Free to Be You and Me

"Life & Style" should be ashamed of its recent cover story about Shiloh Jolie-Pitt (with her sister Zahara in the photo at left).

The tabloid magazine suggests the adorable three-year-old's mode of dress is evidence she is experiencing gender identity issues. In fact, the magazine attributes the following statement to a VH1 stylist (who claims her words were taken out of context):

"Shiloh is pushing the boundaries of a tomboy look and crossing over to cross-dresser territory."

Can you believe?

"'Life & Style' is way off the mark with this outrageous coverage… Perpetuating gender stereotypes and targeting children for ridicule about the way they dress is unacceptable," said Rashad Robinson, senior director of media programs for GLAAD, in an article posted on the organization's blog.

I wholeheartedly agree.

In an email to Jezebel writer Dodai, the aforementioned stylist made an astute observation, in my opinion, about the possible motivation behind Shiloh's clothing choices:

"The quote I did provide to Life & Style actually praised Shiloh's parents for letting her be who she wants to be, and included that she has two cool older brothers who she is probably trying to emulate, and that she looks up to..."

I am a firm believer in allowing children to dress themselves. Their clothing choices are an expression of their creativity and I don't think that should be stifled.

My mom, on the other hand, had a rule (as my ensembles often suggested I was, at the very least, color blind): if we left home, I had to change clothes.

Somewhere there's a picture of me −I'm three or four− wearing a yellow tank top over a blue turtleneck, with what appears to be paint spattered pants, purple argyle socks, grey and blue sneakers, and a grin from ear to ear.

I've come a long way.