Do you think they were right to ban him?

Whilst I think my DGD2 aged 2 would not take any notice, I think DGD1 aged 5 would ask relentlessly WHY?? And may not be satisfied with the answer that he just likes wearing dresses. But WHY?

Or perhaps she would be very envious of the sheer amount of dresses he has

Now I still think that is a bit OTT, for a girl or a boy.

Quite, roseq. It's the number of dresses he has that is odd. In my view that's what the story is all about – excess. The fact that a small boy likes dressing up is a non-story really.

I should say the number of dresses his mum has bought/given him is the odd thing because if she hadn't provided them he wouldn't have them.

And does he dress up as anything else, or is the beautiful fairy princess his only fantasy?

Is he competing with his two sisters for attention in a feminity-dominated household? (NB - not a female one, but one where being very feminine is the norm)

I think he should do ballet. He could turn out to be a Billy Elliott.

I think the church having banned him is more to do with them than him, or the other children. Sad attitude for a church.

Bags my grandsons love playmobile knights. So I bought them loads off of eBay. This kid likes dresses.....

I've been thinking about Billy Elliott with respect to this story too. And yes, I agree about the banning being more about the banners than the banned (or the banned's mum).

"More banned against than banning"... no, that doesn't work but you'll see what I mean.

But Billy Elliott didn't dress up. He just liked dancing...

When (and where) dancing was regarded as a thing real boys didn't do!

It's still regarded like that quite often. The idiots who think so don't realise how athletic ballet (and many other forms of dance) is. Daft bats.

And, in this story, "dressing" up is frowned upon. <thinks about winner of Eurovision...>

Hmm...not sure what talent is lurking behind a little boy's wish to dress up as a fairytale princess, but no doubt time will tell.

Not sure talent is necessary. I just mentioned the Austrian because clearly men dressing up as women might is perfectly acceptable sometimes. So why not at a playgroup? [rhetorical question]

The story does say he wants to do ballet. That's why I mentioned Billy Elliott.

Right. Sorry, missed that.

I think the church having banned him is more to do with them than him, or the other children. Sad attitude for a church.

Jinglebells - particularly when you look at what the clergy wear ....

Love it!!!

Bang on, roseq

Oh! but those are robes* (like what magicians, sorry, wizards at Hogwarts wear), not dresses. Aye, right.

*robes or other funny names that I can't remember.

Gowns. But the clergy don't usually wear high heels and tiaras - at least not in public!

Vestments

Lovely word...

No. It's got 'vest' in it.

Still. If you like it...... [shrug]

That's why I like it!

Here's a controversial thought: if seeing a male, even a male child, wearing high heels and a tiara is so weird, what does that say about high heels and tiaras? Especially the high heels, I'm thinking. If it is so shocking to see them on a boy (in public [sarc]), to me that says a lot about high heels being idiotic things for women too, for anyone.

Likewise trailing gowns and trains.

I don't like wearing high heels, although I must admit I tottered around in stilettos in my youth. (Stupid fashion)