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Interesting thread. (Thanks for the bump by the way.) A while back this very suggestion came up. Being as I grew up in central Illinois and perhaps I am naive, the thought of it being racist never occurred to me. However it did occur to another advisor.
I had different problems with this theme that have really only been touched on here. Our sorority and I know all others are trying to teach our members to be strong, independent women, to teach them the values and ideals that each of our GLO's were founded on, to teach them to respect themselves and others. I don't think dressing up as either a pimp or a hoe in any way achieves this goal.
I want our women to realize that how they dress and how they conduct themselves at all times not only reflects on their sorority, but more importantly on themselves and the kind of person they are. It doesn't matter if they're going to a costume party, out to a bar on Friday night or to class. People form opinions on how you present yourself no matter what kind of a person you really are at heart.
How many times have we heard about rape cases where the defending attourney attacks the victim about what she was wearing? Was that woman asking to be raped simply because she was wearing a tight, low cut blouse, mini skirt and spiked heels? Of course not, but that rapist, that attourney, those jurors and the rest of the world sit back and think "Hmm...she must have been out looking for some action because she sure dressed like it."
I can't tell you how many times I heard young women lamenting the fact that they can't meet a great guy who is interested in more than just sex. I've mentioned (politely and tactfully of course) that perhaps its the way they've been presenting themselves. If you dress like a tramp, people think you're a tramp. Is this the kind of girl I want to take home to meet my Mama? No, but she'd be alot of fun for the evening!
Heck I agree with the notion that anyone should be able to walk down the street stark naked and nobody should think anything wrong with that person. But face it, that's not how the world works. Would you go to a job interview at a conservative Fortune 500 company dressed like you're the starring act at the local strip club? It's the same as showing up in raggedy cut-off shorts, scroungy t-shirt and flips. You're not going to get the job because that is not the image the company wants to project through it's employees.
This brings me back to the idea of "Pimps and Hoes" as a party theme. With the tragic increases in cases of date rape, I also fear this sort of party would only add to the potential for disaster. At a minimum, throw in some alcohol and it's a recipe for inappropriate and probably unwelcome touching and comments.
As parents, advisors and just as adults, we try to teach young women to never put themselves in a dangerous situation. Don't walk across campus alone after dark. Don't park in dimly lit places. And don't dress yourself like you're looking for trouble, because you'll probably find it. It doesn't matter if you're at a supposedly "safe" party or not.
Bad things happen to good people all the time.
*getting off my soapbox now*
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