Is it appropriate to ask one's female friends to dress like prostitutes? Is it appropriate to ask one's male friends to dress like Velvet Jones? If you were invited to such a party, would you "dress appropriately?"

Or, if you don't want to answer those questions, how about this one: do you own any 'ho shoes? Do they give you blisters?

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2000

Answers

Yes, I'd actually considered the fact that the pimp and 'ho labels are not necessarily gender specific. I was actually thinking of going as Heidi Fleiss, except I have no idea what a Heidi Fleiss costume would look like, plus I'd have to lose 20 pounds by Sunday night in order to replicate her scary boniness.

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2000

1) Subject: Is the concept of a "Pimps and 'Hos Party" offensive?

A) I guess it depends on your point of view.

2)Is it appropriate to ask one's female friends to dress like prostitutes?

A)It's unlikely my female friends would have ever agreed to do the whoopee fandango with me, however, if they did, I'm sure they wouldn't mind dressing as prostitutes.

3)Is it appropriate to ask one's male friends to dress like Velvet Jones?

A) Yikes, how about like Huggy Bear?

4)If you were invited to such a party, would you "dress appropriately?"

A) I do my own thang.

(You're right! This forum thing is like premium gas over regular unleaded. Don't you agree?)

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2000

>Is it appropriate to ask one's female friends to dress like >prostitutes? Well, if they're not inclined to dress that way on their own, I guess this is the most polite way to do so.

>Is it appropriate to ask one's male friends to dress like Velvet >Jones? Sure. This is going to be the ugliest party since the beginning of "Disco Godfather".

> If you were invited to such a party, would you > "dress appropriately?" I would rather tell the inviter to "go to hell," and spend the night making balloon animals / pinatas.

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2000

offensive? no, not at all... it's a chance to play Dress Up, and a chance to (safely) explore Bad Taste. The Hos can flaunt their bodies and flirt, the Pimps can preen and try to act like their lines are actually appealling. And you get to wear those great blaxploitation outfits from the 70s and sing the "Doctor Detroit" theme! I'd certainly dress like Velvet Jones!

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2000

There is no stipulation as to this being gender-specific, right? How about a female pimp? That would make it interesting..

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2000

Rats. Jose beat me to it. Jennifer, I'm afraid you're being terribly non-PC in your gender stereotyping. Dress up like a pimp, and you get to walk in and say, "Where's my bitches at?" Or, you could dress up like a madame; maybe you could dress up as a very bad whore? as in, one who's really not good at it?

And, anyway, I think it's inadvisable to ask people to dress up in such a limited theme. Two costumes does not a costume party make. Perhaps if they had just asked people to dress as their favorite sleazy criminal. Naw, you'd get too many lawyers that way.

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2000

oh yeah,

you could go as vice. I'm not sure how this would actually differ from a "ho" costume, as that's what female vice officers tend to wear, but it'd give you an excuse to carry handcuffs.

-- Anonymous, February 11, 2000

The only woman I've spoken to who admitted that she had sometimes been paid for sex said she was fortunate that the popular look for this work was that of "college co-ed". Since that was what she actually was at the time, she already had the right clothes.

Perhaps if you are going for accurate 'ho depiction something like 'college co-ed' or 'lawyer' is the look to go for.

-david

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2000

Offensive? Well, there are all sorts of role-reversal schizoid things one could say about fantasizing strangers pay you to screw them...but no, not OFFENSIVE, I should think, not as long as there're a few male hos thrown in...

Go as a pimp.

There are male hos, and they have to have some kind of organization, right? And a fellow male wouldn't do; I mean, you have to reign them in using whatever sexual abuse you're capable of.

So, yeah, get some big sunglasses, and a furry hat.

That is, assuming you've had a goth stage...and I am a firm believer that everyone has that at one time or another.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2000

A pimps and ho's party is kind of problematic regardless of the gender of the pimp or the ho. I think the idea of people and sexuality as product is unfunny. I suppose it could be argued that I ought to obtain a sense of humor but to me some things just fall in the "unfunny" category. Holocaust humor, and slave/ownership humor are examples of things that I don't find funny.

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2000

> Is it appropriate to ask one's female friends to dress like 'hos?

I suppose if your female friends are the type who wouldn't think it inappropriate :P

> Is it appropriate to ask one's male friends to dress like VelJones?

as above.

> If you were invited to such a party, would you dress appropriately?

