We Need to Leave Shiloh Jolie-Pitt (and Her Clothes) Alone!

By Jo Piazza Posted Sep 21st 2010 05:00PM

It is starting to get a little unseemly how much attention the media pays to Shiloh Jolie-Pitt's fashion and style sense. She is, after all, only four years old.

One of the most read stories on the US Weekly website last week was "Shiloh Jolie-Pitt Rocks Combat Boots." The story read: "Shiloh Jolie-Pitt made yet another fashion statement at London's Heathrow Airport on Monday."

Thankfully this particular post shied away from the kind of commentary we are now used to seeing on Shiloh's sartorial senses, which include claims made by fashion editors that she is androgynous and her mother, Angelina Jolie, is wrong for allowing her to dress like a boy, claims that make it seem wrong that a four year old girl happens to be a tom boy.

Jolie, 35, has admitted that she dresses her blonde daughter "like a little dude" because that is what the little girl asks for. "She likes tracksuits, she likes [regular] suits. She likes to dress like a boy."

And that's fine. What isn't fine is the constant commentary on it. She's just a toddler!! We thought it was bad when the media scrutinized another young girl in the spotlight because of her looks. That was Chelsea Clinton. Even though her treatment was rough, she was at least practically a teenager when she was publicly shamed for her awkward years.

The commenters only feed the frenzy.

"I'm kinda thinking Chastity Bono here? Then again it could be just a childhood phase."

"Some women are jealous of their daughters...has anyone ever thought that maybe mama dresses her that way on purpose...she's been dressed that way since she was a baby...just saying"

In one fell swoop Shiloh has been transformed into a post-op transsexual whose mother hates her. And she only recently started using the toilet on her own.

What is happening with Shiloh is a new low and one that could be psychologically damaging to the child in the future. We can only hope she never sees all the things that have been written about her.

"Hopefully, since she is only four years old, Shiloh has been spared awareness of the media's scrutiny of her style," says psychiatrist Dr. Carole Lieberman. "As Shiloh gets older, and becomes more aware of the media scrutiny - which will inevitably be both positive and negative - she will need help in coping with being put under the microscope. One can only hope that, despite their relationship preoccupying most of their attention, her parents will be vigilant, protective and sensitive to her feelings."

It will be Brad and Angie's job going forward to make sure Shiloh doesn't overdose on the nasty things that have been written about her since she learned to walk and put on her own high waters and Doc Martens.

"We really don't know the long term impact of this type of exploitive attention on a child since this whole phenomenon is relatively new," says 'Cult of Celebrity' author Cooper Lawrence. "Researchers do not have access to these children to study them. In my opinion, the paparazzi should stop photographing and commenting on famous children on the off chance it does have a negative impact. Why on earth would they want to be responsible for that?"

Let Shiloh do what she wants. When I was four, I wore boys Spider-Man under-roos. Why? Because they were cool. Chaz Bono wore dresses when he was a little girl. What we wear when we're four doesn't mean anything, but what other people say about it definitely could.

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Tags: angelina jolie, shiloh jolie-pitt

Comments

(88)

Tuesday 21 September

By Nico Toscani

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I do get it and if her parents weren't "celebutards" I would give your opinion more credence. I've seen little girls dressed boyishly, but this is obviously carefully coordinated and then paraded around for the cameras. They are probably PRAYING their daughter is gay so they can brag about how liberal they are.

By apot435

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Everyone who is judging Shiloh's looks should be ashamed of themselves. Shiloh likes dressing up as a boy, and I don't see anything wrong with it. I knew many girls who were tomboys, and they outgrew it at different points in their lives. You can't force children to wear something they don't want to wear. Here's an intriguing fact. Angelina Jolie was a tomboy when she was young. Being tomboyish may run in her family. Leave her and Brad Pitt alone. They shouldn't be getting this much attention over little Shiloh's clothes. Last but least, they aren't parading her around for attention.

By KILEY

You are soooo right. Now where judging a child and her family just because she doesn't like dresses. I know alot of little girls who don't like dresses

By jktejas

My mother was a beauty and very feminine......but a total tomboy growing up in both dress and attitude. I spent my childhood wanting to be dressed "pretty" and spend most days in my later adult years in work out clothes and jeans. This child is only 4 years old and will probably go through any number of kid trends before she's 20. This whole issue would be silly except that the media is capable of doing some real damage.

