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)

Monday 01 November

By Aimee

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What if Shiloh was a boy who wanted to dress like his sisters?

Friday 24 September

By nancy

i think its the parents fault to dress there daughter in boy clothes. its wrong to dress young girls in boy clothes. she should be wearing dresses and girl clothes. i wouldnt dress my three girls in boy clothes.

Thursday 23 September

By Jamie

At four my child insisted I call her Spiderman while she was in costume and Peter Parker when she was in regular clothes and I did. I didn't worry about it effecting her negatively I was encouraging her to be her own person and guess what? Today she a happy healthy beautiful young woman who will attend her Aunt's wedding this weekend in a beautiful dress of her own choosing. Get over it people. As far as I'm concerned Shiloh is a normal four year old and Angelina and Brad are trying to let her be her own person....to bad the rest of the world won't.

By Kathy

Wait untill she starts school and the other kids make fun of her,after all its her choice and she says she wants to dress that way, HE HE! stupid mom!

By Bren

She probably has gender identity disorder. I am glad that her parents are letting he be who she wants to be. Unfortunately, the public isn't so kind about that. I feel bad for this child, having to grow up in the public eye.

Monday 18 October

By Darlynn

She looks so totally like a little Gap girl..what could possibly be wrong with that? I would rather dress my daughter like this than the hooker-like clothes that are at the stores for little girls...you people need to shut your mouths and quit being so judgemental. Focus on your own family. Gossip mongers!

Tuesday 19 October

By Ellen

I have known several little girls who were Tom Boys when they were little...One called herself Jimmy Love...she eventually outgrew it...just like most of them do...Leave the kid alone at least until she's old enough to defend herself...

Thursday 18 November

By Sandra Conti

I think Angelina needs to step in and dress her daughter Shiloh like a girl, and not always giving in to this 'boy' thing. I dread that this little girl is really an early transgender as it seems as it's been going on way too long. It would be horrible if this is the case, and maybe Angelina is 'cushioning' herself for the hopefully not inevitable that could possible be if Shiloh would want a future sex change.

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