History Main / Tomboy

* Spinelli from ''{{Recess}}''

While the GirlNextDoor is no more likely to be a tomboy than any other character, tomboys are very often the GirlNextDoor because when a boy is younger the girl he is most likely to interact with will be someone who will talk about things that interest a guy like cars, comics, anime and science fiction. She might play limited contact sports like soccer, basketball, or baseball or she might rather go to the skate park to ride on her skateboard, roller blades, bicycle or scooter. Less active but just as boyish she might be a GamerChick who plays ''{{Nintendo}}'' games. Remember that she's still a girl and has a defensive attitude so don't embarrass her, [[MyGirlIsNotASlut make sexual advances on her]] or [[BigBrotherInstinct offend others around her]] especially [[MamaBear her children]].

* TheRoyalDiaries has a couple of TomboyPrincesses.

Derived from the term "tomcat" for a male cat, the Tomboy is a major character archetype, and yet is also a somewhat vague concept.

A Tomboy is a girl, usually a young one (the implication being that she will "grow out of it"; also, it's probably easier to pull off if all participants are pre-puberty and the whole "getting interested in the other sex" thing hasn't happened yet, because this would make the whole thing a completely different story), who has tastes and behaviors usually associated with boys. Because these associations are culture-dependent and tend to change, what exactly constitutes a "Tomboy" is somewhat [[SubjectiveTrope subjective]]. Historically, any girl interested in [[HotScientist science]], [[WrenchWench mechanics]], or [[ActionGirl combat]] has been called tomboyish; today, calling these pursuits "unfeminine" is considered by many to be old-fashioned at best.

However, even where gender roles are relatively lax or fluid, choices made in the "cultural sphere" (regarding e.g. media consumption, recreation and, especially, fashion) remain strictly segregated for the most part. Thus the Tomboy remains a current figure, and a popular one for various reasons: a girl might simply chafe at how "femininity" limits her own choices, others might consider ''any'' "girly" behavior [[RealWomenNeverWearDresses distasteful as a matter of principle]] (perhaps because of their own misogyny) or because [[StrawFeminist anything that even suggests "femininity" is a tool of the Patriarchy]]; for still others, a love of Tomboys may have nothing to do with their opinion on gender. It may just be that (minor) transgressions of accepted roles are considered "cute" or funny. A great deal of media takes this latter position, sometimes presenting the Tomboy as sympathetic but, in the end, foolish (or even troubled). There can be some UnfortunateImplications if things get very polarized (Only one is "right;" Tomboyish girls are bad/Girly girls are bad, etc.).

The outcome of the Tomboy's character arc tends to determine the contribution a given media text makes to the discourse of these subjects. If the Tomboy is not [[{{Chickification}} chickified]], "feminized," "normalized," "redeemed," "repaired," or "recuperated" [[hottip:* :scare quotes used here to indicate that cultural norms for things like femininity are never absolute and always in flux]] (in other words, if she doesn't "grow out of it" or go into therapy or find herself paired off with a male character in the end), this suggests that gender and sexuality boundaries are more permeable, and that transgressing these boundaries is acceptable. If, on the other hand, a Tomboy needs to be redeemed in some way, this implies that her interstitial or transgressive combination of appearance or traits is somehow problematic. Consequently, Tomboyish traits can serve as a legitimate exploration of the arbitrary and socially constructed limits of gender and sexuality.

While Tomboys are subject to {{Flanderization}}, according to which they all hate "girly things" ([[PinkGirlBlueBoy the color pink]], dressing up, playing house, shopping), most in [[RealLife real life]] simply (sometimes unwittingly) happen to fall outside of gender norms in a few respects; aside from these "quirks", [[{{Shorttank}} a Tomboy]] might also have "feminine" interests. Even if she doesn't, [[TomboyAndGirlyGirl she need not have any antipathy toward those who do]].