I probably would. But then again, when people talk about "Pimp and Ho's", they probably aren't talking about the true face of prostitution and prostitutes. Very rarely do Pimps dress themselves in clothing that is as outlandish as the singers and movie stars of the blacksploitation years (even if they are black.) If you go to Vegas and stop by a random gas station at 11 pm, there will most likely be a pimp and 3-4 prostitutes, and dressing up like them won't be so much fun.

In addition, how a prostitute dresses doesn't really conform to standards. There are a significant number who don't do the stereotypical "short skirt and stiletto heels" number. There are many different types of prostitutes.

Prostitution isn't glamorous or glitzy once you get down to it. As a result, when you're going to a "Pimps and Hos" party, you're really going to a "Blacksploitation Flick" party. The meanings to generally middle class people (such as myself) of "Pimp" and "Ho" just don't reflect the same animosity as when the term is used by people who are in the "business."

I have no qualms about dressing up like Black Moses, but then again, while he looks like our romanticized version of a pimp, he was not a true pimp by any means. When our popularized views are this messed up, is it any surprise we aren't offended?

-- Anonymous, February 17, 2000

Y'know... Whenever I hear people say that some subject is off-limits for humor, I instantly want to tell jokes about the forbidden subject. One doesn't tell personally-directed jokes about someone (that's rude), but group jokes are always available, no matter what the subject. As a central European historian, I do know Holocaust jokes...and laugh at them. Slave jokes strike me as wonderful, since they do offend PC types (e.g., if we didn't have the 13th Amendment, think what we could buy on eBay!) No human group or subject should be immune from mockery!

-- Anonymous, February 17, 2000

I guess I'd agree with Lohr up to a point, but making jokes about groups of people can be tasteless and offensive if the joke-teller doesn't make it clear that he or she truly does respect the group he or she is mocking. When one is telling a holocaust joke, I can see how that respect would be nearly impossible to convey. But this is kind of an off-topic tangent...I think I'll go start this as a new topic.

-- Anonymous, February 17, 2000

One of my best friends is a pimp. At least that's what she calls herself...

-- Anonymous, June 09, 2000

I have been invited to and I am going (with a male FRIEND)to a Pimp and Ho party. Offended???????? Hardly, this is fantasy, FUN ya know. We are DRESSING "Pimp and Ho" not being "Pimp and Ho". If you are offended.... Don't Go. Maybe you fear what a little dress up may bring out in you........Could be fun.

-- Anonymous, October 24, 2000

ain't notin wrong with pimpin. All Ya'll just jealous cause you don't have the game to pimp...see me I am a true player...and I can pimp any girl anytime especially Jennifer Wade...I seen her turn 6 tricks in one night before.

-- Anonymous, December 27, 2000

I'm actually throwing such a party for Halloween, and I would think that anyone who IS offended by such a notion won't be anyone I would want to invite. I agree with Susan - the fear of what such a costume might bring out may be too much for some people. I can't WAIT to finally have an excuse to buy a feather boa!

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2001

Hey,Anyone know a Website with pics of "Pimps" or Pimp clothing so i can get some costume ideas?

-- Anonymous, October 28, 2001

As a pimp, I can say that I've always supported the idea of a Pimp 'N' Ho party. I have had many of my best pimping nights during these, and I feel that it contributes greatly to the art of pimping.

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2002

DAMN YOU FUCKERS ALL TO HELL! AND GOD DAMN YOU ALL!!! FUCK YOU!!! FUCK YOU!! FUCK YOU!!!! EAT SHIT AND DIE!!!!

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2002

Pimp-n-Ho Party July 26th 2002 Poughkeepsi, NY Club Matrix $20 cover

Hope to see ya....

-- Anonymous, May 11, 2002

this website is boring and shit, but its cool that you can do it if you want.

-- Anonymous, May 20, 2002

this is stupid. go to church.

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2002

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! NONE OF YOU ARE FUCKING PIMPS YOU ARE JUST FUCKING FAGGOTS TRYING TO IMITATE PIMPS. YOU GIVE A BAD RAP TO PIMPS AND EVEN HOS OUT THERE. YOU BITCHES TRYING TO DRESS AS HOS!! AHAHAHAHAHH HOS DON'T WEAR FUCKING LEOTARDS YOU DUMB SHITS. ALSO, PIMPS DON'T WEAR G- STRINGS YOU SICK FAGGOTS!!!

HAVE A NICE DAY

-- Anonymous, June 03, 2002

It's a party and you're dressing up as a character. It doesn't mean you are that person, it's just suppose to be fun. I'm attending a party of this theme and have decided on the Heidi Fleiss costume. There is no rule saying women have to be the "ho's" and vice versa.

-- Anonymous, October 23, 2002