WAS AN INDICATION OF GENDER IDENTITY, OF SEXUALITY? > Lisa: WELL, THE IMPETUS FOR THIS BOOK REALLY CAME FROM MY DAUGHTER WHO, WHEN SHE WAS THREE AND WHEN LOTS OF KIDS WERE STARTING TO SEGREGATE INTO SEX GROUPS IN PRESCHOOL, WAS STAYING REALLY IN THE MIDDLE, SO AS THE GIRLS WERE ENTERING A PRINCESS PHASE AND THE BOYS WERE GETTING MORE INTO TRUCKS AND PLAYING POLICE, SHE WAS OFTEN BEING THE ROYAL DOG AND WEARING BOYS CLOTHES AND GIRLS CLOTHES AND BEING FRIENDS WITH BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS.ĪND WE DID NOT REALLY KNOW WHAT THAT MEANT FOR HER FUTURE. WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND THAT GOT YOU INTERESTED IN GIVE YOU EXPERTISE IN IT? PLEASE TELL ME WHY DID YOU WRITE THIS BOOK? THIS WEEK, WE TALK GENDER ROLES AND HOW THEY ARE CHANGING AND HOW DIFFERENT GENERATIONS VIEW THEM SO STARKLY DIFFERENTLY AND THE REASON IS I AM INTERVIEWING LISA SELLING DAVIS, HIS NEW BOOK IS TOMBOY, AND SHE TALKS ABOUT HOW TOMBOY REFLECTS DIFFERENT VALUES AND DIFFERENT GENDER ISSUES AT DIFFERENT TIMES IN AMERICAN HISTORY, WHICH I FOUND REALLY INTERESTING. C.WELCOME TO 'TO THE CONTRARY', A WEEKLY DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND SOCIAL TRENDS FROM DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.How terms like “gender-nonbinary,” “gender fluid” or “gender-nonconforming” relate to the term “tomboy”.The history and cultural use of the word “tomboy” and the pink/blue divide.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.ĭuring our conversation, Lisa and I referenced the following resources and topics:

We talk about how tomboyism offers girls a way to both challenge and reinforce dominant narratives of femininity, womanhood, and sex. We speak to Lisa today about the history and evolution of the term “tomboy” and its response to a gender-binary culture. 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.

Tomboy the surprising history