Angelina Jolie is a single mother of six children, including daughter Shiloh. Shiloh, who was born in 2006, made headlines when she expressed that she wanted to be called John, or Peter, rather than her birth name.
At the time, Brad Pitt stated that this was due to a “Peter Pan” phase.
In a Vanity Fair interview in 2010, Angelina spoke about her daughter’s preference for male clothing and hairstyles, stating that she wants to be a boy and considers herself one of her brothers.
Angelina and Brad faced criticism from some who felt that they were encouraging their daughter’s unconventional choices, but Angelina maintained that she is not the type of parent to force her child to be someone they are not, and that children should be allowed to express themselves.
The actress also emphasized that Shiloh’s interests and preferences were not a result of bad parenting.
Despite the attention the media gave to Shiloh’s phase, she has outgrown it and has since attended several public events wearing dresses and appearing as a typical girl.
The fact that Shiloh has outgrown her phase has been ignored by some media outlets, but it is a clear example of how children can outgrow their imaginative thoughts about themselves, including their gender identity.
In conclusion, Shiloh’s story serves as a reminder that children’s thoughts and preferences are often temporary, and that parents should allow them to grow and express themselves without interference or judgement.
Shiloh’s story also serves as a cautionary tale for those who may be considering hormone therapy or medical procedures for their children, as she did not require any medical interventions to outgrow her phase.
“Shiloh, we feel, has Montenegro style,” said Angelina in a 2010 Vanity Fair interview.
“It’s how people dress there. She likes tracksuits, she likes [regular] suits. So it’s a suit with a tie and a jacket and slacks, or a tracksuit. She likes to dress like a boy. She wants to be a boy. So we had to cut her hair. She likes to wear boys’ everything. She thinks she’s one of the brothers.”
“I think she is fascinating, the choices she is making,” Angelina told Reuters.
“And I would never be the kind of parent to force somebody to be something they are not. I think that is just bad parenting.”
“Children should be allowed to express themselves without anybody judging them,” said Angelina.
“This is an important experience for their growth.”
Brad Pitt stated in a 2008 Oprah Winfrey interview, “Shiloh only wants to be called John. Or Peter. She corrects anyone who calls her Shiloh, ‘John. I’m John.'”
“I think she is fascinating, the choices she is making,” Angelina told Reuters.
“And I would never be the kind of parent to force somebody to be something they are not. I think that is just bad parenting.”
