tomboys - Jezebel

posts about #tomboys more →
Is The Word "Tomboy" Obsolete?
Where Have All The Tomboys Gone?
Oh, Really? You Think That's A Good Picture Of Me? Are You Some Sort Of Underminer?

Your version of Internet Explorer is not supported. Please upgrade to the most recent version in order to view comments.

Dsmvwl Admin Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×

Shamrockette
04/13/09

In reply to Is The Word "Tomboy" Obsolete?
I was definitely into Barbies as a kid, but I loved to play with KNEX, ride my bike, go rollerblading, play pretend Wrestling with the boys around the block, play roller hockey, soccer and baseball. Hell, even football! Let's just say I had the best of both worlds.

I never really considered myself a tomboy because I did both boyish and girly stuff. But as I got older, I did become a little more boyish, but at this point, I don't care if I'm a tomboy or a girly girl.
Reply

Shamrockette was starred Shamrockette was unstarred

kemperboyd
04/13/09

In reply to Is The Word "Tomboy" Obsolete?
I was most definately a tomboy. My mother has a photo of me at aged 2 looking very unhappy in a tartan skirt, when ever she shows me it she always say 'and that that was the last time you wore a dress'(I have since worn one for my Gran's 90th birthday and prom). I played spacemen and Teenage Mutant Turtles with my best freind James. I played football and cricket in the garden with my brother and I never owned a barbie. But i did (and do still) own hundred of soft toy animals.
Reply

kemperboyd was starred kemperboyd was unstarred

Red-headed bookworm
04/13/09

In reply to Is The Word "Tomboy" Obsolete?
Well, I loved my Barbies, but I also played with the boy across the street. We played outside all the time in the summer, made up game involving comic book characters and He-man. In the winter we played on his dad's computer or with He-man figures and Transformers. Or had days long Monopoly games. Or challenged the older kids to snowball fights.

I also played Barbies and dolls with the girl down the street. I didn't really feel like I had to be one or the other, but just did what I was in the mood for. Sometimes all of us played together, but I don't think it was that common.

I loved pink and Star Wars toys at the same time. I was a girly-geeky, nose buried in a book kid. Still the same way. I love clothes and shoes and a good sci-fi movie.
Reply

Green Goth Brit Chick - AlternatEve
04/13/09

In reply to Is The Word "Tomboy" Obsolete?
Heheh, growing up was rather fun in this respect. I was a total tomboy, hated dresses and pink. My grandparents on my father's side were rather strict Catholics, and had to force me into a dress for church twice a week until I bargained them down to wearing dresses witout complaint to church if they let me wear my jeans the rst of the time.

My grandmother on my mother's side was just awesome. I wanted a train set. She got me it, then argued the hell out of my dad about being able to play with it if I damn well wanted (backed up by my mother who always wanted meccano and wasn't allowed by her father - so she stole her brothers), as well as the SNES I begged for. Played with them to DEATH. She was also the one who let me have the run of the estate she lived on, and who's only comment on me coming home top to toe in mud was saying she had to hose me down in the back yard because the floor was clean.

I miss my Nana...
Reply

Green Goth Brit Chick - AlternatEve
04/13/09

@Green Goth Brit Chick - Needs 5 more for her star! - Altern...: Thinking about it, I still have that SNES. Must get it out once I find a new power adapter.
Reply

meritxell: an erotic life
04/13/09

In reply to Is The Word "Tomboy" Obsolete?
Ramona Quimby FTW! I just read a lot...a LOT.
Reply

meritxell: an erotic life
04/13/09

@meritxell: I also went through a bird watching phase and model rockets with my dad (talk about nerd). But I had She-Ra and Jem dolls too.
Reply

DexterHaven
04/13/09

In reply to Is The Word "Tomboy" Obsolete?
I played soccer for years in mostly men's teams, and there were few other teams. And I have to say, a lot of men were freaked out by it. They liked playing with girls who were very pretty but crap, and could be patted on the head, or girls who were very masculine and athletic. But as a normally attractive, reasonably talented player, most of them didn't know what to do with me. Not my friends, though, they were awesome.
Reply

DexterHaven was starred DexterHaven was unstarred

Glitterbug (likes life shaken, not stirred)
04/13/09

In reply to Is The Word "Tomboy" Obsolete?
I was a tomboy in activities and interest, but girly-girlish when it came to clothes, music, films and toys (*ahem*, Barbies).
Reply

Glitterbug (likes life shaken, not stirred)
04/13/09

@Glitterbug (likes life shaken, not stirred): By "activities and interests" I meant outdoorsy stuff, karate, dinosaurs etc.
Reply

Helen Skor
04/13/09

In reply to Is The Word "Tomboy" Obsolete?
. . . as another Girl Scout said, boys still expect girls to "to have a Coke-bottle shape and wear cute clothes and makeup."

