Parents' outrage over 'gender conformist' pink Spider-Girl costumes that come with go-go boots and a frilly skirt

By Margot Peppers

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As Halloween approaches, some parents and children on the hunt for the coolest costumes have come across one that has sparked an online debate.

Spotted at a Wal-Mart by blogger Ami Angelwings, the Spider-Girl costume comes in pink, with a frilly skirt and go-go boots that some outraged parents have called 'gender conformist'.

Not only does the costume look nothing like Spider-Girl's own, but it makes it plainly clear on the packaging, which features an image of the character wearing her signature red and blue body suit.

Spider Girl

Super heroine? Spotted at a Wal-Mart by a blogger, this children's Spider-Girl costume comes in pink, with a frilly skirt and go-go boots that some outraged parents have labeled 'gender conformist'

Inaccurate representation: Not only is the costume overly feminized, but it looks nothing like Spider-Girl's own signature red and blue body suit (pictured), perfect for scaling buildings

On her blog, Amy Angelwings expresses her shock that the costume's design is so far from the original, writing: 'If your child likes Spider-Girl and wants to dress up as her, wouldn't they be really disappointed at this costume?

'And if they don't care about looking like Spider-Girl, what's even the point of having this costume under the Spider-Girl brand with the heroine right on the front to sell it?' she added.

 

The costume, which costs $23.99 on OfficialMarvelCostumes.com, also comes in Spider-Girl's signature red and blue, but it still has a girly skirt instead of leggings.

'Make your little girl the cutest pink spider there is,' reads the description on the website.

Outraged parents have taken to Jezebel to criticize the overly feminized design.

Spider Man

Like the real hero: The boys' version of a Spider Man costume is character accurate, with a mask, fake muscles and a red and blue body suit

The Amazing Spiderman

Gender identity: While boys get to dress up just like the character from the movie (pictured), girls are given the option to wear a pink costume instead of Spider Girl's signature red and blue bodysuit

One commenter wrote: 'Ugh, Spider-Girl is not a damned Disney princess!

'Why can't the companies that manufacture this crap understand that many girls like the traditional "boy". . . toys and costumes because they aren't pink and girly!'

Another pointed out that children who want to wear 'girlier' Halloween costumes have plenty of other options.

'Spider-Girl is not a Disney princess! Why can't the companies understand'

'If a girl wanted to wear a superhero costume that was pink, what about a pink Power Ranger?' she wrote. 'There are legit pink heroes out there!'

And another enraged parent wrote: 'Spider-Girl, Batgirl, and Supergirl don't wear pink. . . outfits! That doesn't make crime-fighting sense.

'My little lady demands costume accuracy,' she added. 'Not gender conformist b*******!'

Marvel did not respond to MailOnline's request for comment.

The comments below have not been moderated.

People get outraged easily in this country - for 15 minutes of fame on local TV.

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It's girl's outfit aimed at girls. What's the problem?

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Did they ever think that SOME young girls LIKE pink and feminine things? Or are we all supposed to grow up into asexual, non-gender-specific hipsters wearing men's courderoy pants and plaid shirts?

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So what's wrong with this now? You don't have to buy it if you don't want it.

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Are they serious? How about gender's freedom of choice. Don't like it, don't buy it.

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I see nothing bad about this. It's just availability of choice.

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