to not join in the ribbing of dress-wearing ds?

[CailinDana]

Ds (2.5) is a very confident funny little boy. At playgroup he loves dressing up and he often chooses dresses and girl's shoes. He says he's a princess. I think it's incredibly cute. A lot of the other parents laugh and say i should take photos to embarrass him when he's older. I don't like their reaction for two reasons. First on a broader level i don't like the implication that dressing as a girl is embarrassing - no comment is ever made about the girl dressed as spiderman. On a more personal level i don't like my son, who's genuinely enjoying himself, being laughed at. I remember adults laughing at me when i was little and not understanding why and it was awful.
Aibu?

Yanbu, my ds wears dresses when we go to friends houses and he plays in their dressing up box, I have had a few people say why is he wearing that? What will his Dad say? Etc, well if his Dad was the sort of person to be pissed off with this I wouldn't be with him, really pisses me off.

Oddly enough, as the mum of a DS who still wears a dress at home and a few other places at almost seven, I think you're being a bit over sensitive.
Totally get what you mean, it's like they're belittling him AND women in one go, but a simple: "I hope things change iver the next 20 years so he won't feel embarrassed....", or "Why should be be embarrassed?" will close the convo down.
They're just, as a PP has said, spouting cliches without thinking about the hidden implications.

"What will his dad say?"
'Kin 'ell!

They'd shit if they visited us!

Whilst I think it's sad that people feel the need to laugh at a boy wearing dresses etc, I think it's even worse that people feel the need to comment about, or even notice, boys playing with ironing boards, kitchens, prams etc. since when were these just women's things? It's not the 1950s. Men do housework and childcare too ffs.

A woman leading a talk about the importance of play at my local mother and baby group told us that it's "perfectly normal for little boys to play with prams. They always pretend that they are racing cars though." I hate this blind acceptance of gender stereotypes.

I know, Ham. It's always qualified with the fact that they put their trucks in the pram, or similar. Guys, relax, it's OK for boys to nurture.....

My eldest son used to do this up until about 4. I never tried to stop him. He was also a child who liked to play with pretend swords and guns. I never tried to stop him do that, either.

YANBU if the laughing is unguarded and obviously mocking, and could make your son feel uncomfortable.

YABU if the laughter could be because he looks so cute.

As mumsy says, depends if it's a kind "ow that's cute" chuckle or something more nasty. My DS used to put everything on together, picture rugby top and jeans with pink ballet tutu over them, topped off with a pirates hat whilst nursing a doll. I do have the photo's as he looked so adorable.

It's not an "aww" sort of laughing it's uncomfortable and mocking - same as if he was mooning or some other funny but not really acceptable thing. The annoying thing is they expect me to join in.