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"Experts" Freak Out Over Shiloh Jolie-Pitt's Lack of Girlie Things

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Shiloh Jolie-Pitt's new short haircut and fashion sense is suddenly a topic for "the experts" (whoever they are).

Brad Pitt looks after his kids while leaving Broadway after seeing a performance of Mary Poppins

Life & Style's cover screams, "Why Is Angelina Turning Shiloh Into a Boy?"

Life & Style

Us Weekly's "expert" opines that Shiloh could be at risk of being, "picked on or ostracized by her peers, potentially leading to social problems, anxiety, and poor academic performance."

Last month, former Us Weekly editor in chief Bonnie Fuller, at her website Hollywood Life, posted the question, "Brangelina—what are you doing to poor Shiloh Jolie-Pitt?" Fuller adds: "Never ever is Shiloh dolled up in anything remotely girlish ... Aren't you worried that you're going to confuse little Shiloh? Give her gender identity issues? Isn’t it hard enough to grow up without your parents dressing you like the opposite sex?" She goes on to quote a psychologist: “She is being guided into a bisexual role. Her mother is projecting this onto this particular child—she has chosen her as her favorite. I think this is an issue."

Sounds to me like a case of either obvious tabloid eyeball-baiting or good old-fashioned fashion bigotry. She looks totally cute. I think I have that hat. And I think in a world of Suri in high heels and the the Princess syndrome, little girls can use a dose of comfort and a wee dash of anything-but-pink.

What about you? Do you think Brad and Angelina should put the kid in a dress?

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biggirlblue 5 pts

My niece went through a similar phase. It's part of exploring I think. Some may seem more extreme than others (especially if it's pointed out in a tabloid). She had a cute little blonde bob for the longest time then all of a sudden she wanted it chopped off and was wearing what some of her brothers hand me downs (by choice, not necessity). Last year she grew out her hair and is now wearing barettes and pretty shoes.This typecasting of how girls/women should wear their hair and clothing is so suffocating. Yet again, I guess we have it a bit easier than men do in terms of  our selections.

Moe
M.E. Wood lens ( http://www.squidoo.com/mewood ), Large and Lovely ( http://largeandlovely.bellaonline.com ), Five Favorite Things ( http://www.plusshe.com )

mamarant 5 pts

Did anyone every think that maybe Shiloh decided to cut her own hair or got in a tangle with a bunch of bubble gum? I know a lot of little girls who "went butch" due to a scissor or gum mishap.

But then again, who gives a hoot?

Maria Young 5 pts

I think it's BEAUTIFUL that they're letting her be herself. I thought it was awesome way back when they said they call her John because she wanted to be after discovering Peter Pan. I think it's great that they're letting her wear what she wants and be who she is. I can't see anything negative coming out of them allowing her to grow into her own person. I wish more parents were willing to let their kids be who they are.

- Maria Young

immoralmatriarch.com ( http://immoralmatriarch.com )@maria0305
( http://twitter.com/maria0305 )

sassymonkey 6 pts moderator

Where she says "Aren't you worried that you're going to confuse little Shiloh? Give her gender identity issues?"

WTF does Fuller know about gender identity issues? Based on that comment I'm thinking absolutely nothing. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Contributing Editor Sassymonkey also blogs at Sassymonkey ( http://sassymonkey.ca ) and Sassymonkey Reads ( http://sassymonkeyreads.ca ).

Rita Arens 7 pts

Really, honestly, WHO CARES WHAT SHILOH WEARS??

Rita Arens writes at Surrender Dorothy ( http://surrenderdorothy.typepad.com ) and BlogHer and is the editor of Sleep is for the Weak ( http://tinyurl.com/9pg62e ). She is BlogHer's assignment and syndication editor.

Not Stacy 5 pts

I noticed awhile back that Zahara is always dolled up in princess clothes.  Shiloh is always in denim and sneakers.  I'm no fan of the Jolie-Pitts, but they clearly allow their kids to be themselves. 

Not Stacy http://ivebeentome.blogspot.com/

JennaHatfield 9 pts

Her yellow shirt reminded me of a quote from the movie Juno (wait, stay with me) when they're decorating the room in gender neutral colors.

I never knew a guy with a yellow room.

It always makes me laugh. Back to the subject at hand.

I was dressed in dresses and pink, non-stop, for years. I didn't have hair until I was almost three and my Mom hated when people called me a boy. Flash-forward my teen and early college years where I shunned anything remotely girly. I don't think she wrecked me psychologically from the over-abundance of pink. I wear it (occasionally) now though I prefer other colors.

I say this because, as you pointed out with the Princess syndrome, I think there's something to be said for not pushing the girl stuff too hard. At the same time, I think there are extremes on either side. And then, on top of that point, it's highly unlikely that anyone at any of these magazines knows exactly what goes on in their home, how they treat their children without cameras and what they are doing to educate their children as a whole about things like gender identity. While they may have hired an expert in a certain field for an interview, the truth is that they can't know the ins and outs of the family without actually spending time with the family. Therefore their "educated" opinions are rather moot.

I think Shiloh will be fine with a haircut that many of us had as little girls and a yellow shirt. She'll be fine if she wears sneakers more than Mary Janes. She'll be fine as long as she has a loving, supportive home. I hope she has that.

@FireMom ( http://twitter.com/FireMom ) from Stop, Drop and Blog ( http://stopdropandblog.com ) and The Chronicles of Munchkin Land ( http://thechroniclesofmunchkinland.com )