History Main / TomBoy

* ThePigPen: Since boys are stereotyped as being unhygienic, and girls being stereotyped as being [[NeatFreak neat freaks]], a girl that is fine with or even prefers being dirty and stinky would definitely be considered tomboys, [[HatesBaths especially if she refuses to clean herself of]]. However, this is a prime example of {{Flanderization}}, as most Real Life Tomboys are still somewhat hygienic, usually.

* FieryRedhead: Some tomboys commonly have red hair to fit their aggressive and temperamental demeanor.

* DoesNotLikeShoes: Though many Girly Girls do this, these characters have also a tendency to act like this.

The outcome of the Tomboy's character arc tends to indicate the intended {{Aesop}}. If the Tomboy doesn't "grow out of it," or find her inner femininity, 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 normalized in some way, this implies that her Tomboyish appearance or traits are somehow problematic. Consequently, Tomboyish traits can serve as an exploration of gender and sexuality. If there is a contrast between the two types of tomboys listed above, the media, more often than not, usually portrays the type 2 effeminate tomboy as the "better" type of tomboy.

Between the two types of tomboys, the effeminate tomboy is considered somewhat more socially acceptable than the butch tomboy. Keep in mind that our views of gender have actually changed over time, and some traits which now might be considered masculine or feminine, actually weren't in the past, so this is mostly only valid for modern characters. And also keep in mind that just because a girl is a tomboy does not necessarily mean that she is a [[ButchLesbian lesbian]] they're split into three types, such as straight, gay, and bisexual. be straight, gay, or bisexual.

Between the two types of tomboys, the effeminate tomboy is considered somewhat more socially acceptable than the butch tomboy. Keep in mind that our views of gender have actually changed over time, and some traits which now might be considered masculine or feminine, actually weren't in the past, so this is mostly only valid for modern characters. And also keep in mind that just because a girl is a tomboy, regardless of whether she is butch or effeminate, does not necessarily mean that she is a [[ButchLesbian lesbian]]. Both types of tomboys can be straight, gay, or bisexual, and both types of girly girls, proper and moderate, can also be straight, gay, or bisexual.

The SpearCounterpart tropes are InTouchWithHisFeminineSide or Tomgirl, for a male who does things which are considered 'girly' and OtokonokoGenre (also called and known as "Tomgirl" in the West), a Japanese genre for men about male {{crossdresser}}s.

* ThePigPen: Since boys are stereotyped as being unhygienic, and girls being stereotyped as being [[NeatFreak neat freaks]], a girl that is fine with or even likes being dirty and stinky would definitely be considered tomboys.

* ThePigPen: Since boys are stereotyped as being unhygienic, and girls being stereotyped as being [[NeatFreaks neat freaks]], a girl that is fine with or even likes being dirty and stinky would definitely be considered tomboys.

* ThePigPen: Since boys are stereotyped as being unhygienic, and girls being stereotyped as being NeatFreaks, a girl that is fine with or even likes being dirty and stinky would definitely be considered tomboys.

* ThePigPen: Since boys are stereotyped as being less hygienic than girls, a girl that is fine with or even likes being dirty and stinky would definitely be considered tomboys.

* ThePigPen: Since boys are stereotyped as being less hygienic than girls, a girl that is fine with ore even likes being dirty and stinky would definitely be considered tomboys.

Between the two types of tomboys, the effeminate tomboy is considered somewhat more socially acceptable than the butch tomboy. Keep in mind that our views of gender have actually changed over time, and some traits which now might be considered masculine or feminine, actually weren't in the past, so this is mostly only valid for modern characters.And also keep in mind that just because a girl is a tomboy, regardless of whether she is butch or effeminate, does not necessarily mean that she is a [[ButchLesbian lesbian]]. Both types of tomboys can be straight, gay, or bisexual, and both types of girly girls, proper and moderate, can also be straight, gay, or bisexual.

The SpearCounterpart tropes are InTouchWithHisFeminineSide, for a male who does things which are considered 'girly' and OtokonokoGenre (known as "Tomgirl" in the West), a Japanese genre for men about male {{crossdresser}}s.

Between the two types of tomboys, the effeminate tomboy is considered somewhat more socially acceptable than the butch tomboy. Keep in mind that just because a girl is a tomboy, regardless of whether she is butch or effeminate, does not necessarily mean that she is a [[ButchLesbian lesbian]]. Both types of tomboys can be straight, gay, or bisexual, and both types of girly girls, proper and moderate, can also be straight, gay, or bisexual.

