admittedly, I have no idea how I feel about this story

I watched it on the Today show yesterday

he's a really cute kid

he seemed very shy & quiet during the interview...

not many people would bat an eye

if a 5 year old girl consistently dressed and played as a boy

I would find it hard to believe that other children don't make fun of or tease him

and I can't subscribe to the idea that those kids that would are lil' assholes...

(an adult with something to say would be a different story)

to a child especially, something or someone out of the norm

is a big deal and they're usually pretty vocal about it

while I think it's great that his parents allow him to be as he wishes

I hope they also constantly remind him that there are those

that don't understand or accept him and prepare him for how unpleasant that may be

not as a means to deter him from being himself

but to let him know that it's not always gonna be rainbows & butterflies

I mean, how many of us would see a 5 year old boy in a pink top and black tutu

and not be a lil' suprised or taken aback?

I thought it was really sweet that his older brother was the one that convinced

his mom to let the lil' guy be himself and dress and play as he wants

they obviously have a strong, close relationship at a very early age

He's adoreable. It's so great that his mom, dad and older brother are supporting him.

He's adorable. His family are awesome. Why should anyone have a problem with this?

I have a 5 year old niece who wears boys clothes and plays with boys toys. So far no-one has had an issue with it.

Efan said:

johnart said:

I bet Balloon Boy's parents are piiiiiiiiiiiissed.

Ha! That's funny; for some reason, I thought of them too in relation to this.

[img:$uid]http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i9/jgascot/gifs/rupaul-1.gif[/img:$uid]

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The people who were traditionally dressed in pink and called girls were boys.Pink was considered the traditional colour for boys and blue for girls in the 19th century. In 1927, there was a report about Princess Astrid of Belgium who had decorated her son's room pink, only for her to give birth to a daughter. Part of the reason why blue may be seen as the traditional colour for girls is because the Virgin Mary is dressed in blue. Right until the mid-15th century, all children were referred to as girls, boys were called "knave girls" and girls were called "gay girls". The word "boy" originally meant "servant".

johnart said:

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[img:$uid]http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i9/jgascot/rupaulbabypics.jpg[/img:$uid]

aw! how cute!!!!

RodeoSchro said:

C'mon. Boys are boys and girls are girls and I have a hard time believing they should dress like each other.

Really.

Is there some inherent reason for girls to wear pink, or to wear dresses, or to have long hair?

Isn't it all pretty arbitrary?

NDRU said:

RodeoSchro said:

C'mon. Boys are boys and girls are girls and I have a hard time believing they should dress like each other.

Really.

Is there some inherent reason for girls to wear pink, or to wear dresses, or to have long hair?

Isn't it all pretty arbitrary?

it seems for women it's OK to have their hair any old way (except body hair ) and to wear any colour they like.

It's only for MEN that it's so restrictive. No pink and sparkly, no make-up, no heels, etc. And that's not because of any reason than to not be mistaken for a woman or as someone who wants to be a woman, because being women are inferior and weak, and that's an unhealthy aspiration.

[Edited 1/4/11 15:17pm]

ZombieKitten said:

NDRU said:

Is there some inherent reason for girls to wear pink, or to wear dresses, or to have long hair?

Isn't it all pretty arbitrary?

it seems for women it's OK to have their hair any old way (except body hair ) and to wear any colour they like.

It's only for MEN that it's so restrictive. No pink and sparkly, no make-up, no heels, etc. And that's not because of any reason than to not be mistaken for a woman or as someone who wants to be a woman, because being women are inferior and weak, and that's an unhealthy aspiration.

[Edited 1/4/11 15:17pm]

men are purely utilitarian, women can be utilitarian OR decorative (but preferably decorative)

awww he's so cute. see the world just needs to let ppl be who they are without judgement...first step is with parents!!!

NDRU said:

ZombieKitten said:

it seems for women it's OK to have their hair any old way (except body hair ) and to wear any colour they like.

It's only for MEN that it's so restrictive. No pink and sparkly, no make-up, no heels, etc. And that's not because of any reason than to not be mistaken for a woman or as someone who wants to be a woman, because being women are inferior and weak, and that's an unhealthy aspiration.

[Edited 1/4/11 15:17pm]

men are purely utilitarian, women can be utilitarian OR decorative (but preferably decorative)

say I offer my boys a nice pink t-shirt, they scream at me "NO THAT'S FOR GIRLS!!!!"

that's nothing I'VE taught them, it's their own unwillingness to be like a girl - based on their own observations of girls, and how boring it is to play with dolls or have tea parties (seen at kindy)?

