Five Halloween costumes with feminist flair

Scrambling for a last-minute Halloween costume? Make an impact by dressing as one of these trailblazing Canadian women who are thriving in the media, entertainment and sports industries while paving the way for others.

1. The “Angry Feminist” - Alanis Morissette

(Image sourced from YouTube)

Best known for her 1995 debut album Jagged Little Pill (which the singer-songwriter released at age 21) and her misuse of the word “ironic,” Alanis Morissette is an Ottawa-born feminist music icon. Known for lyrically depicting female rage, Morissette transformed the music industry by creating a new wave of raw, feminist-centered music (“You Oughta Know” and “You Learn” being prime examples) and influencing other female artists like Taylor Swift to promote female empowerment in an era of toxic masculinity. 

The costume: Waist-length brown hair with a middle part and your best black 90s ensemble (think pleather, sparkles, boots and a tank top). Microphone and acoustic guitar optional, female rage required.

2. The “Sports Advocate” - Lilly Singh

(Image sourced from IMDb)

Hailing from Scarborough comes women’s sports advocate Lilly Singh – the first openly bisexual woman and person of Indian descent to host a major broadcast network late-night program. Singh currently serves as the chief hype officer for the Toronto Tempo and produces media showcasing underrepresented BIPOC voices and women creatives. She founded the #GirlLove initiative in 2015, which targets girl-on-girl hate and aims to bring women closer together. The globally recognized social media campaign raised significant funds supporting female education.

The costume: A bright, bold pantsuit, hoop earrings and a long, dark brown ponytail.

3. The “Hockey Player” - Sarah Nurse

   
   

   

   (Image sourced from Hockey Canada)

   Sarah Nurse, an ice hockey forward and Olympic medalist from Hamilton, ON, is changing narratives and making space for women athletes. Nurse has used her platform to promote positive change for women, especially women of colour, who lack representation in Canadian professional hockey. In 2020, her efforts to eliminate barriers for women athletes were recognized by the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), Tim Hortons and Barbie marketing collaboration, with Nurse being featured as a Barbie role model. Nurse also partnered with the Black Girl Hockey Club and mentors young female athletes.

   
   

   The costume: Whatever hockey gear you can assemble, combined with a red jersey and long-sleeve top with a large black maple leaf in the centre (or a Vancouver Goldeneyes jersey or a Toronto Sceptres jersey). For hair, think fierce light brown curls in a high ponytail with a middle part. 

4. The “Actress” - Sandra Oh

(Image sourced from IMDb)

While you may know her from Grey’s Anatomy, Killing Eve or The Princess Diaries, some of Sandra Oh’s finest work has been in paving the way for women, especially women of Asian descent, in the television and film industries. Born in Nepean (now part of the City of Ottawa), Oh was the first Asian woman to win multiple Golden Globe Awards (and to host the ceremony), and was also the first Asian woman to be nominated in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Emmy category. Oh has frequently collaborated with women creatives, including fellow Canadian Mina Shum, and has commonly portrayed complex women on screen.  

The costume: You could dress as Oh herself (long, wavy dark brown/black hair and statement earrings), or as perhaps her most memorable character, Dr. Cristina Yang (this requires light blue scrubs and your best sarcastic humour). To seal the deal, have your best friend/partner dress as Dr. Meredith Grey. 

5. Sarah Polley

   
   

   

   (Image sourced from IMDb)

   Toronto native Sarah Polley is an Oscar-winning film writer, director, actress, political activist and feminist auteur. Throughout her career, Polley has helmed many women-driven films featuring diverse narratives and authentic representation, but it was her women-centered approach to filming sets that cemented her role as a Canadian feminist icon. On the film set of Women Talking, Polley dismissed the traditional and male-established shooting schedule for one that accommodated working mothers and parents. 

   
   

   The costume: The possibilities are endless. You could dress as Polley herself (round black glasses and perhaps a black and white suit, with or without an Oscar statuette in hand) or as one of the many eclectic female characters featured in her films (Sheila McCarthy in I’ve Heard the Mermaids Singing comes to mind).