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.

Follow Jo on Twitter

Tags: angelina jolie, shiloh jolie-pitt

Comments

(88)

Tuesday 21 September

By jane

Vote down Vote up Report this

oh, not all little girls are made from sugar and spice. maybe this little gal knows that the boys get the better deal. even at home?

By Cutie

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

You can't play at the playground in a pink frilly dress!

By tkah

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Get a life and leave that baby and her parents alone, unless you haved walked in their shoes you have nothing to offer.

Wednesday 22 September

By Auntie Lu

Well said, my friend.

By marie

A. MEN. Thanks Jo for finally being part of the media who speaks up on this matter and not just for Shiloh but for all little girls like her. I was also a tom boy with 3 older brothers and other than a few extra trips to the emergency dept. I turned out quite fine thanks. Kudos to Angelina, Brad and ALL parents who not just allow but ENCOURAGE thier children to have self love and be who they are NOT who society wants them to be.

By France

Shiloh definitely is dressed in boyish clothing in the photos.
It appears that she is being socialized as a boy or boytype figure.If she wore her hair longer she would look more like a girl.
As long as she's happy it should be allright but people are often negative toward people that are odd.

By jeffrey lebowski

leave the kid alone? absolutely. AND YOU CAN START doing that by not running stupid articles like this that suggest the media should LEAVE HER ALONE!

By Mary

She's adorable no matter what she wears! She's a kid, let her be! Good job Jolie and Brad, with Shiloh and the rest of the family. They seem to be very happy and well adjusted!

By Rachel

I have a 6 year old daughter that chose boys clothes from the store, and she wears them. She also has dresses that she loves to wear. Point is children don't understand "gender oriented" clothes, they simply like what they like. And if you have ever had a four year old (or any children for that matter) you know you choose your battles wisely.

By ladyinomaha

Shiloh parents have said that Shiloh started insisting that her name was John. Her father said that Shiloh would not answer to her name and that she would only answer to the name of John.
Shiloh was probably a male in her last incarnation and probably had the name of John.
I am a Certified Advanced Clinical Hypnotherapist who has regressed people to "past lives." I have had people regress to a past life who before the session didn't believe in reincarnation.
By the way, it has been quite interesting.

By missi007

Nico - no matter how you dress, you're still an idiot.

By mannequin

But it's okay to dissect Suri and every other child of star?
No, it's not okay but sadly, when the parent seeks the limelight, their kid is a casualty.
I really have no interest in how a 2,3,4,5,6 and so on yr old dresses.

By sway

She is a child that prefers jeans, how does that make it "boys" cloths? My gd wears jeans all the time, she is also 4. Should her parents FORCE her to wear dresses? You all talk smak about a family you know NOTHING about other than what you read and believe from rag magazines. How infantile and cruel you are..leave this little girl alone. She nor her family are hurting you or anyone else...
Morons

What a bunch of self righteous morons. This is a four year old CHILD. My gd is four and lives in jeans, are her parents suppose to FORCE she to wear dresses.
You all talk about these pple as if you know them personally when in reality all you know is what is written in rag magazines.
She is a well adjusted 4 years old, leave her alone.
Worry about your own dystfuncial lives. Must be really shallow and lonely if you have to pick on a child none of you know..

By Connie

I had 2 brothers growing up , so this girl wore some hand me downs from one of them, when ppl called me a cute boy id correct them, the only thing that happened to me is i grew to hate dresses and skirts, shiloh is wearing boys clothes , if its because of brad being the parent she most admires models after, and brothers she wants to be more like who knows? its clothes ppl..kids change their minds all the time, she may never wear fluffy pink tutus so what?

By Taylor K

Give me a break! Clothes are just clothes..this whole fashion statement thing is due to all u uptight robots projecting what society decided are proper for boys and girls. I always chose boys clothes for myself as a child-far more user friendly when you just want to play and have fun. Not everyone loves pink and glitter people! I STILL hate girly crap and I am nearing 50. Get a grip and start thinking for yourselves!

By Shiloh13

I have read several articles about Shiloh's dressing preference and tom boyish ways. It is upsetting that the media is putting so much attention on this little girl or any other child for that matter. I was a tom boy as a child. I copied everything my older brother did and I didn't mind that I got his hand me down clothes either. Entering my teens years everything changed and I have been a very girly-girl ever since. Frills, makeup, perfumes and all things feminine. I'm almost 40 and still very feminine. Let her be a child!!

By Freckles60

OMG. I can't believe all you people who are ragging on Shilo and her parents. So what if she wants to dress like her big brothers. She looks absolutely darling and is very presentable. Have you guys seem some of the "hooker" school clothes that some of the chain stores have out there for girls 4-10 years old? Crop-top see-through lace tops with see-through lace leggings. Which corner do you plan to put your pre-school/pre-teen daughter on after you buy these "girl" clothes? Leave Shilo alone....at least she is covered!

By toni thompson

Why spend so much energy (negative) on what she selects to wear are for that matter what her parents choses for her to wear? She is a child and their style changs like the weather . instead of looking at her wardbobe lets look at her eyes and find some happness in them. Also remember Chasty oh am sorry I meant Chez Bono. As a child she was always in dress and makeup . Now he wears a Tux.

Thursday 23 September

By ErinFitz

I think she is absolutely beautiful and precious...she is just a little girl being a little girl...People should just leave kids alone they have enough to deal with in the real world as it is...

Page 4 of 5