Ugh, are you kidding me? This is the kind of base-less judgment that you’d expect from a lesser site than Babble. Wearing trunks isn’t going to confuse this kid. You said yourself that your 4-yo son would protest if you put him in a skirt; what makes you think Shiloh isn’t similarly opinionated? Maybe her reaction to dresses is much like your son’s. I hardly think Angelina Jolie spends her time thinking “Why aren’t more people paying attention to me?” Come on, this is drivel.

Amen, Kate!

I am loving these different opinions and insights! I can always count on other moms to make me think! Keep ‘em coming, ladies!

just as ur son hates dress, maybe shiloh hates it too…who knows? or maybe your son loves dresses, who knows? so whatever, shiloh’s dressing is unique among girls…just so you know, if all humans go along one same line without change, there’d be a bore.

I would assume that Jolie isn’t forcing her daughter to wear traditional male clothing as an attention seeking device – especially as it’s something still very mocked in society. She would have to be a terrible mother (and a pretty horrible person) to subject her daughter to such hatred for added notoriety, which it’s not like she needs.
So I would assume she’s just being accepting of her daughter’s preferences.

I totally agree with you. I think it started because Shiloh herself or one of the other kids chopped her hair and rather than cut it real short and just tell what happened (this happens to tons of kids), Jolie tried to cover it up by making Shiloh wear hats. That was last summer or fall when everyone saw the hat and tie on her. Only thing is you never saw her brothers or father wearing a tie so where did that come from? Who was she copying? I think at that time Jolie realized the attention they were getting for it so she kept it up. When Shiloh’s hair grew back enough to cut into a pixie they stopped with the hats. But then Jolie had created this lie about her dressing as a boy so she kept it up. Next thing we see her going to Cancun with her shirts tucked in and buttoned up to the neck. What kid would do that? Because Jolie doesn’t know boundaries and doesn’t mother these kids (the nannies do), she didn’t know how to properly react when the initial hair chop happened. She thought she’d look like a bad mother. Then because of the reaction to how she dressed her, she realized she could get a lot more press by keeping the charade up. Can’t believe she let a 4 yr old girl not wear a top at a public hotel pool knowing their would be pictures taken.

When it comes to gender expression, who are we to say what’s “appropriate”? I am sure that being a queer family makes me more sensitive to this, but I’m always reminding our nieces (and my future child, just not out loud yet!), that you only have to be exactly who you are. Imagine how fewer hangups adults would have if they’d grown up never hearing “you need to be more X” or “you’re not Y enough.”

I truly think that Angelina WOULD let her boys wear pink princess shirts if that’s what they asked for. I don’t think that Angelina has any need for rumor-mongering or extra press, but that she probably believes that her kids are (A) kids and what they do now doesn’t necessarily “MEAN” anything for their future, and (B) if one of her children is a transvestite, transgender, or gay, that that’s OKAY.

Why is everything Angelina’s fault? Shiloh does have a father. But I guess he has absolutely no input on the care and upbringing of his own children. I am so sick of everyone making Angelina the sole responsible party for all six of those kids when Brad is a very involved parent as well

I have a four year old and I CAN’T get her to wear anything she doesn’t want to. She loves girly clothes and is distinguishing between girls and boys, BUT…she wore just swim shorts to the pool yesterday. Yesterday…she wanted to dress like a boy and I let her, cause I’m a good mom, and so is Angelina.

From a very early age, my little sister refused to wear dresses and insisted on a short, boyish haircut. She played sports and climbed trees with the neighborhood boys and had no interest in Barbie dolls or “playing house.” My mother tried to coax her into more girlie pursuits and clothing but the tears and tantrums weren’t worth it.

And today? My sister is married (to a man), has two kids, and is one of the most ultra-feminine women I know. (She *does* still watch ESPN though….heh.)

At least you took the time out to mention Zahara, US magazine completely ignores the fact the child is even there.

omg !!!I think Angie has lost her mind! This is really sad!

Mommyologist, honest question here. You don’t like Angelina Jolie, do yo? Don’t get me wrong it’s your right to feel how you do but again I find it strange that you accuse her of trying to “appear the ideal mother” and of “using Shiloh to gain extra publicity” but repeatedly neglect to acknowledge Brad Pitt, the father. The same father who is seen on video taking Shiloh into a “boy’s” store to buy clothes and talked about calling her “John” on Oprah. Maybe I’m reading too much into this but your posts seem to be more about putting Angelina down than about Shiloh wearing board shorts.

Mom Against Gender Stereotypes, to answer your question:

I don’t know Angelina personally, so I can’t say whether I like her or not. As far as all of my “posts” being about putting her down, you obviously didn’t read the one I wrote last week talking about style and fashion tips we can learn from her. She always looks so put together!

