Would you let your SON dress up as a princess at Disney?

[Liberty Belle]

I'll probably get flamed for this - but so be it......

I see so many sloppy, style-less, no makeup, no hair "done", yucky, masculine clothed WOMEN, walking around Disney World, and the thought that any of THEM would have any "say" in a little boy dressing however in the heck he wants? They're certainly not dressed feminine enough.....

It's amusing.

I don't see how it's any different, really? I don't care how people dress, as long as it's not obscene.

I don't "do" my hair at WDW and I don't wear make up there, either. It's too hot. I hope you're not talking about me, but if you are, no big deal.

 

[CathrynRose]

I don't see how it's any different, really? I don't care how people dress, as long as it's not obscene.

I don't "do" my hair at WDW and I don't wear make up there, either. It's too hot. I hope you're not talking about me, but if you are, no big deal.

No, no, no.... I'm wondering why there's some sort of masculine/feminine dress that is supposed to be done, even at WDW, yet - I see plenty of women NOT walking around in heels and dresses, nor should they be, if that's not what they want.

*** And I accidently took 2 Zyrtec's today, and lemme tell ya.... it's a little bit of a brain frazzler. Sorry if I'm not making any sense. It's making sense in my Zyrtec'd brain. My nose isn't running, though.

 

[topolino]

And how in the heck do you think the grown man's self esteem gets shot the roof???

By being himself, and having his family root and cheer him on, along the way.

Or by not being put in a position where he'll be made fun of and picked on at an early age. There is a lot of talk about bullyism these days. Those scars remain for a long time.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

I read the whole thread. Some people along the way are under the impression that this is a Halloween event, and it's not...it's a character dinner. Just pointing that out to make the facts straight. It may or may not matter to some people.

Would I let him wear a princess dress? As at least one other person has said, I wouldn't let my daughters (now 23 and 20) wear those horrid dresses. We just got back from Disney, and I thought numerous times how uncomfortable some of those dresses looked. Honestly, I wouldn't notice who was wearing them...I'm into my own magic. And I can't even imagine an adult commenting on what anyone is wearing within earshot of other guests.

I never put nail polish on my DDs' nails, so it never came up that I would put it on my DS's. Just wasn't into doing up my little girls.

Also wasn't big on TV or Disney videos. We've had them, but they weren't hugely indoctrinated into the whole "Princess" thing, so neither would my son be.

For Halloween, if my DS wanted to dress up in a princess costume, I'd have no problem with it. For a character meal, if I didn't have a problem with how dreadfully uncomfortable those things look, would I be OK with it? Honestly, I'm not sure. But, I don't ever remember having issues with my kids insisting on wearing anything in particular; we just didn't do battle about clothes.

When my DS (now 18, very manly and loves pink shirts) was little, DH's friend stopped by the house, and DS walked out from his room wearing a diaper, his sister's white patent leather shoes and carrying a gold lame handbag. I thought it was pretty funny, esp because DH's friend was a little .

But some of the comments here are pretty silly. To say that a princess dress is NOT meant to be a girl's costume is just being argumentative. (I expect you all to dash off a strongly worded email to Disney decrying the sexist and prejudice nature of showing ONLY girls wearing Princess dresses! ) Of course ANYONE can wear it. But a boy wearing a princess costume is a boy wearing a girl's costume. And by all means, go with it! But it reminds me of the argument about the biological WOMAN who lives life as a man, and had a baby. A MAN did not have a baby...a woman did...a woman who lives as a man. I guess everyone who thinks that a princess dress is gender neutral thinks a wedding dress is too and wouldn't think twice about or even notice a groom in a wedding gown.

Sure wish I could stay for the rebuttal, but off for a lovely night at a local hotel! (Wish it was for a good reason and not plumbing issues. )

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

I've seen little boys dressed as princesses many times around WDW. I didn't hear anything negative being said. Of course, I barely gave it a thought, when I saw them.

About the only time I ever hear anything about how someone is dressed at WDW is when the outfit is way too skimpy or has an inappropriate saying.

I've never noticed little boys wearing princess dresses in WDW, but I'm always amazed by the "have you ever seen anyone famous in WDW" threads because I'm in my own little world there and have probably walked past famous people and never noticed. But yes, some of those skimpy clothes are hard to miss.

** And I accidently took 2 Zyrtec's today, and lemme tell ya.... it's a little bit of a brain frazzler. Sorry if I'm not making any sense. It's making sense in my Zyrtec'd brain. My nose isn't running, though.

 

[Anjelica]

No I would not let my son wear a princess dress out and about.

 

[Feralpeg]

I've never noticed little boys wearing princess dresses in WDW, but I'm always amazed by the "have you ever seen anyone famous in WDW" threads because I'm in my own little world there and have probably walked past famous people and never noticed. But yes, some of those skimpy clothes are hard to miss.

