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So I chose the next best "Happy Days" costume: The Fonz. It came in a box exactly like this one. The mask was plastic and made me sweat the instant I put it on. The jumpsuit was a light vinyl and barely fit me. But I wore it proudly because I loved Fonzie. (And do you guys remember those boxed costumes? How heinous where they?!)
I'm remembering all of this because I just read a post by Jodi Nelson Call over at the blog Pistols and Popcorn. For Halloween, her four-year-old son wants to dress up as Raven, the female character from the animated show "Teen Titans." And she's all for it. I admire her openness about it:
"So when Roan needs to ask me if he can still like dresses, I tell him that of course he can. He can because we are all part boy and part girl. I enjoy wearing dresses and I enjoy wearing combat boots (I know we're not in the 80's anymore DON'T JUDGE). I enjoy putting on my boxing gloves and getting some full-contact Muay Thai Kick Boxing on, and I enjoy getting a mani/pedi. Roan enjoys skateboarding, riding bikes, video games, bugs, climbing like a maniac, talking about blood with his older cousin, and Roan enjoys the most diverse and magical imaginary lands that change constantly."
Parents rarely bat an eye when their daughters want to dress up as male-inspired characters. My parents certainly didn't care that I wanted to be The Fonz when I was five. But when boys want to wear a costume that's inspired by a female character, parents are conflicted. Or flat out against it.
If your little guy wanted to be Dora the Explorer for Halloween, would you let him? Where do you draw the line?