Also, you are SO lucky that you have time during the day to sit down and watch Oprah! I wish I did! I’m too busy either working or taking care of my child. Maybe if I had nannies like Brad and Angelina, I could squeeze in more TV time.

As far as Brad goes, in the articles I have read, I’ve only heard Angelina’s take on Shiloh’s look, so that is why I focused on her in my blog post. I think it’s pretty obvious that she is the one “in charge” in that relationship.

Again, thank you for your feedback. I respect your opinion!

TO THEMOMMYOLOGIST

It’s pretty obvious that she is the one “in charge” in that relationship?????????????????????

You don’t have the time to watch Oprah, but you sure have the time to read a lot of tabloids. And so What if they have nannies, I have one for my Children, and when I let them with her it’s not “to squeeze in more TV time”.

There is nothing wrong with letting your child have their own style or dress however they will like to dress, but this is just inappropiate for a little girl. If she wants to wear the swimming trunks that is fine, but put a shirt on her. That is not cute…..

I’m all for children having their own personalities, their own sytle and their own fashion sense. With that being said, I think if Shiloh wants to wear swimming trunks, that’s acceptable BUT she needs to wear a shirt. She’s still a girl, and that needs to be instilled into her. When she turns, let’s say 10, she can not go around topless.

Tish – you got my point exactly!

Considering the Jolie Pitt are constantly in motion. Often in France or filming on other continents. You believe they are dying to generate tabloid headlines? I think this mentailty is a real sikness of the times. Magazines like Star used to be printed on poor paper with bad ink.. had screaming headlines like “Dolphin with human face speaks”. We laughed at them as the fiction that they are as we waited for our turn at the register. Just because In Touch and Life & Style use more expensive paper, ink and present themselves as People.. they are still absolute fiction. “Insider source” is just the editor and the so called journalist attempting to come up with a story to match a pap photo. THe Bermuda triangle of JenBrangelina is the biggest selling fake hyped story ever and they will continue to beat that dead horse as long as people are stupid enough to buy it or until Jen remarries and has children. Story after story comes out from actual interviews with people that Jolie is a sweetheart. A good mother and very hands on. Yet the tabloid will print an unnamed source that says she screams at the kids and hands them off to 10 nannies and which story does the public regurgitate to one another as fact? The Jolie Pitt treat the tabloids as beneath them and as fiction. They are not faxing in or purposely creating the tabloid stories. Between 6 kids, a high profile relationship, filming, producing, humanitarian works, flying lessons, and premieres all without a PR team (they famously fired PMK together and did not hire a replacement).. when would they find the time (even with their personal assistant and three nannies)?

As for Shiloh. The child looks happy and cared for. Brad said almost 2 years ago that Shiloh insisted on being called John (a Peter Pan thing), he was the one who took her shopping in Italy and bought her all boy’s clothes that she picked out. And he along with Jolie are her parents and the only ones who can gauge what is appropriate for their daughter. Jolie has been friends with Dr. Jane Aronson so I would imagine she has people who can advise her of anything alarming.

LOL I love your take, Tish – so she gets to swim topless when she’s 18? Wow, totally cute, to me. I agree with the author; I’ve never met a little kid with that sort of rebellious will against her own gender. The debate here is not (thank GOD) whether 8-year-olds can be lesbian or not; the question is: When did this suddenly become approrpiate, and is the media getting to Shilo (and her mom’s) head?

My 10 yearold niece HATES pink, dolls, dresses, anything with a princess on it… you name it. Her mother forces her and she’s miserable, she BEGS her mother for regular unisex tshirts and jeans. She told me last year that she can’t understand how come her mother can be happy when she knows how much she’s hurting (I cry just remembering it). Shiloh seems like a happy child, if only my niece were so lucky.

Mommyologist, wow you are quick to insult, aren’t you? For your information I watched a one minute clip of Brad on Huffington post but to a sanctimommy like yourself, who apparently needs to point out how busy she is – well except for the time she spends reading selected articles about Brad and Angelina, making unwarranted assumptions about their relationship,perpetuating outdated gender stereotypes, and berating families who choose to employ nannies, and then insulting babble readers- one minute is too much. Oh and to clarify when I referred to your posts, I meant under this specific topic. But here you are once again insulting Angelina and now me and now families who employ nannies.

I don’t know Angelina personally, so I can’t say whether I like her or not. As far as all of my “posts” being about putting her down, you obviously didn’t read the one I wrote last week talking about style and fashion tips we can learn from her.
TheMommyologist commented on Aug 09 10 at 7:03 am

Five Reasons Why Jennifer Aniston Will Be A Better Mom Than Angelina Jolie
Posted by TheMommyologist on August 9th, 2010 at 12:07 pm

Mommyologist, what do you teach your children about lying?