Well, I can't say that it happens every time I go to the parks. Remember, I am probably on WDW property more often than most. Since I go so often, I don't spend that much time on rides, etc. I am a big people watcher. I notice things that many others probably never see. That being said, I've seen very few famous people there other than in the shows. I did see Mel Gibson years ago and David Cook was in our building rehearsing when I worked for the Disney Florist. That's about it!

 

[Art 1]

I have never noticed a young boy or any male in a princess outfit anywhere. I'm sure I've been to WDW over 1000 times and have never seen that.

 

[handinpocket]

Hell to the no, my sons won't be dressing like a princess. I've never seen a boy dressed like a princess at WDW and if I did, I would think his parents were off their rocker. JMO.

 

[Feralpeg]

I have never noticed a young boy or any male in a princess outfit anywhere. I'm sure I've been to WDW over 1000 times and have never seen that.

Maybe you just weren't in the right places.

I had a co-worker at the Disney Florist whose son was obsessed with the princesses. Each time she brought him in, all he could do was talk about them. There are little boys who love the princesses.

 

[A_Princess'_Daddy]

I couldn't care less if my son wanted to wear a princess dress as a costume. One of the operative words is costume; it's dress-up, and meant to be fantasy. I frequently wore tutus and dresses as a child (courtesy of an older sister) and I turned out strong, stable, and straight.

If anybody wants to mock a child for wearing a costume, they are a bad and ignorant person and I'll tell my child as such. I don't care what somebody's personal values are; to mock a child shows nothing but ignorance and I'll be sure to let my child know that the person doing the mocking is ignorant and holds values that we find tragic and abhorrent.

If a parent allows their child to mock another child for being different, and does not correct and re-educate their child and work to change their bullying habits, then that parent is as culpable as their child and will also be shown to my child to be ignorant. Your values can say that a child should not wear a dress, and that's fine, but to mock a child or to allow others to do so shows a lack of values or basic human kindness on your part, and therefore I have no use for you and will share my opinions of you with my children,

I don't mock children wearing clothing that I find unappealing or unattractive or for holding values with which I disagree, so if anybody wants to mock my child because they find the clothing inappropriate, I'll gladly share my insights into their lack of integrated intelligence with them and with my child.

My Lord, people, they are children who love pretty things. Maybe we can cut them a little slack and not force them into our stereotypes before they even reach kindergarten?

 

[Robindianne]

See, I come at this from a different perspective. I was teased and bullied mercilessly throughout my school career. Then my daughter came along and she was one of those children "born with reasons for people to stare or ridicule them". She had a large, complicated haemangioma, dragging her upper lip down over her mouth.

After much research and discussion with doctors, we opted for a "wait and see" approach, rather than radical surgery to "normalize" her. Back home, we got a LOT of flack from people who thought that we were setting her up for bullying. They couldn't understand why we wouldn't do everything in our power to make her look normal.

But I'm sorry - that doesn't fly with me. I suffered that abuse, and I was a perfectly ordinary looking little girl. I figured any daughter of mine would naturally have to deal with stupid people, just like I did, and what her face looked like wouldn't make one bit of difference.

I loved my beautiful baby. I kissed her birthmark, along with every other part of her. I taught her to say, "This is my nose, these are my toes, this is my birthmark..." When she was old enough and people said, "Ew, what's wrong with your face?" I taught her to say, "That's a strawberry birthmark, I was born with it!" Then whenever people asked ME, I'd turn to her and say, "Honey, you want to answer this?"

Eventually she did choose to have one surgery and some laser treatments, which made her beautiful smile more visible. But ultimately she's chosen not to have any further work done. She says, "It's part of me. I'm happy with who I am."

And so am I!

So yeah... I warned my little boy of the potential consequences of wearing a princess dress. But I also made it clear that it was HIS choice, and I'd have supported him a hundred percent. Because no matter what you do in life, stupid people WILL say stupid things. And I'm not going to let stupid people dictate my choices, or my children's choices.

We're stronger than that!

Wow. You are such a great role model for your children and their friends and their friends' parents and ....

I'm so glad for your children they have you. The world needs kids who are great and it's easier to be great when you have a great start. (I'm not saying perfect, I'm saying compassionate, strong, secure, happy with themselves, etc).

 

[Robindianne]

The difference lies between the folks who are unwilling to veer from societal norms and those that choose not to allow their lives to be dictated by them.

If we're speaking specifically in terms of ridicule for going against those norms (and we very much are on this thread), I'm unclear where the rigidity exists in the individuals who are saying that stepping outside of the norm is acceptable and that they would allow their children to do so.

Apparently, according to some folks, open-mindedness is really closed-mindedness. Who knew?



Someone should tell him that he looks like a girl.

He's soooooo hunky, I just adore him.

