Tomboy

Tomboy (among other names) is a term used to describe a girl or woman who exhibits characteristics or behaviors considered typical of a boy. This may include wearing masculine clothing and engaging in physical activities often associated with boys. Tomboyish girls are often seen as free-spirited, tough, and independent. They may also be more reserved than their peers.

The concept of the "tomboy" has evolved over time. The term was originally associated with "boys and men who are boisterous, forward, or rude" in the 14th century, thus its namesake, but quickly became associated with girls within half a century, now associated with "girls and women who are bold or immodest".^[1] In the 19th century, it was rooted in societal concerns about white women's health and their roles in marriage and motherhood. Later, it became associated with third wave feminism and the rejection of traditional gender roles.

Some tomboys identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community, particularly with Butch/Stud lesbianism. Tomboyism often rejects traditional gender norms for girls and women, who identify with a more masculine identity. However, one does not have to be LGBTQ+ to be a tomboy; anyone of any background, lifestyle, and orientation can be a tomboy.

Fashion[]

Tomboyish fashion consists of feminine outfits modeled after masculine fashions. Things such as:

Oversized shirts
Boyfriend jeans
Distressed stuff
Ankle boots
Combat boots
Cowboy boots
Sneakers (Nike, Converse, Adidas)
Father's hats
Caps
Cowboy hats
Camo clothing
Tie-dye clothing
Leather jackets
Cowboy jackets
Flannel
T-shirts with a rock or metal band's logo and/or name on it
Clothing torn from physical activity
Skull belt buckles
Fingerless gloves

Often times, however, it can be paired with more feminine fashion accessories, such as golden hoop earrings.

Stores[]

Contrary to popular belief, many tomboyish girls still like shopping, albeit usually not at the same stores or types of stores as girls who express themselves in a traditionally feminine manner. However, there can sometimes be overlap.

Buckle
Hobby Lobby
Michael's
Eddie Bauer
Bass Pro Shops
Tilly's
Dick’s Sporting Goods
Hot Topic or BoxLunch
Dave and Buster's
Spencer's
Spirit Halloween
Target
Boot Barn
Forever 21
Urban Outfitters
H&M
American Eagle
Hollister
Foot Locker
JD Sports
Abercrombie and Fitch
Aeropostale
Dillards
Ace Hardware
True Value Hardware
Home Depot
Lowe's
Menards
Best Buy
Pink Gorilla
GameStop
Rip City Skates
Walt's Comic Shop
Carhartt

Makeup/Hair[]

Tomboyish-styled makeup can be anywhere from none at all to heavy. Some makeup styles can include:

Light eyeshadow (pale pink, browns/tans, oranges, and/or light grey shades)
Mascara
Eyeliner
Bronzer
Tinted lip balm
Filled/defined brows

Popular tomboyish hairstyles include messy buns, short cuts, naturals, and ponytails.

Media[]

Television[]

Daria (MTV)
Big City Greens
Kiff (TV series)
Stuck in the Middle
Ren and Stimpy

Film[]

Bend It Like Beckham
Enola Holmes
Foxfire
Girlfight
Hard Candy
Just One of the Guys
The Legend of Billie Jean
Tomboy

Literature[]

The Hunger Games
To Kill a Mockingbird
Always My Girl
Wildwood
On the Fence
Clementine
Judy Moody
Meddling Kids
Percy Jackson
The Penderwicks
Cinder
Ruby Holler
Silver Lining
Marriage at a Price
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Characters[]