I think 4 yrs old is too young to make gender descions. As a parent you should explain to them how society works. Then at 13 or 18 she can have a coming out party.

I have a bigger issue with the fact that their daughter is outside without a shirt on. Even though she’s only 4, children should be taught at an early age about respecting their bodies.

lets bet honest most of us have gone through a tomboy stage whether it was hanging out with all the neighborhood boys or dressing like one. Shes 4 for crying out loud! Angelina isnt the only parent here so why is she getting all the blame? Angelina and Brad are just letting her express what she wants and they shouldn’t be getting criticized for that. This doesn’t mean that shes gonna grow up to be lesbian or bisexual or want a sex change. No one has the right to judge them on what they’re doing because none of you personally know them. And for some of you to say she is doing this for more public attention? You are kidding right? They’re the Jolie-Pitt family! I get it if they were celebrity wannabes but they’re A-listers. Attention from the media is like breathing to them. Yes this was a little too far since shes topless but oh well, the kid innocently happy. Thats all a good mother can want right?

I think she has let this go on long enough!! Its time to bring her back to what she is a GIRL!!! not a boy r her brothers!! jolie need to sit down an expalin to her that boys and girls r totally different an that she cant b one of the guys!! she dont have to dress in ball room dresses, put pink on, r n e thing like that!! but at least be able to identify that she is a girl an not a boy!! an to me if she keep this up for to long she will get confused an start to think she has to really do what her brothers r doing!! An dressing your son r daughter in the wrong thing is really a mess!! If thats what they want to dress like when they r old enough to buy there on clothes an stuff then its fine with me do u baby!! but long as i got to buy it its going to suit what you was born as!! Female r Male!! Shes growing up its bout time out for that Jolie!! Brad let her no u want ur daughter back!!!!!!!! ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don’t like to judge but I can’t help but to wonder why she would put this child in boys swimming trunks? They have girl swimsuits that don’t look so girly that ang could have put on her. Yes she’s 4 still a baby but come on putting her in boys swim trunks? That’s just wrong.

This is tricky. There are legitimate points to be made on both sides. Shiloh should be able to express her individuality, definately. However, she is also at a very tender age for understanding and evenutally embracing her gender. Angelina’s past decisions have proven that she does love to be odd and certainly wants us to know about it. I just hope that Shiloh is not a pawn in Angelina’s need for weirdness (can you say a vial of blood around her neck??!!). Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne are gorgeous children. Here’s hoping that they have long and fulfilling lives – minus all of the drama.

last weekend, i took my nephew to the mall with a tutu on (w/ jeans underneath) and a light saber in his hands. he’s five and it is clear that he is a boy. we got some looks and some “that’s so cute” and some “that’s wrong” … but it’s what he’s into right now. and who the hell cares as long as he is happy. i say the same for shiloh. i think it’s awesome that her parents don’t stand her way or send the message that there is something wrong with wearing boy’s clothes.

on another note, i have five older brothers and i wore boys hand-me-downs often. i certain that it had no effect on my sexuality.

Girls no matter what age should NEVER go topless. and i hate lesbians and trannies! shiloh! you were so much more beautiful before!

If the kid is preferring boys clothes, hairstyles and in fact actually feels like a boy, the ONLY thing a GOOD parent can do is to LISTEN to that kid. By the age of four a child is able to recoginze the differences of the genders and starting to identify with the sex he or she in fact WAS BORN WITH. And now I’m talking about the sex determined by the brain. This is nothing anyone else should mess with. The parents, in this case Angelina and Brad, are excellent for letting Shiloh be who he/she is. Everything else could be a major trauma for life for Shiloh! Get your facts straight before having an opinion in this matter.

This is ridiculous. I refused to wear girls clothing and insisted my hair be cut short my entire childhood. It was simply what I wanted, not what anyone forced me to. The only time I was forced to do anything was when I had to wear a dress for Christmas photos. I cried, and the pictures always turned out awful. To the point they could only get a good shot after they took the dress off. It wasn’t me. In high school I kept to t-shirts and jeans, but now as a professional I’ll wear women’s top. Won’t find me caught dead in a skirt though, and I’m a fully functioning, intelligent FEMALE. Let the poor girl be who she is, if Brad and Angelina tried to change that, force her to wear “girl clothes” it’d only screw her up. Good for them.

“I’m beginning to think that her boyish appearance is mostly Angelina trying to make some sort of statement. It just seems a tad bit overdone, don’t you think?”

what a ridiculous thing to say, are you for real?? the child is not quite 6 and everyone is all busy talking about what she’s freakin’ wearing?? this whole article, and the others like it, are completely asinine and now I’m totally embarrassed to have read it.