty is the toughest woman out there (literally) and she works tirelessly to serve as a beacon for the rights our nation was founded on. Go crazy with the green face paint.
5. Venus & Serena Williams
Probably one of the most badass sisters to ever live, Venus and Serena Williams are examples of true inspirations on and off the court. As athletes, the sisters have won 30 total Grand Slams combined, making up 43% of the Grand Slam wins in the past 18 years. Together, the sisters have founded the Venus and Serena Foundation, which works to serve “equity through education and senseless acts of violence.” These two women truly embody #blackgirlmagic, and dressing up as them is hard to beat. (Pun intended.) (You know, because they’re hard to beat in tennis?) (Okay, I’ll shut up.)
6. Rey from Star Wars
Alright, if you choose to dress up as Rey, I challenge you to outdo the girl pictured here, who I actually thought was the real actress from the movie. Rey’s character in the newest Star Wars movie is one to be revered: she constantly saves her fellow male companions (a refreshing movie plot), and is rumored to hold the Jedi fate in her hands. So yeah, no big deal.
7. Princess Leia
Lastly, in honor of the late actress Carrie Fisher, a great way to get your sci-fi on old school style is to dress up as the heroic figure Princess Leia. The original sassy princess, Princess Leia is a fearless woman who risks her life to bring priceless information to the rebel forces in order to take down the Death Star. A pro tip, if you want to try a DIY costume, you can wear a white bathrobe backwards. You’re welcome.
No matter who you choose to dress up as for Halloween, it’s always good to keep in mind the iconic women on and off the screen who have such a huge role in the opportunities we have, and the ways that women are perceived in our society. Don’t only use these women as muses for Halloween, but also feel free to get in their mindset for those days when you need a little extra confidence. Tell yourself that someday, girls will be dressing up as you for Halloween years from now because you made such a difference in our world. As they say, imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.