Buttercup (The Powerpuff Girls)
Scout Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird)
Rainbow Dash (My Little Pony)
Applejack (My Little Pony)
Noodle (Gorillaz, specifically phase 1 and 2)
Ramona Flowers (Scott Pilgrim)
Kim Pine (Scott Pilgrim)
Maggie Pesky (The Buzz on Maggie)
Sissy Blakely (Johnny Test)
Eliza Beckham Fletcher (Phineas and Ferb)
Vanessa Doofenshmirtz (Phineas and Ferb)
Izzy (Jake and the Never Land Pirates/Captain Jake and the Never Land Pirates)
Wendy Corduroy (Gravity Falls)
Sheriff Callie (Sheriff Callie's Wild West)
Vanellope Von Schweetz (Wreck-It Ralph)
Luz Noceda (The Owl House)
Hailey Banks (Hailey's on It)
Gretel Grant-Gomez (Hamster and Gretel)
Luisa Madrigal (Encanto)
Max (Stranger Things)
Eleven (Stranger Things)
Makoto Konno (The Girl Who Leapt Through Time)
Mikoto Misaka (A Certain Magical Index)
Yoko Littner (Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann)
Tomoko Kuroki (WataMote)
Ryuko Matoi (Kill La Kill)
Sandy Cheeks (SpongeBob SquarePants)
Sam Puckett (iCarly and Sam & Cat)
Lynn Loud Jr. (The Loud House)
Lana Loud (The Loud House)
Ronnie Anne Santiago (The Loud House and The Casagrandes)
Sid Chang (The Loud House and The Casagrandes)
Rosie Redd (Rainbow Rangers)
Indigo Allfruit (Rainbow Rangers)
Toodee (Yo Gabba Gabba)
Ashley Spinelli (Recess)
Merida (Brave)
Edith (Despicable Me)
Sailor Jupiter (Sailor Moon)
Sailor Uranus (Sailor Moon)
Videl (Dragon Ball)
Caulifia (Dragon Ball)
Jolyne Cujoh (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)
Kagura (Gin Tama)
Betty Barrett (Atomic Betty)
Chitoge Kirisaki (Nisekoi)
Seishirou Tsugumi (Nisekoi)
Ochaco Uraraka (My Hero Academia)
Kyoka Jiro (My Hero Academia)
Kohaku (Dr. Stone)
Nobara Kugisaki (Jujutsu Kaisen)
Momo Ayase (Dandadan)
Winry Rockbell (Fullmetal Alchemist)
Rebecca "Revy" Lee (Black Lagoon)
Panty Anarchy (Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt)
Kyou Fujibayashi (Clannad)
Tomoyo Sakagami (Clannad)
Yui Yoshioka (Angel Beats!)
Cure Black (Pretty Cure)
Ritsu Tainaka (K-ON!)
Yumi (HiHi Puffy AmiYumi)
Gaz Membrane (Invader Zim)
Daria Morgendorffer (Daria)
Jane Lane (Daria)
Mulan (Mulan)
Princess Daisy (Super Mario)
Lili Zanotto (Psychonauts)
Beino Hanamura (Smart-San)
Makoto Kikuchi (The iDOLM@STER)
Misty (Pokémon)
GoGo Tomago (Big Hero 6)
Yukino Mayuzumi (Persona)
Kotone Shiomi (Persona)
Chie Satonaka (Persona)
Makoto Niijima (Persona)
Faris Scherwiz (Final Fantasy)
Yuffie Kisaragi (Final Fantasy)
Tifa Lockhart (Final Fantasy)
Quistis Trepe (Final Fantasy)
Paine (Final Fantasy)
Rikku (Final Fantasy)
Fran (Final Fantasy)
Kairi (Kingdom Hearts)
Xion (Kingdom Hearts)
Estelle Bright (Trails series)
Asuka Kazama (Tekken)
Tiny Kong (Donkey Kong)
Dixie Kong (Donkey Kong)
Kumatora (Mother/Earthbound)
Yuri Sakazaki (Art of Fighting/King of Fighters)
Blue Mary (Fatal Fury/King of Fighters)
Alice Garnet Nakata (Fatal Fury/King of Fighters)
Leona Heidern (King of Fighters)
Sakura Kasugano (Street Fighter)
Makoto (Street Fighter)
Elena (Street Fighter)
Akira Kazama (Rival Schools/Street Fighter)
Peppermint Patty (Peanuts)
Jessie (Toy Story)
Skater Girl (Lego/Lego Collectible Minifigures)
Wyldstyle (Lego/The Lego Movie)
Longboarder (Lego/Lego Collectible Minifigures)
Princess Fiona (Shrek)
Tigress (Kung Fu Panda)
Ash (Sing)
Sally Acorn (Sonic the Hedgehog)
Blaze the Cat (Sonic the Hedgehog)
Anna (Frozen)
Moana (Moana)
Miko Kubota (Glitch Techs)
Lilly Truscott (Hannah Montana)
Beverly Marsh (It 2017)
Dokuro Mitsukai (Bludgeoning Angel Dokuro-chan)
April O'Neil (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2012)
Julie Corky (Sleepover)
Miko Nakadai (Transformers: Prime)
Piper Pinwheeler (Robots)
Cylindria (Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures)
Nikki (Camp Camp)
Mercury (Milky Way and the Galaxy Girls)
Wonder Red (Super Why!)
Leonie (Fire Emblem)
Sully (Fire Emblem)

