tomboy [ˈtɒmˌbɔɪ]
- a girl considered boyish or masculine in behavior or manner
- a girl who acts or dresses in a boyish way, liking rough outdoor activities
How come there is no male equivalent to a tomboy?
Why is it that being a boyish girl is widely accepted but being a girly boy is always derogative and inextricably connected with accusations of being gay?
When it comes to performing gender it feels like women in general are freer these days than men are. Somehow they succeeded in transcending the confines of the historical idea of "woman" and added meaning to it. Presumably, our contemporary culture could only get rid of the housewife-image because there were women who actually performed more manly so to say, taking matters into their own hands apart from home (e.g. career women). This doesn't imply the process of adding meaning to reality was an easy one, since it was certainly derided, but people accustomed to it over time. Nor do I think that this could affect the rigid power relations between masculinity and femininity. What I want to point out is that while woman expanded their field of gender performance by gaining access to male domains, men's gender role seems to stay fixed, still denying them to show a sensitive, compassionate side. (Well, I have to admit that at least the men's attitude towards grooming changed partially.) However, there are nonetheless a lot more "don'ts" for men than there are for women in terms of their acting in society.
Why is it that being a boyish girl is widely accepted but being a girly boy is always derogative and inextricably connected with accusations of being gay?
When it comes to performing gender it feels like women in general are freer these days than men are. Somehow they succeeded in transcending the confines of the historical idea of "woman" and added meaning to it. Presumably, our contemporary culture could only get rid of the housewife-image because there were women who actually performed more manly so to say, taking matters into their own hands apart from home (e.g. career women). This doesn't imply the process of adding meaning to reality was an easy one, since it was certainly derided, but people accustomed to it over time. Nor do I think that this could affect the rigid power relations between masculinity and femininity. What I want to point out is that while woman expanded their field of gender performance by gaining access to male domains, men's gender role seems to stay fixed, still denying them to show a sensitive, compassionate side. (Well, I have to admit that at least the men's attitude towards grooming changed partially.) However, there are nonetheless a lot more "don'ts" for men than there are for women in terms of their acting in society.
Just take a look at last year's Toemageddon
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