[[AC: Characteristics often attributed to Tomboys include:]]

* '''ActionGirl:''' Physical violence and a willingness to get rough tends to be a Tomboy trait. However, a LadyOfWar is never a Tomboy, since her charm point is being strong ''and'' elegant in the battlefield. {{Cute Bruiser}}s often qualify -- being a Tomboy doesn't mean you can't be MoeMoe (see {{Bokukko}}). {{Hot Amazon}}s are rarely Tomboys (ironically, since their namesakes were rather butch), but sometimes the younger ones are. {{Badass Bookworm}}s of the female variety are often stealth Tomboys. If lucky, the Tomboy will grow up into a HotChickWithASword.

* '''{{Bokukko}}''': In Japan, a tomboyish girl who shows it off by refering to herself with the male versions of JapanesePronouns and JapaneseHonorifics. May lead to PronounTrouble.

* '''ButchLesbian''': The [[TomboyAndGirlyGirl more masculine counterpart]] to the LipstickLesbian.

* '''GamerChick''' Girls who like video games are often considered tomboys.

* '''GirlNextDoor:''' While the girl next door is no more likely to be a Tomboy than any other character, Tomboys are very often the GirlNextDoor. This might be because MostWritersAreMale and when a boy is younger the girl he is most likely to interact with will be a Tomboy (since other girls prefer doing girly things).

* '''HotScientist:''' Not as common a Tomboy trait, as science is usually less physical then most Tomboy activities, but sometimes it gets included in the package.

* '''TheLadette:''' Usually a Tomboy is not as sexualized as a Ladette, but the ideas do have some [[SisterTrope overlap]]. She's a girl with the personality of a frat boy.

* '''LethalChef:''' [[FeminineWomenCanCook Poor cooking skills]] often are connected with Tomboys. (Which she can find frustrating when trying to invoke ThroughHisStomach.)

* '''OneOfTheBoys''': Tomboys often pal around with male friends instead of having girlfriends. They play male games (baseball instead of softball), and might even be accepted as just "one of the boys". She might be rude, and use crude or less-refined slang like a boy. She spits, bleeds, and plays in the dirt, without caring about getting dirty. She'd never say something like "I broke a nail"... unless the context is something like "Aw, ''fuck'', I broke a nail."

* '''OtakuSurrogate''': Similar to the GamerChick example, girls who like things like comic books are often deemed Tomboys.

* '''PinkBoyBlueGirl''': When the [[SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan sensitive guy]] and the {{Tomboy}} pair up, [[OppositesAttract romantically or platonically]].

* '''RealWomenNeverWearDresses''': Sometimes tomboyism is considered so great to the point where a female character simply doing anything feminine is considered a bad thing.

* '''SheCleansUpNicely:''' If a Tomboy ever does end up stuffed into a dress this is likely to be the result. Sometimes part of a BeautifulAllAlong plot point.

* '''ShortHairedHottie''': A Tomboy is likely to be one of these, if they don't have a TomboyishPonytail.

* '''ShortTank:''' A common type of Tomboy portrayed in various media.

* '''SpiritedYoungLady:''' A complex variant of this. Confident high class woman who can bend The Rules without quite breaking them. Maintains a feminine mystique while often having some tomboyish characteristics and tastes.

* '''TomboyAndGirlyGirl:''' Another way a Tomboy can be identified is through comparison to a girlier female character.

* '''TomboyPrincess:''' ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin. A tomboy who happens to be a royal daughter.

* '''TomboyishName:''' A MeaningfulName can often identify a Tomboy -- and who knows, it might even cause her to be a Tomboy. Tomboys with girly names often insist on more masculine or neutral nicknames.

* '''TomboyishPonytail:''' A common hairstyle for them.

* '''{{Tsundere}}:''' This goes all the way back to school yard romances. A boy will often have a hard time [[CannotSpitItOut expressing his feelings]] to the girl he likes, and will instead dip her pigtails in the ink bottle, or stick frogs in her desk. When a girl acts similarly and shoves, hits, or is otherwise aggressive towards a boy who's caught her interest, she might be labeled a Tomboy. (Or in some cases, a girl who's already considered a tomboy being aggressive towards a guy will often be assumed to have a crush on said guy.) The mixture of self-confidence and insecurity is also often a Tomboy trait.