Activities[]

Sports (such as soccer, martial arts, mixed martial arts, boxing, cricket, hockey, fencing, kendo, weightlifting, football, rugby, baseball and basketball)
Video games (especially ones in the action-adventure, beat-'em-up, hack-'n-slash, Metroidvania, platformer, racing, vehicular combat, vehicle simulation, fighting, shooter, sports, strategy, survival, battle royale and role-playing genres)
Physical exercises (such as climbing or running)
Playing rock instruments such as electric or bass guitars, keyboards and drums
Playing country instruments such as accordions, banjos, fiddles, guitars and harmonicas
Going to the gym
Hunting
Fishing
Rafting
Digging
Gardening
Farming
Cooking barbecue
Camping
Climbing
Hiking
Canoeing and kayaking
Taxidermy
Horseback racing
Collecting pocket knives
Treasure hunting
Star-gazing
Yardwork
Rock collecting
Coin collecting
Drawing
Taking care of Pets such as Cats, Chickens, Dogs, Guinea Pigs and Hamsters
Listening to and singing rock/metal songs
Listening to and singing country songs
Listening to and rapping hip-hop songs
Repairing vehicles
Driving vehicles such as cars, vans, trucks, jeeps, quadbikes, go-karts, scooters and motorcycles
Riding bicycles, roller skates, longboards and skateboards

Contrary to popular belief, not all tomboyish girls are "dumb" or hate school. Many tomboyish girls like academic subjects that involve action or adventure such as history, geography, geology, biology, manufacturing and construction, paleontology, astronomy, anthropology, archaeology, and photography. Some of them also like action and adventure books as well as comic books (specifically the superhero, sci-fi, western, western sci-fi, military sci-fi, space western, swashbuckler, urban fantasy, high fantasy, dark fantasy and science fantasy genres), shonen and seinen-targeted Japanese media in addition to western media targeted towards boys and older men, playing with toys often marketed towards boys such as action figures, plastic model kits, model vehicles, remote controlled vehicles, yo-yos, toy weapons such as guns, bows and arrows, spears and swords, and construction sets (primarily Lego) as well as technology, painting and engineering.

Subgenres[]

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Bro Hoe[]

Bro Hoe is a more sexualized version of the Tomboy aesthetic, described as "McBling but with more edgy and masculine elements". Bro Hoes are usually defined as girls who hang around guys who dirtbike and/or are tattoo artists. Because of the edgy element to Bro Hoe, there is some crossover with the Scene aesthetic as well, although Bro Hoe doesn't go as over-the-top and edgy as Scene does.

Fashion[]

Bro Hoe fashion revolves around graphic tees, often from brands such as Ed Hardy, Metal Mulisha, Konflict, Famous, and Affliction, as well as accessories such as bandanas, baseball caps, piercings, and tattoos. Clothing with the Monster logo or the "Trucker girl" on it are also popular amongst the Bro Hoes.