Kristin Tillotson of the Star-Tribune argues that the word "tomboy" may be outmoded now that "girls have more athletic options than ever and are outpacing boys in college-graduation rates." The idea that girls don't have to dress or act like boys in order to be considered smart, strong, or adventurous is awesome, but we're not entirely there yet. Scarlett Thomas, who plays Ramona in an upcoming stage production of "Ramona Quimby," says "she likes Ramona, a still-beloved classic kid's lit character, because she thinks for herself and stands her ground — traits associated with boys and tomboys, but not girly girls." And young Girl Scout Shamira MensanTeajaha Granger says, "girls have to stay on top of their game about how they look and being clean all the time. Boys come to school smelling like anything."

All this implies that we haven't yet reached a world where traits like "well-dressed," "adventurous," "pretty," "sporty," and "smelly" can exist independently of each other and of gender. Even Tillotson falls prey to some gender stereotypes, as when she generalizes, "little girls love to wear pink tutus." As far as we're concerned, as long as well-meaning people say things like this, there will always be a place for the term tomboy, and a soft spot in our hearts for girls who prefer a cape to a tutu and don't mind "smelling like anything." These girls aren't necessarily smarter, cooler, or stronger than girls who wear tiaras and lip gloss, but for now they might have to be braver, because, as another Girl Scout said, boys still expect girls to "to have a Coke-bottle shape and wear cute clothes and makeup."

"Ramona Quimby" director Clinton Turner Davis thinks "it would be interesting to poll some of the female leaders of our time — Michelle Obama, Madeleine Albright, Condoleezza Rice — and find out how many of them identified as tomboys." We took a similar poll of the Jezebel staff, and here are our results: Anna (H.) and Hortense were both total tomboys. Sadie "loved dolls and stuff, but I was very rambunctious, always climbing trees, skinning my knees, very grubby and kinda feral, too!" Dodai "had a phase where i was all about bugs and karate, but I never really thought of it as boyish." Intern Katy "was really interested in karate and boxing, but like Dodai, I didn't think it was 'boyish.'" Margaret says, "I don't know if having a brother very close in age influenced how I played, but I didn't pick up that you weren't supposed to wear a frilly dress AND play with He-Man figures in the mud until I was older." And while I was really into clothes, I also enjoyed X-Men, Creepy Crawlers, and fighting. If we're any indication, it looks like it's possible to combine "boy stuff" and "girl stuff" into a relatively happy childhood. What about you? Were you more about frills, more about bugs and karate, or all about both?

Tomboys In Tutus [Minneapolis Star-Tribune]

Mattel claims that while she looks older (she is supposed to be about 10), she's not wearing any makeup. But doesn't it look like someone's been in the mascara and lip gloss?

I always thought it was pretty cool that Dora wasn't uber "girly." Now she's traded her sneaks in for ballet slippers and added more ribbons, flowers and jewelry. Do these help at all with exploring?

Earlier: Breaking: The New Dora Has Been Spotted, Described
Doll Makeovers Are Not Child's Play

Not since the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb has man relied so heavily on a reporter's descriptive powers. Luckily, CNN's Carol Costello is gifted with the art of painting with words, and she was one of the chosen few allowed to see a doll so far only viewed in enigmatic silhouette.

The tweenage dora is about twelve inches high, she does have long brown hair with bangs and a headband, she is thin, she is tastefully and fashionably dressed. I would not say she's sexy...but she is attractive, she's a cute doll, but she's not wearing a little miniskirt or anything like that, and her hair is not as flowing as it was in that silhouette.

"So she's not going to be wearing a skirt?" asks Costello's colleague. "She's wearing shorts?"

"Well, she's wearing a tunic with leggings and platform heels."

And The Mothers wait.

'Boy Crazy' Dora? [CNN]
Dora Grows Up-Stops Exploring, Starts Shopping [Babble]
Dora The Explorer No More? [Washington Post]

Earlier: Doll Makeovers Are Not Child's Play

Sure, change is good: Except when it comes to items for which you have a sentimental nostalgia. I refuse to acknowledge the new electronic banking edition of Monopoly, which comes without paper money and includes a cell phone and a flat-screen TV as game pieces. Give me a dog or a wheelbarrow, or else it's not really Monopoly! Candy Land used to have a Molasses Swamp, but kids today don't know what molasses is (and can't use a dictionary?) so it's now the Chocolate Swamp. Don't even get me started on Candy Land: The Movie.

Why are these toy changes so irksome? Is it because we think of precious, happy memories from childhood as sacred and holy? Is it because — in the case of the dolls — you're taking something perfect and plastic finding fault with it? Is it because the changes are (usually) for the worse? Is it because saying, "when i was a kid, My Little Pony had four flat feet, not poseable legs and an ice cream truck" makes you feel old?

Interview - Disney Princesses Toy Designer, Dora Grows up-Stops Exploring, Starts Shopping [Babble]
Earlier: Berry Disturbing Makeover for Strawberry Shortcake
Related: My Little Pony Land

Selena and Demi met as child actors on the show Barney and Friends. When they were 11, they both tried out for a role in a Lizzie McGuire spin off, according to the WSJ, but Demi's mom, a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, says, "Selena is an adorable looking Hispanic girl, and looks more Hispanic than Demi, and that's what they were looking for at the time." This was right after Dora the Explorer became a huge, runaway success, so it makes sense that Disney would want to tap the Hispanic market that their main competitor, Nickelodeon, had already made huge strides in that sector.

Anyway, back to our little promise keepers: Miley, for her part, is distinctly displeased that she's been pushed aside for the new blood. On her YouTube channel, Miley put up a video with her friend Mandy Jiroux parodying Selena and Demi's Youtube channel (side note: doesn't Miley sound kind of drunk in this clip? Drunk on Jesus, naturally.) The Youtube viewers of this parody have articulated the underlying message to Disney's Post-Vanity Fair, post-green bra Miley overthrow. A disgruntled fan writes, "You are just jealous on Demi and Selena because they are not Sluts... " You see, now that Miley's virginal imagine is tainted, Disney needs to put some squeaky clean teens in the spotlight, and perhaps that's why there are two of them; if nude photos surface of Selena, (à la Vanessa Hudgens), there's already a back-up being primed for stardom.

Disney Revs Up Tween Star Machine [WSJ]
Demi Lovato And Selena Gomez Q&A!!!! [Official Demi Lovato Youtube Channel]
The Miley And Mandy Show!!!! Is My Makeup To Dark? [Miley Cyrus Official Youtube Channel]

Earlier: Underage Starlets Sprout From Disney Factory Like Whack-A-Moles