Gender a výzkum / Gender and Research 2012, 13 (2): 70-76

Between Childhood and Adolescence, Identity and Performance: Towards Possible Conceptualizations of the Tomboy Phenomenon

Veronika Klusáková

The study deals with tomboyism from the perspective of past and current psychiatric and sociological research, and proposes a new approach to this liminal phenomenon operating in-between binary opposites of traditional femininity and masculinity. This approach makes use of intersectional analysis developed by feminists of colour to address interlocking systems of oppression based on both race and gender, and combines it with the issue of performance and the notion of identity as fluid. It also challenges usual interpretations of tomboy narratives, as is shown on the analysis of two films with tomboyish characters - Robert Mulligan's To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) and Céline Sciamma's Tomboy (2011).

Published: June 1, 2012  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Klusáková, Veronika. 2012. "Between Childhood and Adolescence, Identity and Performance: Towards Possible Conceptualizations of the Tomboy Phenomenon." Gender, Equal Opportunities, Research 13(2):70-76.
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Abate, M. A. 2008. Tomboys: A Literary and Cultural History. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.
    2. Alcottová, L. M. 2009 (orig. 1919). Malé ženy. Praha: Knižní klub.
    3. Bartůňková, R. 2009. "Proč moje děti nejsou, gender'." [online]. Žena a život, 18. května. [cit. 20. 9. 2012]. Dostupné z: <http://www.zenaazivot.cz/clanky-2009-11/proc-moje-deti-nejsou-bdquogenderrdquo/214/>.
    4. Bendix, T. 2011. "Céline Sciamma talks Tomboy, Water Lilies and why LGBT film festivals are still necessary." [online]. After Ellen, 16. listopadu. [cit. 20. 9. 2012]. Dostupné z: <http://www.afterellen.com/movies/celine-sciamma-talks-tomboy-water-lillies-and-why-lgbt-film-festivals-are-still-necessary>.
    5. Bieber, I. 1969. "The Lesbian Patient." Medical Aspects of Human Sexuality, Vol. 3, No. 1: 6-8.
    6. Burn, S. M., O'Neill, A. K., Nederland, S. 1996. "Childhood Tomboyism and Adult Androgyny." Sex Roles, Vol. 34, No. 5-6: 424. Go to original source...
    7. Butler, J. 2008 (orig. 1990). Gender Trouble. New York: Routledge (slovensky Butler, J. 2003. Trampoty s rodom. Feminizmus a podrývanie identity. Bratislava: Aspekt).
    8. Córdova, J. 1995. "A Tale of Two Brothers". In Yamaguchi, L., Barber, K. Tomboys! Tales of Dyke Derring-Do. Los Angeles: Alyson Publications.
    9. Crenshaw, K. 1991. "Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence against Women of Color." Stanford Law Review, Vol. 43, No. 6: 1241-1299. Go to original source...
    10. Dati, E. et al. 2010. "A Girl with Tomboy Behavior: Lesson from Misdiagnosis in a Baby with Ambiguous Genitalia." Sexual Development, Vol. 4, No. 3: 150-154. Go to original source...
    11. Dyer, R. 1997. White. New York: Routledge.
    12. Fajmon, H. 2009. "Gender už i pro děti?" [online]. Idnes
    13. Robinson, K., Davies, C. 2010. "Tomboys and Sissy Girls: Exploring Girls' Power, Agency and Female Relationships in Childhood Through the Memories of Women." Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, Vol. 35, No. 1: 24-31. Go to original source...
    14. Saghir, M. T., Robins, E. 1973. Male and Female Homosexuality. Baltimore: Williams-Wilkins.
    15. Shackelford, D. 2007. "The Female Voice in To Kill a Mockingbird: Narrative Strategies in Film and Novel". Pp. 103-114 in Bloom, H. (ed.). Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. New York: Chelsea House Publishers.
    16. Silverstein, M. 2011. "Interview with Celine Sciamma: blog, 3. května. [cit. 20. 9. 2012]. Dostupné z: <http://fa-Writer/Director of Tomboy." [online]. Women and Hollyjmon.blog.idnes.cz/c/82121/Gender-uz-i-pro-deti.html>. "Gender Identity Disorder." 2010. Pp. 576-582 in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-IV TR. Arlington: American Psychiatric Association. "Good Feelings and Bad Spirits." New Republic, 2. února 1963.
    17. Green, R. 1975. "Adults Who Want to Change Sex; Adolescents Who Cross-dress; and Children Called, Sissy' and, Tomboy'." In Green, R. (ed.). Human Sexuality: A Health Practitioner's Text. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins.
    18. Hines, M. 2009. "Sex Hormones and Human Destiny." Journal of Neuroendocrinology, Vol. 21, No. 4: 437-438. Go to original source...
    19. Hines, M. et al. 2002. "Testosterone during Pregnancy and Gender Role Behavior of Preschool Children: A Longitudinal, Population Study." Child Development, Vol. 73, No. 6: 1678-1687. Go to original source...
    20. Hyde, J. S., Rosenberg, B. G., Behrman, J. A. 1977. "Tomboyism." Psychology of Women Quarterly, Vol. 2, No. 1: 73. Go to original source...
    21. Lee, H. 1964. Jako zabít ptáčka. Praha: SNKLU.
    22. McCullers, C. 2004. The Member of the Wedding. New York: Houghton Mifflin.
    23. McEwen, C. 1997. "Introduction." In Jo's Girls Tomboy Tales of High Adventure, True Grit, and Real Life. Boston: Beacon Press.
    24. Morgan, B. L. 1997. "Three Generational Study of Tomboy Behavior." Sex Roles, Vol. 39, No. 9-10: 794-795. Go to original source...
    25. Pascoe, C. J. 2007. Dude, You're a Fag: Masculinity and Sexuality in High School. Berkeley: University of California Press. Go to original source...
    26. Powers, J. 1962. "Pakula-Mulligan Pic In Line for Honors." Hollywood Reporter. wood, 15. 7. [cit. 20. 9. 2012]. Dostupné z: <http://blogs.indiewire.com/womenandhollywood/interview-with-celine-sciamma-writer-director-of-tomboy#>. "Tomboy." 2008. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. Springfield: Merriam-Webster.
    27. Turner, V. 1967. "Betwixt and Between: Liminal Period." Pp. 93-111 in týž. The Forest of Symbols: Aspects of Ndembu Ritual. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.

    This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0), which permits non-comercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.


    Return to the content