Is it right for mothers to dress their young boys in girlish tones of clothing?

you do have a point. if they think that their son is just a child, why don't they dress up their daughters like boys just like what you said and use the same excuse that their daughter is just a child when someone asks them? and back to your main question, it's not alright to dress young boys with girly clothes because it will confuse them as they grow up. and by the way, the eradication of gender roles is a huge contribution to this confusion among the youngsters.