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- ''For the computer software, see Tomboy (software)
- Wearing non-feminine clothes.
- Enjoying boys' games, interests and (mainly physical) activities, such as running, jumping, climbing trees and sports like soccer and baseball.
- Preferring school subjects often considered to be the domain of boys, like mathematics and science.
- Preferring to befriend boys more than other girls.
Word history
The word is recorded in Engish since 1553, for a "rude, boisterous boy," from Tom (a common boys namen as in 'Tommy' meaning soldier) + boy; the meaning "bold or immodest woman" is attested from 1579; the present use is first recorded in 1592.
Context
There is little study of the causality of tomboyness, since it has been considered a youthful phase. In the recent past and near future, due to tomboyishness sometimes being accompanied by lesbianism, there have been and may be more attempts to seek a causality for what is perceived as a deviant behavior. Some folk theories might be that a girl spent her childhood and/or adolescence in an environment where the male presence or action predominates, and having therefore a lack of female role models. For example,
- a family with:
- a school mostly of boys, hence the tomboy befriends few girls.
However, this post hoc hypothesis is challenged by some tomboys' personal experiences and by modern research that suggests that tomboyishness is heavily influenced by genetic and prenatal factors. *
Historically tomboys were defined by boyish behaviour (especially more physically active, technological and scientific interests) and wearing boys' clothing. In recent times, as the use of "traditional" girlish clothing such as dresses, blouses and skirts steadily declines among western females, the distinction has become more and more one of behaviour. A general increase in the popularity of woman's sporting events (see Title IX), and other activities that were traditionally male-dominated, is today broadening tolerance and lessening the impact of "tomboy" as a pejorative.
Childhood genders are handled somewhat differently for tomboys and 'sissy' or girlish boys. Tomboyism generally enjoys much more social approval and support than femininity in young males. However, gender scholar Judith 'Jack' Halberstam has noted that while tomboyism is often tolerated or even encouraged in young girls, older girls and adolescents who display masculine traits are often repressed and punished as well. Thus, youthful gender expressions are increasingly linked to sexuality and evaluated in relation to heterosexual norms.
Famous tomboys in fiction include Jo March from Little Women, Alicia Lambert from Step by Step, Scout Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird, and George (Georgina) from The Famous Five (by Enid Blyton). Depictions of tomboys in other media include Peppermint Patty of the Charlie Brown cartoons and Velma of the Scooby-Doo franchise.
Adulthood
Occasionally, someone who identified as a tomboy while growing up might come to identify as a transman, transsexual, transgender, butch or boi. There is also a possibility that a tomboy will later be diagnosed with an intersexed condition, though not all people with such conditions who were raised as and/or identify as girls will exhibit tomboyish tendencies. To date, scientific research regarding the causes and effects of tomboyishness is quite limited. There are no statistics available on what percentage of tomboys grow up to identify as any of the above, or how that compares to the percentage of the general female population who identify as such.
Most tomboys grow up to identify unambiguously as women. They may retain a large degree of their childhood tomboyishness, or may become more feminine as they grow. In the latter case, this may result from naturally changing over time, making a conscious effort to appear more feminine, or a combination of the two. Some of these adult women have openly expressed regret for their tomboy youth.
Sources adn references
(incomplete)
See also
"Tomboy"