Journal-ISM [ I Suck Much ]

Tomboy

A tomboy is a girl who exhibits characteristics or behaviors considered typical of the gender role of a boy,including the wearing of typically masculine-oriented clothes and engaging in games and activities that are often physical in nature, and which are considered in many cultures to be the domain of boys.

In recent times, as the ubiquity of traditionally female clothing such as dresses, blouses, and skirts has declined among Western females, the distinction has become more and more one of behavior. A general increase in the popularity of women's sporting events and other activities that were traditionally male-dominated is today broadening tolerance and lessening the impact of 'tomboy' as a pejorative term.

There is a perceived correlation between tomboys and lesbianism.While some tomboys later reveal a lesbian identity in their adolescent or adult years, behavior typical of boys but displayed by girls is not a true indicator of one's sexual orientation.

Throughout their history, tomboys have had to contend with the stigma of presumed lesbianism or the accusation of wanting to be male. Both assumptions were categorically refuted by twentieth-century psychology, which established the normality of the tomboy experience among girls of all identities. However, for many, the tomboy stage is the first manifestation of a gender-fluid life journey.

Gender scholar Judith Halberstam has found that while the defying of gender roles is often tolerated in young girls, older girls and adolescents who display masculine traits are often repressed and punished. There have been few studies of the causality of women's behavior and interests, when they do not conform to the female social gender role. One report from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children suggests that preschool girls engaging in "masculine-typical" gender-role behaviour, such as playing with toys typically preferred by boys, is influenced by genetic and prenatal factors.Tomboys have also been noted to demonstrate a stronger interest in science and technology. (Source: Wikipedia)

 

Mula pagkabata hanggang ngayon, yan ang inaakusa nila sa akin. Dahil sa brusko kong pagkilos, pananamit, pagkahumaling sa mga bagay na kinahihiligan ng mga lalake, disgusto sa mga libangan ng mga babae, lumalaban kahit sa rambol at ang napakatagal kong status bilang single. Bakit nga ba?

·         Mas gusto ko ang basketbol kaysa ang maglaro ng manika. Musmos pa lang ako, mahilig na talaga ako sa sports. Maaga akong na-adik sa basketbol at takbuhan. Nakikipag-alaskahan pa ako dati kay Papa at sa mga kapitbahay namin. Lagi akong salungat noon, kung sino ang kalaban ng Purefoods yon ang pinapanigan kong koponan. Nagpiprisinta akong magtinda ng ice candy sa plaza para lang makapanood ng paliga. Pinangarap ko rin dati na ako ang magiging kauna-unahang manlalaro sa (hindi naitatag na) WPBA. Sobrang buwisit ko sa eskuwelahan / coach pag ang mga lumalahok sa girls’ basketball team ay walang alam. Sino ba ang nasa tamang pag-iisip, may laban pero naging fashion show models ang teammates mo. Paiksihan ng shorts, pagandahan ng manicure at panay ang pa-cute sa men’s basketball team. Obvious bang ayaw kong kalaro ang mga babae? Pag hawak ko kasi ang bola, kuyog na. Yung papasahan mo namang kakampi, hindi marunong magdribol. Pag mga lalake naman ang kalaro, minamaliit ang kakayahan ng mga babae. Advantage ko yon kaya walang nagbabantay sa akin, puro catch and shoot ang play. :D Grade four, may kaklase akong nagtanong kung sino ang first love ko. “Sino? Hindi ba puwedeng ano? First love ko kasi ang basketbol.” Grade six, English subject at the same time youth counseling. Dahil naiintriga ang lahat na ako na lang ang hindi umaamin sa walang kamatayang topic na “crush”, tinanong ako ng guidance counselor kung sino ang taong hinahaangan ko. Hindi ako umimik. Wala naman daw masama sa paghanga – you admire them for who they are and what they have done. In our case, they should inspire us to strive harder.  Nakumbinsi naman ako sa paliwanag na yon, kaya tumayo na rin ako sabay sagot ng “Allan Caidic”. Pinagtawanan ako ng buong klase.