Tomboy

Tomboy Aesthetic is more than just a fashion trend. It is a way of expressing oneself through clothing and activities that challenge the stereotypes of femininity and masculinity. In this article, we will explore the origins and meanings of Tomboy Aesthetic, as well as some examples and tips on how to rock this style with confidence and flair.

History
A tomboy is a girl who behaves like a spirited or boisterous boy, often wearing androgynous or unfeminine clothing and engaging in physical sports or other activities and behaviors usually associated with boys or men. The term tomboy has a long and complex history, reflecting changing social and cultural attitudes toward gender, race, class, and sexuality.

The word tomboy first appeared in the mid-16th century, but it originally meant a rude, boisterous or forward boy. By the late 16th century, it shifted to mean a bold or immodest woman, and by the late 16th and early 17th centuries, it acquired its current meaning of a girl who acts like a spirited boy.

In the United States, tomboyism became pervasive in the mid- to late-19th century, coinciding with women's suffrage and first-wave feminism. However, the tomboy's popularity was confined to a specific demographic: middle and upper-class white women. Tomboyism was seen as a way to improve the physical health and racial vitality of white women, who were encouraged to lead more active, outdoorsy lifestyles amid fears of white decline due to immigration and abolition. Tomboyism was also a form of rebellion against the restrictive and oppressive norms of femininity imposed by the Cult of True Womanhood, which equated womanhood with emotional fragility, physical vulnerability, hesitation, and domestic submissiveness. Tomboys challenged these stereotypes by being strong, independent, adventurous, and assertive.

Tomboyism continued to evolve in the 20th and 21st centuries, reflecting changing social and cultural contexts. In the 1920s, the tomboy came of age in the Roaring Twenties, a time of great liberation for women in every way, including dress. Tomboys adopted short haircuts, loose-fitting clothes, and masculine accessories that defied gender norms and expressed their freedom and modernity. In the 1930s and 1940s, tomboys represented resilience and patriotism during the Great Depression and World War II, as they joined the workforce, served in the military, and supported their families. In the 1950s and 1960s, tomboys faced backlash from the conservative postwar culture that emphasized traditional gender roles and domesticity. Tomboys were seen as deviant, rebellious, or immature, and were often pressured to conform or grow out of their phase. In the 1970s and 1980s, tomboys were influenced by second-wave feminism and the rise of lesbian culture. Tomboys embraced their sexuality and identity as women who loved women, or as women who rejected gender binaries altogether. In the 1990s and 2000s, tomboys became more diverse and inclusive, reflecting the multiculturalism and intersectionality of third-wave feminism. Tomboys challenged not only gender norms but also racial, class, and sexual stereotypes. Tomboys celebrated their individuality and diversity as women of color, working-class women, queer women, trans women, or non-binary people.

Today, tomboyism is still a relevant and complex phenomenon that reflects the fluidity and diversity of gender expression. Tomboys are not a monolithic group but rather a spectrum of identities and experiences that challenge rigid definitions of femininity and masculinity. Tomboys are not just girls who act like boys but rather people who act like themselves.

Beliefs
A tomboy is a girl who behaves like a spirited or boisterous boy, often wearing androgynous or unfeminine clothing and engaging in physical sports or other activities and behaviors usually associated with boys or men. Tomboys have different beliefs and values that shape their identity and agency in relation to gender norms and expectations. Tomboy beliefs can be seen as a form of resistance or conformity, depending on the social and cultural context.

Tomboy beliefs can be understood as a form of resistance to the dominant gender ideology that prescribes rigid and binary roles for women and men. Tomboys challenge the stereotypes of femininity and masculinity by expressing their individuality, autonomy, competence, and adventurousness. Tomboys reject the idea that they have to be passive, submissive, dependent, or decorative to be accepted as women. Tomboys also resist the pressure to conform to heteronormativity, or the assumption that everyone is heterosexual and that heterosexuality is superior to other sexual orientations. Tomboys may identify as lesbian, bisexual, queer, trans, or non-binary, or they may simply refuse to label their sexuality at all. Tomboys assert their right to love whoever they want, regardless of gender.

Tomboy beliefs can also be understood as a form of conformity to the dominant gender ideology that privileges masculinity over femininity. Tomboys may adopt masculine traits and behaviors not because they are authentic expressions of their identity, but because they are seen as more valuable, powerful, or desirable in society. Tomboys may internalize the idea that femininity is weak, inferior, or undesirable, and that they have to be more like boys or men to be respected, successful, or happy. Tomboys may also conform to heteronormativity, or the assumption that everyone is heterosexual and that heterosexuality is superior to other sexual orientations. Tomboys may deny or suppress their attraction to other women, or they may use their tomboyism as a way to attract male attention or approval.

Tomboy beliefs are not fixed or static, but rather dynamic and contextual. Tomboys may experience different degrees of resistance or conformity at different stages of their lives, depending on their personal circumstances, social relationships, and cultural influences. Tomboys may also experience ambivalence or contradiction in their beliefs, as they navigate the complex and changing realities of gender and sexuality. Tomboys may embrace some aspects of femininity and masculinity while rejecting others, or they may switch between different gender expressions depending on the situation. Tomboys may also change their beliefs over time, as they learn more about themselves and others.

Tomboy beliefs are an important part of how tomboys construct their identity and agency in relation to gender norms and expectations. Tomboy beliefs can be seen as a form of resistance or conformity, depending on the social and cultural context. Tomboy beliefs are not fixed or static, but rather dynamic and contextual. Tomboy beliefs reflect the diversity and complexity of tomboy experiences and identities.