* '''UnkemptBeauty''': Tomboys tend to be less obsessed with their appearance than girly girls. Sometimes, this works to their advantage.

* '''WholesomeCrossdresser:''' Often a way of showing that a girl is a Tomboy is to write her as preferring to wear pants and other boy clothes, and being uncomfortable in dresses and skirts. This is particularly true in cultures that have decidedly different male and female dress codes. While a man dressing as a woman can be [[{{Squick}} jarring]], a woman dressing as a man [[MostWritersAreMale is often]] considered [[FetishFuel intriguing]]. But if it reaches {{Bifauxnen}} levels, then you've probably moved out of the Tomboy spectrum. Tomboys are usually identifiable as girls, even if they are wearing boy clothes.

* '''WrenchWench:''' Girly Girls are usually not covered in grease.

Having one of these attributes doesn't necessarily make a girl a Tomboy. Depending on local norms, a girly girl may have some of these traits, and the variety of Tomboys is great enough that no one trait can be called essential.

Even "local norms" are inconsistent. Consider for example Ukyou and Akane from ''[=~Ranma ½~=]''. Akane is repeatedly identified as a bit of a Tomboy, while Ukyou gets the label of "cute fiancé". Yet they both share several of the traits above. (This is probably an intentional discrepancy within the story). In the end, definition is impossible, and identifying a Tomboy comes down to "knowing it when one sees it" (though the quality of this "knowledge" is dubious).

No examples for this page, please. Put all your examples under one of the various traits associated with Tomboys.

* ""ButchLesbian"": The [[TomboyAndGirlyGirl more masculine counterpart]] to the LipstickLesbian.

* ""PinkBoyBlueGirl"": When the [[SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan sensitive guy]] and the {{Tomboy}} pair up, [[OppositesAttract romantically or platonically]].

* ""ShortHairedHottie"": A Tomboy is likely to be one of these, if they don't have a TomboyishPonytail.

* "ButchLesbian": The [[TomboyAndGirlyGirl more masculine counterpart]] to the LipstickLesbian.

* "PinkBoyBlueGirl": When the [[SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan sensitive guy]] and the {{Tomboy}} pair up, [[OppositesAttract romantically or platonically]].

* "ShortHairedHottie": A Tomboy is likely to be one of these, if they don't have a TomboyishPonytail.

* ButchLesbian: The [[TomboyAndGirlyGirl more masculine counterpart]] to LipstickLesbians.

* PinkBoyBlueGirl: When the [[SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan sensitive guy]] and the Tomboy pair up, [[OppositesAttract romantically or platonically]].

* '''WrenchWench:''' Girly Girls are usually not covered in grease. [[FetishFuel Not on purpose, at least]].

* SpiritedYoungLady: A complex variant of this. Confident high class woman who can bend The Rules without quite breaking them. Maintains a feminine mystique while often having some tomboyish characteristics and tastes.

However, even where gender roles are relatively lax or fluid, choices made in the "cultural sphere" (regarding e.g. media consumption, recreation and, especially, fashion) remain strictly segregated for the most part. Thus the Tomboy remains a current figure, and a popular one for various reasons: a girl might simply chafe at how "femininity" limits her own choices, others might consider ''any'' "girly" behavior [[RealWomenNeverWearDresses distasteful as a matter of principle]] (perhaps because of their own misogyny) or because [[StrawFeminist anything that even suggests "femininity" is a tool of the Patriarchy]]; for still others, a love of Tomboys may have nothing to do with their opinion on gender. It may just be that (minor) transgressions of accepted roles are considered "cute" or funny. A great deal of media takes this latter position, sometimes presenting the Tomboy as sympathetic but, in the end, foolish (or even troubled).

* '''GamerChick''' Girls who like things like video games are often considered tomboys.

* '''OtakuSurrogate''': Similar to the Gamer Chick example, girls who like things like comic books are often deemed Tomboys.

