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Original poster

Everyone thinks my little boy is a girl because he has long hair!

67 replies

Hogu · 15/12/2021 20:01

Now I know the majority of boys have short hair but not all boys do. My little boy has longish hair. It really suits him and we all love it. I dress him like a little boy but not one single person refers to him as he. It's always she /her/little lady / princess etc! I used to correct people but I've stopped doing it now.

Has anyone else had this?

OP posts:
SameToo · 15/12/2021 20:05

People think my girl is a boy even with long hair if she’s wearing blue 🙄

Theunamedcat · 15/12/2021 20:07

My teenage son has almost waist length blonde hair gets called she on a regular basis hates it but loves his hair more

Mumoftwoinprimary · 15/12/2021 20:08

Dd was called “he” once as a baby. When I said she was a girl the person commented that she was wearing blue. She was. A blue dress.

Bussinbussin · 15/12/2021 20:08

I remember DS being mistaken for a girl when he was in short hair and blue dungarees with a tractor on them!

People, huh.

BigRedBoat · 15/12/2021 20:08

My youngest took ages to grow hair and people always thought she was a boy until she was about 2.5, I think people just look at hair first.

TheresOnlyOneWayOfLife · 15/12/2021 20:09

DS2 has had long curly hair since he was 3. I bought him a t shirt when he was younger that said "Stop! Before you say anything I'm a boy with long hair"
He's 18 now still with long hair, nicks my conditioner at every opportunity

doadeer · 15/12/2021 20:11

My son had long curly hair - I used to put it in a bun before I cut it. Strange he never got confused for a girl though I am surprised. I think a pony tail looked more "girly"

Those tshirts sound funny

MinnieMountain · 15/12/2021 20:12

Yup. He’s 8 and has blonde hair. Doesn’t care though.

He had a pink cellular blanket as a baby. People assumed he was a girl.

Original poster
Hogu · 15/12/2021 20:13

It's really annoying because there's no way I'd just assume on hair length! At a Santa visit today the 'elf' looked disgusted because she was expecting a boy and DS was clearly a girl. She was quite rude actually!

OP posts:
PerpetualStudent · 15/12/2021 20:13

I used to have this with my DS - I just stopped correcting them TBH!

Ellerehj · 15/12/2021 20:13

I love boys with long hair!! Wish my boy kept it long but he asked for his cut and had to respect his wishes. Boys with long hair are cool. Don't listen to anyone else. It's his choice

Bringonsummer19 · 15/12/2021 20:15

Meh…society had worst stereotypes. You’ve broken the norm and sadly this is what people do.

Alpenguin · 15/12/2021 20:16

My youngest had long hair and gets called a girl often. He indignantly tells people boys can have long hair too. His moron of a father took him for a trim yesterday and he came back with a Fucking bowl cut. 😭😭😭

Scarydinosaurs · 15/12/2021 20:21

You can read too much into looks, it’s unlikely the elf was disgusted, probably just surprised.

I don’t see why it’s annoying, hardly an insult?

Legomania · 15/12/2021 20:22

People need to use stereotypical cues because before puberty boys and girls look pretty similar!

I assume people (who probably aren't sure) think it's better to imply that your boy has feminine hair than that your girl has a masculine face.

HohohoCoughCough · 15/12/2021 20:23

I get this as well.

ShowOfHands · 15/12/2021 20:24

My 10yr old ds has long hair. Nobody ever mistakes him for a girl. And actually, he does wear quite a bit of pink as he likes it. But he looks undeniably like a boy.

I agree that it would be v strange for an adult to be disgusted by a hair cut.

DD is often mistaken for a boy (shaved head) and doesn't give a shit.

Legomania · 15/12/2021 20:24

Also, you want people to abide by clothing stereotypes while ignoring hair stereotypes...

ByGrabtharsHammerWhatASavings · 15/12/2021 20:25

Yup my 5 year old gets this constantly. I've asked if he wants to cut his hair but he says no, he loves his hair and doesn't care. My dd often gets mistaken for a boy as well but she's only 3 so I don't think she even notices.

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 15/12/2021 20:27

Meh, my DS(5) has short hair and while we were swimming and bloke said it was nice to see a mum bothering with her little girl, usually it's daddy who spoils the girl. I just sort of shrugged and went about my business. I don't particularly care what a stranger thinks

OhPeeQueue · 15/12/2021 20:28

At a Santa visit today the 'elf' looked disgusted because she was expecting a boy and DS was clearly a girl. She was quite rude actually!

Really? 🤨🧐 an elf got angry your kid didn’t look like a boy?

elizabethdraper · 15/12/2021 20:31

Meh, not something I would be bothered about

I never bothered correcting anyone whats the point Hmm

Mooscow · 15/12/2021 20:31

I wonder if gender ideology is ingraining gender stereotypes more and more these days e.g. child who likes long hair must really be a girl, child who likes wearing a dinosaur t-shirt really must be a boy.

sociallydistained · 15/12/2021 20:32

I adore long hair on boys. I am pregnant and if its a boy I really hope he has long hair (obviously not at birth over time). I looked after a little boy with long blonde hair and this was always the case. It’s ridiculous.

But I have a friend who was convinced a couple at toddler group were two gay men because the Mum of the child had short cropped hair. This person was clearly a female I was flabbergasted at how my friend just saw the hair and made up this whole scenario about them! Wtf

MedusasBadHairDay · 15/12/2021 20:35

DS gets confused for a girl occasionally. We've just told him it doesn't matter, bring mistaken for a girl isn't an insult, and if he likes his hair long then he should keep it long, not change it for other people.

I had short hair when I was younger and got mistaken for a boy.

DH had long hair and got mistaken for a girl.

It's no big deal.