It is a very fine line. Sometimes l wonder if reinforcing gender stereotypes, like that dolls are for girls create gender confusion.

I wouldn’t get too mad when your mum doesn’t understand this, she grew up in a different generation. My son loved to dress up in dresses too, wanted a doll and doll pram for his BD and picked pink jumpers at a young age. I just let him experiment. When his best friend came over and they played dress ups both in dresses, necklaces and high heels, the father of his best friend was so mad at me for allowing his son to do this we’re all different

That’s a tough one I understand where your mum is coming from and I am old fashioned like that too but then again if the boy is happy then what do you do? I think you need to be happy & comfortable with the decision you & hubby make and not worry about others opinions.

My brother and I played together with his cars. He was younger than me so I couldn’t have fitted into his clothes if I wanted to. Mine got passed on as soon as I grew out of them. He probably tried to walk in Mums shoes the same as any other kid does. I doubt either of us tried to walk in Dad’s shoes. He had big feet and size 12EEE shoes which had to be specially ordered so we definitely would have fallen over if we tried.

Having the title of this as “child’s sexual preference” makes me think you’re already making assumptions on his identity. So keep in mind how you yourself are interpreting your child’s clothing preferences and behaviour. Liking dresses has nothing to do with sexual attraction or preferences. He is a child after all.
And children are much simpler than adults. He simply could be mimicking his older sibling. I think both your mum and yourself are reading into it more than what it is, from different perspectives.
I don’t think either of you are right or wrong. It is about perspectives and you both have the right to have your own.
In my perspective, If he was my child I would see it as him admiring his sister and wanting to be like her. I would let him know it is great that he has that admiration, but he can also be his own person too and celebrate what makes him different compared to his sister. Give other people the chance to admire him for what makes him unique without him needing to copy others. Children are highly influenced by their environment and parents are there to guide them in healthy directions.
So just think about what direction you are guiding your child in. If it benefits the child, then it doesn’t really matter what your mum says, because you will have more influence over him anyway.

I don’t think your mum meant anything by it. You are doing nothing wrong. Let him be if he is happy. There are plenty of boys who like girl’s things and vice/versa. He will discover his own identity and gender if need be in his own time.

Have you told him that makeup etc is a girls thing?
maybe getting him some boys dress ups (iron man, batman, spider man etc) would save the stares and comments of a boy in a dress?!!

I think your mum is old fashioned, she probably doesn’t mean to be hurtful. Maybe just show her how happy your son is. And hopefully she learns to accept it or at least be quiet about it.

I think the older generations have differs t views as they were bought up in a different time

He is your child, not hers. You do what you think is best for him and just ignore her. She is wrong in this instance.