"Tomboy" as a term for a girl who acts like a stereotypical boy is OlderThanSteam, having been first given that meaning in 1592. Previously, "tomboy" referred to an especially boisterous boy. Considering [[Myth/ClassicalMythology the goddess Artemis]] could fairly be described as a tomboy, the trope itself is at least OlderThanFeudalism. However, the definite golden age of literary tomboys was the period around the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, a trend that essentially began with ''Literature/LittleWomen''[='s=] Jo March, making her something of a TropeCodifier, and extended through TheGreatDepression or so. In the 21st century, with gender increasingly being seen as a spectrum rather than a binary, the idea of the tomboy has started to fade (although it's still a long way from disappearing entirely), while the TomboyWithAGirlyStreak and GirlyGirlWithATomboyStreak have become more common.

Between the two, the butch tomboy is generally considered to be the least desirable. Keep in mind that just because a girl is a tomboy, regardless of which type she is, does not necessarily mean that she is a [[ButchLesbian lesbian]]. All types of tomboys can be straight, gay, or bisexual, and all types of girly girls can also be straight, gay, or bisexual.

# '''Butch Tomboy''': This type of tomboy tends to be very masculine, to the point of actually being "manly", and has very few, if any, feminine qualities and interests. She may also hate anything that is girly and feminine, such as the color pink. Acts as a counterpart to the Extremely Macho Manly Man.
# '''Effeminate Tomboy''': This type of tomboy tends to be fairly masculine, but not overly masculine, nor overly feminine either, although she does not necessarily hate traditionally "girly" things. Although most of her qualities and interests are masculine, she may also have a few "feminine" qualities and interests as well. Acts as a counterpart to the Moderate/Balanced Manly Man.

Between the four types of tomboys, the toxic manly tomboy is generally considered to be the least desirable. Keep in mind that just because a girl is a tomboy, regardless of which type she is, does not necessarily mean that she is a [[ButchLesbian lesbian]]. All types of tomboys can be straight, gay, or bisexual, and all types of girly girls can also be straight, gay, or bisexual.

While Tomboys are subject to {{Flanderization}}, according to which they all hate "girly things" (like [[PinkMeansFeminine the color pink]], dressing up, playing house, shopping), many in RealLife simply happen to fall outside of gender norms in a few respects; aside from these "quirks", a Tomboy might also have [[TomboyWithAGirlyStreak "feminine" interests]]. Even if she doesn't, she need not have any antipathy toward those who do. Indeed, [[TomboyAndGirlyGirl her best friend may be]] a GirlyGirl. There are generally four types of tomboys, depending on their degree of masculinity vs. femininity, based on their appearance, personality, and interests:
# '''Toxic Manly Tomboy''': This type of tomboy tends to be very masculine, to the point of actually being "manly", and has no feminine qualities and interests at all, and hates anything that is girly and feminine, such as the color pink. She is the embodiment of toxic masculinity in girls and women, and is basically a FemaleMisogynist.
# '''Effeminate Boyish Tomboy''': This type of tomboy tends to be fairly masculine, but not overly masculine, nor overly feminine either, although she does not necessarily hate traditionally "girly" things. She has a tomboyish appearance, tomboyish personality (although by no means toxic), and many of her interests are tomboyish, but she also has a few girly interests as well.
# '''TomboyWithAGirlyStreak''': This type of tomboy has a tomboyish appearance, but a girly personality, and her interests are a mixture of tomboyish and girly interests.
# '''GirlyGirlWithATomboyStreak''': This type of tomboy has a girly appearance, but a tomboyish personality, and her interests are a mixture of tomboyish and girly interests.

Between the four types of tomboys, the toxic manly tomboy is the least desirable, while the other three types are more desirable. Keep in mind that just because a girl is a tomboy, regardless of which type she is, does not necessarily mean that she is a [[ButchLesbian lesbian]]. All types of tomboys can be straight, gay, or bisexual, and all types of girly girls can also be straight, gay, or bisexual.

Between the four types of tomboys, the toxic manly tomboy is the least desirable, while the other three types are more desirable. Keep in mind that just because a girl is a tomboy, regardless of whether she is butch or effeminate, does not necessarily mean that she is a [[ButchLesbian lesbian]]. All types of tomboys can be straight, gay, or bisexual, and all types of girly girls can also be straight, gay, or bisexual.

# '''Toxic Manly Tomboy''': This type of tomboy tends to be very masculine, to the point of actually being "manly", and has no feminine qualities and interests at all, and hates anything that is girly and feminine, such as the color pink. She is the embodiment of toxic masculinity in women, and is basically a FemaleMisogynist.

# '''Effeminate Boyish Tomboy''': This type of tomboy tends to be fairly masculine, but not overly masculine, nor overly feminine either, although she does not necessarily hate traditionally "girly" things. Although her appearance, personality, and many of her interests are masculine, she may also have a few "feminine" and interests as well.

# '''Effeminately Boyish Tomboy''': This type of tomboy tends to be fairly masculine, but not overly masculine, nor overly feminine either, although she does not necessarily hate traditionally "girly" things. Although her appearance, personality, and many of her interests are masculine, she may also have a few "feminine" and interests as well.