Sorry, but I'm just not believing that someone under the age of 40 said that. Most kids who are young enough to be Girl Scouts aren't familiar with the original Coke bottle's shape; and Coke bottles today are definitely not indicative of an ideal feminine form. (Although, I have to admit that I look more like the new version than the old!)
Reply

Helen Skor was starred Helen Skor was unstarred

Princess Leela
04/13/09

@Helen Skor: Really? The current plastic Coke bottles don't look too terribly different, shape-wise, from the old-fashioned glass ones ... do they?
Reply

Princess Leela was starred Princess Leela was unstarred

shorty63136
04/13/09

In reply to Is The Word "Tomboy" Obsolete?
I've been a tomboy all my life and still am at the age of 25.
Reply

shorty63136 was starred shorty63136 was unstarred

shorty63136
04/13/09

Unfortunately, that generally gets me labeled as "gay".
Reply

shorty63136 was starred shorty63136 was unstarred

gobblegirl
04/13/09

In reply to Is The Word "Tomboy" Obsolete?
My sister and I were looking through old photos the other day, and realized that not only did I mostly hang out with boys, but I pretty much looked like a boy from about ages 6-11, with my short hair (albeit, a boy in neon pink hats and a flowered fanny pack). There was this awesome photo of me and my buddy Patrick doing high kicks for the camera on one of our family hikes. Wicked awesome. When he and I played, he was Robin Hood and I was Maid Marian, but MM was doing just as much has RH did.

That said, I also played with dolls, and made up stories, and liked to bake with my mum.

What I'm saying is that basically, I aspired to be the Paper Bag Princess.
Reply

gobblegirl was starred gobblegirl was unstarred

bluebears
04/13/09

In reply to Is The Word "Tomboy" Obsolete?
I'll say it. I was absolutely not a "tomboy." I was the prissiest kid around. I was forced to be in Little League and I hated it. I pranced around the outfield and picked dandelions. Just telling it like it is...
Reply

bluebears was starred bluebears was unstarred

deitybox
04/13/09

In reply to Is The Word "Tomboy" Obsolete?
I loved dressing up and putting on shows, but I also loved climbing trees and softball. And I thought that this was the best thing EVER:
Reply

deitybox was starred deitybox was unstarred

deitybox
04/13/09

@deitybox: noooo why won't it let me embed a video?

well here's the link. it's the race car clip from Punky Brewster. awesomeness.

+ Watch video

Reply

deitybox was starred deitybox was unstarred

Tippi Hedren
04/13/09

In reply to Is The Word "Tomboy" Obsolete?
I was a quiet, indoors, play by myself or read type. Not really boyish or girlish... but meek. I played Barbies, sure, but I also played with cars and He-Man toys.
Reply

Tippi Hedren was starred Tippi Hedren was unstarred

Fatwetdog
04/13/09

In reply to Is The Word "Tomboy" Obsolete?
I wore a pink tutu AND a cape, and all y'all can keep your ideas about gender roles out of my closet. (Seriously, there's no room for them in there, and I'm not getting rid of the wigs.)
Reply

Fatwetdog was starred Fatwetdog was unstarred

whatsername
04/13/09

@Fatwetdog: pics or it didn't happen :)
Reply

whatsername was starred whatsername was unstarred

whatsername
04/13/09

In reply to Is The Word "Tomboy" Obsolete?
You know whats fucking irritating?

That tomboy is seen as as pejorative.
And that little girls these days MUST be princesses , I mean, no one WANTS to climb, and build shit and play practical jokes because thats not something girls will do.
And that my FB statuses are "soooooo geeky" it makes me "JUST LIKE A GEEKY BOY." Wow, I've been validated into the club. woohoo.
Reply

whatsername was starred whatsername was unstarred

Earlier discussions Other discussions Show all discussions Show featured discussions only Start a new discussion

#tomboys

Jezebel

SUBSCRIBE TO Jezebel

Is The Word "Tomboy" Obsolete?

Where Have All The Tomboys Gone?

Oh, Really? You Think That's A Good Picture Of Me? Are You Some Sort Of Underminer?

Login

Reset Password

Register

Submit Your Comment