* '''OneOfTheBoys''': Tomboys often pal around with male friends instead of having girlfriends. They play male games (baseball instead of softball), and might even be accepted as just "one of the boys". She might be rude, and use crude or less-refined slang like a boy. She spits, bleeds, and plays in the dirt, without caring about getting dirty. She'd never say something like "I broke a nail".

[[caption-width:275:All together now: Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.[[hottip:Except for me, who said :"WTF?"]]]]

[[caption-width:275:All together now: Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.[[hottip:Except for me, who said :"WTF?"]]

[[caption-width:275:All together now: Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.]]

'''GamerChick''' Girls who like things like video games are often considered tomboys.

* '''OtakuSurrogate''' and '''GamerChick''': Girls who like things like comic books and video games are often deemed Tomboys.

* '''WrenchWench:''' Girly Girls are usually not covered in grease. Not on purpose, at least.

* '''ShortTank:''' A common type of Tomboy portrayed in various media.

* '''WholesomeCrossdresser:''' Often a way of showing that a girl is a Tomboy is to write her as preferring to wear pants and other boy clothes, and being uncomfortable in dresses and skirts. This is particularly true in cultures that have decidedly different male and female dress codes. While a man dressing as a woman can be [[{{Squick}} jarring]], a woman dressing as a man [[MostWritersAreMale is often]] considered [[FetishFuel intriguing]]. But if it reaches {{Bifauxnen}} levels, then you've probably moved out of the Tomboy spectrum. Tomboys are usually identifiable as girls, even if they are wearing boy clothes.

* '''{{Tsundere}}:''' This goes all the way back to school yard romances. A boy will often have a hard time [[CannotSpitItOut expressing his feelings]] to the girl he likes, and will instead dip her pigtails in the ink bottle, or stick frogs in her desk. When a girl acts similarly and shoves, hits, or is otherwise aggressive towards a boy who's caught her interest, she might be labeled a Tomboy. (Or in some cases, a girl who's already considered a tomboy being aggressive towards a guy will often be assumed to have a crush on said guy.) The mixture of self-confidence and insecurity is also often a Tomboy trait.

* '''LethalChef:''' [[FeminineWomenCanCook Poor cooking skills]] often are connected with Tomboys. (Which she can find frustrating when trying to invoke ThroughHisStomach.)

* '''HotScientist:''' Not as common a Tomboy trait, as science is usually less physical then most Tomboy activities, but sometimes it gets included in the package.

* '''WrenchWench:''' Girly Girls are usually not covered in grease. Not on purpose, at least.

* '''TomboyishName:''' A MeaningfulName can often identify a Tomboy -- and who knows, it might even cause her to be a Tomboy. Tomboys with girly names often insist on more masculine or neutral nicknames.

* '''TomboyAndGirlyGirl:''' Another way a Tomboy can be identified is through comparison to a girlier female character.

* '''GirlNextDoor:''' While the girl next door is no more likely to be a Tomboy than any other character, Tomboys are very often the GirlNextDoor. This might be because MostWritersAreMale and when a boy is younger the girl he is most likely to interact with will be a Tomboy (since other girls prefer doing girly things).

* '''OtakuSurrogate''' and '''GamerChick''': Girls who like things like comic books and video games are often deemed Tomboys.

* '''OneOfTheBoys''': Tomboys often pal around with male friends instead of having girlfriends. They play male games (baseball instead of softball), and might even be accepted as just "one of the boys". She might be rude, and use crude or less-refined slang like a boy. She spits, bleeds, and plays in the dirt, without caring about getting dirty. She'd never say something like "I broke a nail".

* '''UnkemptBeauty''': Tomboys tend to be [[IJustWantToBeBeautiful less obsessed with their appearance than girly girls]]. Sometimes, this works to their advantage.

* '''UnkemptBeauty''': Tomboys tend to be less obsessed with their appearance than girly girls. Sometimes, this works to their advantage.

* '''GirlNextDoor:''' While the girl next door is no more likely to be a Tomboy then any other character, Tomboys are very often the GirlNextDoor. This might be because MostWritersAreMale and when a boy is younger the girl he is most likely to interact with will be a Tomboy (since other girls prefer doing girly things).