Where do they get the idea that they want to clearly set apart from girls? Not once have I ever called them a girl for crying or used any of those pathetic "insults". I can see they boys perpetuate their apartness from girls by ridiculing the boys that play with girls, and to avoid humiliation, they only play with boys and join in the teasing.

I started doing drag at around 5

johnart said:

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[img:$uid]http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i9/jgascot/rupaulbabypics.jpg[/img:$uid]

NDRU said:

RodeoSchro said:

C'mon. Boys are boys and girls are girls and I have a hard time believing they should dress like each other.

Really.

Is there some inherent reason for girls to wear pink, or to wear dresses, or to have long hair?

Isn't it all pretty arbitrary?

Maybe. I'm all for guys having long hair. I wish I had long hair.

But dresses on boys? Clothes that are absolutely designed for little girls? Mmmmm, I just can't see it.

Worked for Prince, though!

ZombieKitten said:

NDRU said:

men are purely utilitarian, women can be utilitarian OR decorative (but preferably decorative)

say I offer my boys a nice pink t-shirt, they scream at me "NO THAT'S FOR GIRLS!!!!"

that's nothing I'VE taught them, it's their own unwillingness to be like a girl - based on their own observations of girls, and how boring it is to play with dolls or have tea parties (seen at kindy)?

Where do they get the idea that they want to clearly set apart from girls? Not once have I ever called them a girl for crying or used any of those pathetic "insults". I can see they boys perpetuate their apartness from girls by ridiculing the boys that play with girls, and to avoid humiliation, they only play with boys and join in the teasing.

I wear pink shirts, and have since I went off to SMU in 1979 and learned what a preppy was.

It's not the color per se. It's boys wearing dresses or clothes made specifically for girls that I just can't get with.

RodeoSchro said:

ZombieKitten said:

say I offer my boys a nice pink t-shirt, they scream at me "NO THAT'S FOR GIRLS!!!!"

that's nothing I'VE taught them, it's their own unwillingness to be like a girl - based on their own observations of girls, and how boring it is to play with dolls or have tea parties (seen at kindy)?

Where do they get the idea that they want to clearly set apart from girls? Not once have I ever called them a girl for crying or used any of those pathetic "insults". I can see they boys perpetuate their apartness from girls by ridiculing the boys that play with girls, and to avoid humiliation, they only play with boys and join in the teasing.

I wear pink shirts, and have since I went off to SMU in 1979 and learned what a preppy was.

It's not the color per se. It's boys wearing dresses or clothes made specifically for girls that I just can't get with.

There's a good portion of boys who love to play dress up, some of them wait until they leave their parents' nest to do it though. I never agreed to force people of both genders to do anything that is "society-approved".

Timmy84 said:

RodeoSchro said:

I wear pink shirts, and have since I went off to SMU in 1979 and learned what a preppy was.

It's not the color per se. It's boys wearing dresses or clothes made specifically for girls that I just can't get with.

There's a good portion of boys who love to play dress up, some of them wait until they leave their parents' nest to do it though. I never agreed to force people of both genders to do anything that is "society-approved".

Maybe I am putting the cart before the horse here, because I have not watched this clip or read the book. But I am assuming they buy this young boy these clothes for his wardrobe, and that's what he wears when he goes out. Am I right?

If so, that's a whole lot different than playing dress-up in one's home.

it's an amazing story about individuality, love and strength

but the world is cruel.... and his parents can not always protect him from everything

i hope he never gets hurt and is always happy...

and when babies r born, they should all wear pink... it's a beautiful colour on everyone

ZombieKitten said:

NDRU said:

men are purely utilitarian, women can be utilitarian OR decorative (but preferably decorative)

say I offer my boys a nice pink t-shirt, they scream at me "NO THAT'S FOR GIRLS!!!!"

that's nothing I'VE taught them, it's their own unwillingness to be like a girl - based on their own observations of girls, and how boring it is to play with dolls or have tea parties (seen at kindy)?

Where do they get the idea that they want to clearly set apart from girls? Not once have I ever called them a girl for crying or used any of those pathetic "insults". I can see they boys perpetuate their apartness from girls by ridiculing the boys that play with girls, and to avoid humiliation, they only play with boys and join in the teasing.

yeah I guess we notice the difference right away. I always liked girls, though. Maybe I was afraid to admit it.

