Tabloids foam over the famous tot’s attire, showing just how eager we are to narrowly define sex roles

Have you heard about the terrible things Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have been doing to their daughter Shiloh? The horrifying odyssey began this winter, when paparazzi snapped photos of the preschooler in Paris sporting jeans, a pullover, and — zut alors! — a short, breezy haircut.

Ever since, the tabloids have been stewing with concern for the child, reaching a pitch yesterday when Life & Style published a cover story that agonized, “Why is Angelina turning Shiloh into a BOY? Is it harming the 3-year-old?”

The story goes on to quote such authorities as a stylist for VH1 who decrees that “Shiloh is pushing the boundaries of a tomboy look and crossing over to cross-dresser territory,” and a representative from Focus on the Family who says, “Little girls have never been women before. They need help; they need guidance of what that looks like. It’s important to teach our children that gender distinction is very healthy.” (via Shiloh Jolie-Pitt: Preschool gender warrior - Gender - Salon.com)

Poor kid, leave Shiloh alone! Maybe Shiloh wanted the haircut and to look like a ‘Tomboy’….”It’s important to teach our children that gender distinction is very healthy.” —-this is just silly.