 

[Uncle Remus]

I couldn't care less if my son wanted to wear a princess dress as a costume. One of the operative words is costume; it's dress-up, and meant to be fantasy. I frequently wore tutus and dresses as a child (courtesy of an older sister) and I turned out strong, stable, and straight.

If anybody wants to mock a child for wearing a costume, they are a bad and ignorant person and I'll tell my child as such. I don't care what somebody's personal values are; to mock a child shows nothing but ignorance and I'll be sure to let my child know that the person doing the mocking is ignorant and holds values that we find tragic and abhorrent.

If a parent allows their child to mock another child for being different, and does not correct and re-educate their child and work to change their bullying habits, then that parent is as culpable as their child and will also be shown to my child to be ignorant. Your values can say that a child should not wear a dress, and that's fine, but to mock a child or to allow others to do so shows a lack of values or basic human kindness on your part, and therefore I have no use for you and will share my opinions of you with my children,

I don't mock children wearing clothing that I find unappealing or unattractive or for holding values with which I disagree, so if anybody wants to mock my child because they find the clothing inappropriate, I'll gladly share my insights into their lack of integrated intelligence with them and with my child.

My Lord, people, they are children who love pretty things. Maybe we can cut them a little slack and not force them into our stereotypes before they even reach kindergarten?

Hallelujah!!

 

[shortbun]

7th grade, last trick or treat and last school halloween party, DS asked to go as a Princess. He thought it would be funny. We went to a vintage store and bought him a beautiful purple dress with a full skirt and sparkly bodice. We bought a gorgeous beaded necklace and went to target to get the tiara and wand. He won the best costume contest. He went trick or treating and wore his basketball shoes under the dress so he could run and jump steps like he always did. He said people almost fell out of their doors when his booming bass voice said, "Trick or Treat!" His friends loved it. They all wore costumes and really went all out because they said it was their last Beggars Night. I love the pics of those costumes. I wish I knew where they were right now because I'd post both the 3yo princess pic and the 12yo princess pic. No gender issues, not gay, not confused just creative and loving life playing soccer, basketball, running track, and twice in his life-cross dressing, lol! Then there's the story about my MIL's best friend's husband who dresses like a woman and lives like one but can not afford any surgery...wish I could help him with that.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

I don't have a son but if I did I would have no problem with it. Nor would I have an issue if they wanted to get a barbie doll to play with or wear pink.

I figure society knocks the playful innocence out of little boys way too soon so I would want him to enjoy it for however long he could.

 

[ebtbmom]

Does anyone else feel like this is really a non-issue that's been made into an issue. For one thing, how much "self expression" is a 3 year old really capable of? Secondly just because you're kid says they want to do something doesn't mean that you have to allow them to do it. Surely you tell your kids what they can and cannot do on a regular basis. So why is this one request so emotionally charged? I believe that we adults have attributed our own values to it and turned it into a big moral dilema.

For years I wouldn't allow DS to dress as an army man because of some personal issues I had with with "army men" in college (long story, part of my dark and shady past ). But I eventually let him, when he was older. I didn't disallow it because I was afraid that it make him want to be military, or because I loathed every military man, it was just a personal choice for me, something that made me uncomfortable, and as the mom I got to say no!

So if a mom isn't into the whole boy dressing as a princess thing, maybe she's just not into it. Doesn't automatically make her a homophobe, or close minded, or ignorant, it's just not her thing and since it's her kid, it's OK.

Now, it is unacceptable to treat someone else's kid poorly, I would NEVER do that or allow it to happen! To each his own, but that applies to both sides of the argument!

 

[satorifound]

WHO says a Princess is girl's costume? That's the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. How about the costume manufacturers, society, the general public. Just because someone wants to defend their kid's right to wear a princess dress doesn't all of a sudden make a princess costume gender neutral. It's frilly, it's usually pink, and it is most definitely meant for girls.

A costume is just that, a COSTUME. They are for ANYONE. How many high school boys wear their girlfriends cheerleader costume for Halloween and vice versa? It isn't a big deal. I know plenty of boys who choose to dress as girls for Halloween.

 

[2girls4me]

My dd has a spider man shirt, and loves her princesses.

I don't have boys but I can't see them wearing the princesses dresses.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

A costume is just that, a COSTUME. They are for ANYONE. How many high school boys wear their girlfriends cheerleader costume for Halloween and vice versa? It isn't a big deal. I know plenty of boys who choose to dress as girls for Halloween.

I saw boys dressing up as girls for Halloween even when I was in Elementary school.

When I was in Junior High the popular boys decided to all dress up as girls for the Halloween dance. I have to say, some of those boys looked better than their dates did .

I also had a male cousin that let me use him as a human Barbie doll while growing up; clothes, hair, makeup, the whole nine yards. He grew up, went to bible college and married a wonderful woman, so I don't think our playing dress-up changed his sexuality any.