'Stranger Things' is already incredibly popular, yet the show continues winning over audiences. The second season is due for Netflix release on 27th October.
With Halloween right around the corner however, the show has received attention for an entirely different reason. An adult's Eleven Halloween costume is now available, inviting people to dress up as a sexy version of the adolescent character. The costume is called 'Upside Down Honey'.
In the series, Eleven, who is portrayed by Millie Bobby Brown, is a 12 year old girl with mental capabilities for which she is required to undergo various experiments, as we saw in the first season. The costume comes with many details: a waffle handbag, because we know how much Eleven loves them, a blonde wig, and a pink dress. The image accompanying the costume shows the model with blood dripping from her nose, which is exactly what happens to Eleven when she uses her telekinesis.
The reason behind the criticism
The costume has obviously received a lot of backlash for its sexualisation of the young protagonist. As if there wasn't already a prominent problem with the sexualisation of women in the choice of costumes already available on the market, the situation has only increased tenfold with the sexualisation of children, as seen in schoolgirl outfits, for example.
A #StrangerThings "sexy" Eleven costume: because in our society, even 12-year-olds must be sexualized ? #pullitfromtheshelves https://t.co/RwvD2sWuCA
? Sam Shrader (@mistershrader) October 10, 2017
Eleven & Millie were 12 years old, mate. Preteen children.
? Scariable ? (@variableaus) October 15, 2017
This costume's literally advertised as "sexy", and calls her "upside down honey".
to anyone thinking of going as Sexy Eleven from stranger things for halloween pic.twitter.com/iTvOoqVXuQ
? keeks (@kearacal) October 11, 2017
This isn't the first time Twitter users have reacted to the sexualisation of one of the children from 'Stranger Things'. User, obamalover24 posted a series of obscene tweets in 2016, and managed to tag Finn Wolfhard, who plays Mike Wheeler, in one of them. The woman received a barrage of negative responses, so much so, that the tweets are no longer available. Screenshots of her posts are still very much available, however.
TW: Pedophilia; Ableist comments
? Gabriella Garza (@segnaro96) September 14, 2017
DO NOT SUPPORT THIS DISGUSTING PERSON. pic.twitter.com/LfSMrUSBnW
Clearly the backlash the Eleven costume has received won't stop it from selling, nor will it go anyway to stop the sexual objectification of women through dressing-up costumes. It is possible however, that such criticism will emphasise the problem, and that at least, is a step in the right direction.
