Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie supportive of Shiloh’s choice of gender-identity
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's eight-yer-old daughter dresses as a boy and wants to be called as 'John.' Back in 2008, Pitt in an interview with Oprah Winfrey on her show revealed that even when she was just 2½ years old, their daughter Shiloh already chose to identify herself as a boy. Said he then: "She only wants to be called John. John or Peter. So it's a Peter Pan thing. So we've got to call her John. 'Shi, do you want...' - 'John. I'm John.' And then I'll say, 'John, would you like some orange juice?' And she goes, 'No!' So, you know, it's just that kind of stuff that's cute to parents, and it's probably really obnoxious to other people."
Wife Jolie back in 2010 also told Daily Mail: "I don't think it's for the world to interpret anything. She likes to dress like a boy and wants her hair cut like a boy and she wanted to be called 'John' for a while. Some kids wear capes and want to be Superman and she wants to be like her brothers. It's who she is. It's been a surprise to us and it's really interesting, but she's so much more than that - she's funny and sweet and pretty. But she does love a tie..."
Now, after four years, the whole Jolie-Pitt family still addresses Shiloh as 'John.' At the premier showing of her mother's Unbroken film, her being seen and photographed sporting a short haircut and wearing a suit and tie much like those of her older brothers Pax and Maddox did serve to provoke media attention.
As Pitt noted years before, their decision to support their child's choice of gender identity will have some social media users opposing and criticizing them on the issue.However, many more did agree with them. Lisa Suhay at Christian Monitor is one of those who sides with the couple. She wrote: "Jolie and Pitt are doing something very wise and brave by setting an example for other parents to get past the idea that boys will be boys and girls will be princesses, by allowing their child to explore who she is and trust they will recognize her, not by her dress, but by who she is day-to-day - their child."