By amy

****I saw her got a lovely new lv new bag, I got a exact same bag on newhotbag.c o m.It is so cute that I can just marry with it.

By Donna

Bringing up Chaz Bono in the last sentence of this story, was a cheap shot. Shiloh is 4 years old, theres absolutly nothing wrong with a little girl being a tom boy. I was one, so was a few of my daughters, who happen to be married, with children.
Some little girls, mostly those with older brothers, like to dress like them. Believe it or not, it just so happens its fun, when we are young. My mother had a heck of a time with me keeping my shirt on at that age. It meant nothing, it just means, let a child dress like they want, unless its church, or a special event. Its all in good fun, there will no no long lasting efect for a little girl to wear over alls for Petes sake...

By Opal Jones

I have never seen a picture of Shiloh where she look like a girl.
I would think her mother could influnce her a little. After all God gave parent the role of teaching the children.

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^_^****'newhotbag'***High quality tton replica 'handbags' and other brands designer handbags are all here!^_^

By QUEEN KENEiCE

i agree with Kiley !!! nd Nico is a hater..hop off they're d*ck...areyou jealous of them? do you want to be them? you think you can do better? i bet that lil Shiloh will grow up to be the most beautiful girly girl out when she hit her teenage years nd if she doesnt so effin what. its not your business how she dresses nd grows up to be ..worry about your own damn children if you have any and stop bein a judgemental b*tch. Shiloh isnt YOUR daughter so dont worry about how she is raised nd let her live her life.
i have spoken

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OMG! You have spoken, but not in English.

By CMD

About the time Mags came out with the news and pics that Shiloh wanted short hair and boy clothes....tomboy, maybe...but I also remember reading she also wanted to be called "John" hmmm.... I dunno!

By Jana

I think it's ok to mix in boys clothes with girls clothes at this age - but to only wear boys clothes is not right! And WTF is with the boys swim shorts while her sister Z wears a cute girls bathing suit. Surely she knows the difference. I agree also with the parents are buying the clothes. They are taking it too far. Shiloh looks like a boy in the face and I wonder......

By Tammy

Children need guidance, and this poor child isn't getting any from her so called parents. Wolves do a better job raising their young.

By S

So what if their son wants to wear dresses? will they allow him to wear them and girly clothing so he can express himself? and grow some long hair and wear hair clips, some nice little heels like Suri wears? They are idiots. The kid looks like a boy. You don't allow a 4 yr old to choose their clothing or hair styles. What if she wanted her head bald? and she was just recently wearing boy swim trunks too. GMAFB Does this kid even know she's a girl? being a tomboy is one thing but this kid is pretty much a boy. All she needs is a sex change.

Thursday 23 September

By Nala

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It's amazing how brutal you people are to a 4yr old. Who cares if she had swim trunks on. Have you seen half the girls at the local pool have them too, wow. Not everyone likes dresses and dolls you know. Get a life and stop blasting them for letting her be a girl that admires her brothers, it's normal regardless if you've experienced it in your own life.

By Rita

She's only four years old...big deal. I doubt Shiloh is aware she is being criticized for her "boyish" looks...she doesn't read the tabloids or get on the internet. The poor baby has been on this earth only four years and she is already being condemned for her choice of clothes!

By Dottie

Shiloh is one of the most beautiful lit'l Girls I have ever seen .. leave her be .. she will make her own decision .. I'll bet she'll be the most beautiful Girl always .. its up to her stop worrying move on leave it to the two Beautiful parents...she probably loves one of her Brothers so much she wants so look like him .. She is so beautiful maybe the parents are protecting her from all the crazies in this world and tone down her Beauty for now...whatever their reasons they are absolutely entitled it is their Child ... God Bless them all ..

I'll look forward to Jolie/Pitt's two part child rearing book: "How To Collect Foreign Kids" and "How To Use Your Kids For Publicity".

By Horace

Boy, you are so right about that thing, she thinks she is the greatest "mother" on earth, she is a "mother" all right.........................

By Avajo

There are a lot more celebs (as well as "regular" people) who adopt from other countries. It's just not made so public. I would like to thank Sandra Bullock for having the gumption to adopt a child born in the USA. I'm all for helping others, but we have so many children here who need parents too. And, sorry Nico; Kris Jenner has the "use your children" market (for anything you can get, not just pulicity) all sewn up. No one will ever catch up to her (thank God). Dina Lohan started working on it but she's just not smart enough.

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