Little Boy in a Princess Costume

[Excerpt from the Los Angeles Times article]
"A good day is when Luc wakes up and wants to be a tractor for Halloween. Or a helicopter. Or Hercules. Or anything other than a princess, bounding door-to-door in tiara and tulle.

A few weeks ago, the 4-year-old boy's desire to trick-or-treat as a princess sparked a dilemma for his two moms, Anna and Louisa Villeneuve: Which do you honor and protect, your child's independent spirit or tender feelings?"


http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-1022-banks-20111022,0,21747,full.column

An article in the Los Angeles Times, "The princess costume and the trick-or-treat dilemma," Sandy Banks describes the trouble a couple is having with their four year old son, Luc Villeneuve, who wants to be a princess this Halloween.  Knowing the negative reactions of having Luc dress as a princess, his parents are finding it difficult responding to his decision.  They do not mind having their son wear this costume.  However, they are concerned about the comments people will make when Luc is seen in a princess costume on Halloween.  What determines a person’s gender?  Society has made physiological characteristics determine whether a person is a male or female.  In addition, there are social norms regarding gender, boys play with trucks and girls play with dolls.  Gender identification has been constructed by society and deviances from gender roles receive negative social sanctions.  For Luc, dressing up in a princess costume will shock people who see him because it is strange to see a little boy wear a “girl’s” costume.  In responding to Luc wanting to be a princess, female children say he should be a wizard instead because only girls can be princesses.  The expected reactions from society regarding Luc’s choice in costume make it difficult for his parents to decide how they should handle the problem.