Funny hows that fear changes based societal pressures of different ages & situations and some boys are afraid to admit they like boys

the horrid hair cut my mom always got on me... i looked like a little boy growing up. but then again i did scream and pout on easter having to wear my easter bonnet and dress.

why is it ok for girls to be tomboys and when a boy is a tomgirl he's mocked and called a fag? double standards are so wrong.

either he'll grow out of it,be the next prince, be a drag queen or get a sex change. he's 5. just leave him be!

in general i subscribe to the theory of an it harm none, do as ye will

i'm truly glad this boy has a supportive loving family, and i'm proud of them for standing by him and opening their own minds. however, until the world changes i would be inclined to maybe school him in the ways of toning it down for the benefit of society at large.

there's hope. some day i think men will be able to freely wear women's clothing without being called drag queens. coco chanel did the world of women a huge favor by wearing 'mens' clothing' back in the 1920s. now, we just need someone monumental, some famous guy to stand up and set a bold example for today's men, by wearing women's clothing out and about.

<-O+)

[Edited 1/4/11 16:43pm]

RodeoSchro said:

ZombieKitten said:

say I offer my boys a nice pink t-shirt, they scream at me "NO THAT'S FOR GIRLS!!!!"

that's nothing I'VE taught them, it's their own unwillingness to be like a girl - based on their own observations of girls, and how boring it is to play with dolls or have tea parties (seen at kindy)?

Where do they get the idea that they want to clearly set apart from girls? Not once have I ever called them a girl for crying or used any of those pathetic "insults". I can see they boys perpetuate their apartness from girls by ridiculing the boys that play with girls, and to avoid humiliation, they only play with boys and join in the teasing.

I wear pink shirts, and have since I went off to SMU in 1979 and learned what a preppy was.

It's not the color per se. It's boys wearing dresses or clothes made specifically for girls that I just can't get with.

as a child I always thought that men should wear dresses, since they have dangly bits and girls should wear pants

Back then I never gave a thought to dresses ingeniously designed to facilitate the ease of a forceful taking, or squatting down to give birth without missing a beat as you work in the potato field

ZombieKitten said:

RodeoSchro said:

I wear pink shirts, and have since I went off to SMU in 1979 and learned what a preppy was.

It's not the color per se. It's boys wearing dresses or clothes made specifically for girls that I just can't get with.

as a child I always thought that men should wear dresses, since they have dangly bits and girls should wear pants

Back then I never gave a thought to dresses ingeniously designed to facilitate the ease of a forceful taking, or squatting down to give birth without missing a beat as you work in the potato field

When I was a kid, I thought boys should ride girls' bikes, and vice versa, because then you wouldn't rack your dangly bits if you slid off your seat. But I wasn't thinking about how the crossbeam was to support the extra weight of a guy.

i should not be telling u guys this!!!

but i am not normal.....

when i was young i used to put my finger against my vagina to see my boy shadow

i can't believe i told u all!!! but it's true... i did... i wanted to c what i would look like if i was a boy

ok...one more....

when i was a child i drew a family portrait for school and we all wore pink....

the nun did not approve and made me go over my dad and my brothers shirts in black

then i did the boy shadow thing

lezama said:

Princess Boy VIDEO, Likes Wearing Pink

Today Meredith Vieira, author of “My Princess Boy” appeared today on the Today Show alongside Dyson her son (aka Princess Boy) , who is the inspiration his book. Dyson loves wearing dresses and likes pink color. Why? Well, according to Dyson:

“because it makes me feel happy!”

According to the book description:

“Dyson loves pink, sparkly things. Sometimes he wears dresses. Sometimes he wears jeans. He likes to wear his princess tiara, even when climbing trees. He’s a Princess Boy.

Inspired by the author’s son, and by her own initial struggles to understand, this is a heart-warming book about unconditional love and one remarkable family. It is also a call for tolerance and an end to bullying and judgments. The world is a brighter place when we accept everyone for who they are.”

What do you think about this? Many people think it is bad letting a boy dress like a girl, while others say it is better to just let the boy be the way he is and accept that everyone is different.

This boy is a spitting image of his mother

i only colored in purple and black crayons 90% of the time

SCNDLS said:

So, nobody thinks this is the least bit exploitative, making a 5 year old boy the posterchild for something he may not fully understand? His parents could have fully supported his choice to dress like a princess and written the book without putting him on national television or in magazines. That's not protecting him IMO.

That was my take on it, Sandals. I caught it on some morning news show while eating breakfast and thought it was totally exploitative. I wonder what his feelings will be in 10 or 20 years.

He's gonna be straight as hell when he grows up, and get ALL the pussy.