To those who say they would stop the child "For their own good" I say that whilst I disagree with your standpoint, I understand where you are coming from totally.
That kid might have a hard couple of years. I assume that once he starts to realise he is dressing like a girl and not like a boy it might begin to have an affect on him and he may or may not choose to wear something different. But you know what? Back in the day (And I am referring to the medieval times and whatnot) there was little distinction between children and what they wore, both male and female kids would just wear dress-like smock things. This kid is not as much subverting current social norms with modern ones as regressing to older social norms.
Which makes total sense, I mean, dresses allow for more movement, are more comfortable, in hot weather they are less constricting, bleh, I can understand why a little boy would want to wear one over the usual shorts and t-shirt. I hope he does not get that much shit for it.
miketehmage said:
"Is forcing a conformity to baseless gender roles a lesser evil than letting your son get used to a choice he doesn't yet understand the consequences of?"
In my opinion, yes it is. Quite frankly boys shouldn't wear dresses. At that age he probably doesn't fully understand what he is doing but if he continues those habits he's going to get alot of shit for it.
Now, if he was older and made the decision that he wanted to wear a dress, then fair enough. But I don't think that at this young age he should be wearing one, and I don't think the father should be encouraging it. Because lets face it, trousers aren't that bad and the dress probably isn't worth the shit he'll get if he continues this way.
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?um=1&hl=en&safe=off&sa=N&biw=1366&bih=643&authuser=0&tbm=isch&tbnid=DsQuYIzWLXiACM:&imgrefurl=http://www.shiachat.com/forum/index.php%3F/topic/234915498-thobe-dishdasha/&imgurl=http://www.shiachat.com/forum/uploads/post-19560-1162415590_thumb.jpg&w=400&h=301&ei=I1w-ULXMGq_R4QTXkIHIDg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=889&vpy=318&dur=7&hovh=195&hovw=259&tx=148&ty=160&sig=107781116309792703820&page=1&tbnh=120&tbnw=160&start=0&ndsp=23&ved=1t:429,r:21,s:0,i:140
I dunno how to actually link to pictures. But... Well... Derp.
One mans dress is another mans comfortable attire. There is nothing wrong with this kid dressing how he feels comfortable. And yes, the father is being "Brave" and once the kid grows up, they too will be brave.
Heres another example of a brave kid.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/8504552/Boy-wears-skirt-to-school-in-protest-against-discrimination.html
Fuck societal norms. Wear what is comfortable, not what people tell you to wear. I mean, I am not saying public nudity is a good idea (Immediately jumping to someone straw-manning my argument and countering it) but there is nothing wrong with wearing a dress, nothing "Offensive" about this kid wearing a dress.
Speaking as someone who used to wear dishdashas (For formal things. When I was about 8-12. It was the national dress of the country I lived in.) I know it is much more comfortable in a hot area to wear something loose that breaths and allows for more movement.
Would you call out an arab wearing their national dress because it simply aint right? Would you say it is not manly? Would there be any issue at all? No. Because for them, that is utterly normal, despite it being roughly the same as a shapeless dress with long sleeves. It is utterly masculine.
I have gone off topic so I will tldr and go and get ready to go out.
tldr;
Nothing wrong with this kid wearing what is comfortable. It aint offensive to anyone and more power to him. That father is the ultimate dad and I would shake his hand. I only hope that teachers will also protect him from what bullying may or may not arise; there is nothing un-christian about a little boy dressing as little boys used to in days gone by.
