Tomboy: The Surprising History and Future of Girls Who Dare to Be Different

In this, the year of the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment, I started reading Tomboy expecting to hear of the empowerment of women in general. While that is certainly an (albeit small) part of the history of the descriptor, what I found instead was a rich, powerful, and enlightening perspective of the gendering of society and the resulting struggles for people of all genders. Selin-Davis expertly weaves the history and trends of the tomboy label with the personal experiences of people across the spectrum of gender identity and expression using a writing style that kept me engaged from cover to cover. My only disappointment was not having read the book before raising my own children, but I will be sure to share this gem with them so they will have the benefits of these insights.

Can’t wait to read I’ve seen some of the reviews and I saw the author on t.v.(she discussed and read a few excerpts) from the book. So I decided to purchase it(this should make for a good read). And being a tomboy doesn’t mean you’ve lost, your femininity(but that you’re unique)in your own right.

Anyone who has felt limited by gender or has any interest in gender issues should read this book. It is richly researched and written in a refreshingly clear voice. Gender is a very complicated topic and Selin Davis allows you into her own struggles both in thinking about and discussing the topic. She doesnt pretend to be the foremost authority with all the answers, instead turning to both experts and lay people to illustrate the many opinions and ways of understanding gender out there. She seamlessly knits together research, personal anecdotes, and the voices of those living outside the binary. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the history of the word Tomboy but even more so deepening my understanding of gender. The author does a fantastic job of illustrating the ways gender is used in our culture to both oppress and empower. I finished it last night and woke up feeling compelled to write a review.

Being a father of both boys and girls there is much to think about in how we raise our children. Lisa Selin Davis unpacks the often challenging and confusing gender stereotypes w nuance, humility and plenty of historical reference. This is a fantastic read for anyone, not just parents. Its one of those books that leaves an indelible impression.

This is an excellent and important examination of gender stereotypes, the hyper-gendering of childhood toys, clothes, media and more, and the effect it all has on kids and the adults they turn into. Highly recommended.

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