On this episode of the en(gender)ed podcast, our guest is Lisa Selin Davis, writer, essayist and author of the upcoming book, Tomboy: The Surprising History and Future of Girls Who Dare to Be Different. We speak to Lisa today about the history and evolution of the term “tomboy” and its response to a gender-binary culture. We talk about how tomboyism offers girls a way to both challenge and reinforce dominant narratives of femininity, womanhood, and sex. Lisa also offers suggestions on how parents and individuals can re-imagine how we explore, build, and strengthen relationships with one another that helps kids of all genders and women to realize their full selves, within and outside of our notions of gender and femininity.
During our conversation, Lisa and I referenced the following resources and topics:
- The history and cultural use of the word “tomboy” and the pink/blue divide
- How terms like “gender-nonbinary,” “gender fluid” or “gender-nonconforming” relate to the term “tomboy”
- C. Lynn Carr’s research on and its connection to Adverse Childhood Experiences or “ACEs”
- The connection of tomboyism and eugenics and homophobia
- JK Rowling’s statement on sex and gender issues and the complete breakdown of the controversy
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