Are Boys in Princess Dresses the Scariest Thing on Halloween?

[Shana A]

Wednesday October 26, 2011
Are Boys in Princess Dresses the Scariest Thing on Halloween?

http://www.mombian.com/2011/10/26/are-boys-in-princess-dresses-the-scariest-thing-on-halloween/

Halloween is almost upon us, the holiday that underscores like no other that society has certain gender expectations for boys and girls. Girls, by and large, are princesses; boys tend towards the violent as superheroes, Star Wars characters, soldiers, or pirates. But each year, it seems, at least one family makes the news because their child wants to defy those boundaries.

This year, the Los Angeles Times reported October 22 on the story of Anna and Louisa Villeneuve, two California moms whose four-year-old son wants to be a princess for Halloween. They have mixed feelings about this, the Times said. On the one hand, they want him to be himself and make his own choices. On the other, many of their fellow townspeople voted in favor of Proposition 8, which bans marriage for same-sex couples in California. The moms don't want someone to open the door and express disapproval to their son's face.

[Sailor_Saturn]

It's good that these parents are genuinely concerned for their child's well-being, and not simply held up by their own scruples. It's a tough question. A four year old wouldn't be able to understand why some random adult got mad at them for wearing a princess dress, and would probably be very upset by the experience. But I think that given sufficient parental support this eventuality could be prevented from being truly damaging. I say, let the kid be a princess and stick up to your neighbors if they dare to say anything bad about it. Then reassure your kid that they're perfectly OK and that they didn't do anything wrong.

[The Passage]

Nonsense. I never wanted to be a princess for Halloween myself, as the point of Halloween for me is to don the visage of death to honour those who have passed on... but I did want to be a sea-monkey one Halloween!! That said, let kids be kids and be who they want to be on Halloween -- at least one that fits in your budget. XP

[tekla]

I wouldn't worry about it too much in LA.

[Gadgett]

nothing like repression to make a kid fell good about themselves.

[cynthialee]

I ussed to cross dress on on Halloween, almost every year.

This year as Sevan is still recovering from surgery, we will stay home and just watch the tube.
Next year I might keep the old tradition alive and go as a guy.

   

[Joelene9]

  My mom put me in a dress, with lipstick only once.  I didn't dare to tell her that I wanted to be a girl then.  Putting boys in dresses for Halloween did happen in the early 60's.  You put a four-year-old boy in a dress, you would not know the difference anyway at that age.  So, what is the problem? 
  Joelene