Difference between 1980s Tomboy and todays Tomboys?

Question

It seems like in the 1980s, Tomboys were more boyish. But now Tomboy means a girly-girl that likes boy stuff instead of Girl who imitates a boy 24/7.

If that's the case, would you generaly call them both Tomboys and leave it at that or is there a speciffic term to seperate the two?

Answer 1

You remind me of a much more delusional Tom Cruise (if that is possible.)

Answer 2

I'd say today's tomboys are probably more serious about being tomboys than ever.

Answer 3

I guess a Butch, and a tomboy?

Answer 4

I would call them people.  I don't spend a lot of time studying behaviors to determine whether they're "girly" or "boyish".  You can't do anything without some stranger trying to slap a label on you.

Answer 5

Who gives a $h!t? Why would you even concern yourself with such a question?

Answer 6

how about athletic - in the 80's it wasn't "in" to be boyish or to be better than. but today, there are so many sports that athletic women can participate and even excel.  how far we've come!!

Answer 7

I think there are tomboys who just do 'boys' things because they like them, and then there are girls who consciously strive to be like boys.   The first type would be someone like Nancy Blackett in Arthur Ransome's 'Swallows and Amazons' series, she's not imitating boys, just being herself.  The second type is personified by the rather tiresome 'George' in Enid Blyton's 'Famous Five' series, who was always going on about how much she wanted to be a boy, how much she despised girls etc.  I always disliked her very much, and found her attitude towards girls offensive.

I remember some years ago reading an interview with a well-known author, I can't remember who it was now, who said that she didn't think there were any tomboys nowadays, though when she was young there were lots.  "Modern girls just want to dress up and drag around the shops" she said sadly.  I don't know whether this is true of today's girls.  Not from what I have observed of my son's friends, there seem to be plenty of girls around who like doing 'boyish' things.

A good modern fictional example of a tomboy is Cassandra in Meg Cabot's 'missing' series.  When I read the first book 'When Lightning Strikes' I recognised Cassandra as a classic tomboy in the Nancy Blackett mould.  And there must be girls like her in real life (though possibly not with her supernatural powers).