The ¡°¡± sold by Amazon, received a lot of virtual eye rolls from academics on social media on Halloween.

The costume, including a short, low-cut gown, cap and stole, is similar in style to other ¡°racy¡± profession costumes that many critics have panned as sexist, offensive and absurd. Real-life PhD students said this costume was no exception, as well as inaccurate.

But critics had the last laugh, with many using Twitter to encourage followers to read a series of sarcastic ¡°reviews¡± for the product posted on Amazon, all within the previous 48 hours.

Most focused on how the costume demeans women.

Here¡¯s an example:

¡°As a lady PhD student, let me say how much of a relief it is to see them accurately describe what we wear every day. I don¡¯t care if it isn¡¯t proper [personal protective equipment], how else will we find husbands if not for our degree in sexy? Bravo to Delicious costumes for supporting women¡¯s education in letting us know that we¡¯re only as smart as our skirts are short.¡±

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Here¡¯s another:

¡°I can now lecture in my 5-inch gold spiked heels and ¡®barely there¡¯ regalia while giving nary a thought to the male gaze and it¡¯s [sic] implications on the prevalence of rape culture in our society. I fully expect my chili pepper rating on [RateMyProfessor.com] to go through the roof once I begin to greet my students in this costume. Hopefully I can keep my post structural hegemony¡¯s [sic] from engaging in some wardrobe malfunctions.¡±

A few other comments, such as the following, used the costume to criticise their own institutions¡¯ expectation that junior faculty buy expensive regalia:

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¡°We all know that after years of living on a subsistence diet while your undergraduate loans collect interest, it can be difficult for junior faculty to afford their university¡¯s hood and gown for graduation ceremonies. Save yourself $950 by investing in the Delicious Women¡¯s PhD Darling ensemble! Upon seeing you, your students, their parents, and your colleagues will instantly recognize that you are a serious Lady PhD. Such a display of intellectual creativity and gravitas is practically guaranteed to secure you tenure!¡±

And some were just silly:

¡°The ¡®Delicious Women¡¯s Phd Darling Sexy Costume¡¯ was not delicious at all. But I ate it anyway.¡±