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

Lisa Selin Davis

Aug 2020 · Hachette Audio · Narrated by Therese Plummer

About this audiobook

Based on the author’s viral New York Times op-ed, this heartfelt book is a celebration and exploration of the tomboy phenomenon and the future of girlhood.

We are in the middle of a cultural revolution, where the spectrum of gender and sexual identities is seemingly unlimited. So when author and journalist Lisa Selin Davis's six-year-old daughter first called herself a "tomboy," Davis was hesitant. Her child favored sweatpants and T-shirts over anything pink or princess-themed, just like the sporty, skinned-kneed girls Davis had played with as a kid. But "tomboy" seemed like an outdated word—why use a word with "boy" in it for such girls at all?

So was it outdated? In an era where some are throwing elaborate gender reveal parties and others are embracing they/them pronouns, Davis set out to answer that question, and to find out where tomboys fit into our changing understandings of gender.

In Tomboy, Davis explores the evolution of tomboyism from a Victorian ideal to a twentyfirst century fashion statement, honoring the girls and women—and those who identify otherwise—who stomp all over archaic gender norms. She highlights the forces that have shifted what we think of as masculine and feminine, delving into everything from clothing to psychology, history to neuroscience, and the connection between tomboyism, gender identity, and sexuality. Above all else, Davis's comprehensive deep-dive inspires us to better appreciate those who defy traditional gender boundaries, and the incredible people they become.

Whether you're a grown-up tomboy or raising a gender-rebel of your own, Tomboy is the perfect companion for navigating our cultural shift. It is a celebration of both diversity and those who dare to be different, ultimately revealing how gender nonconformity is a gift.

Ratings and reviews

I haven't read yet -- but I wish I could fix the title as it indicates that active and sporty girls are an anomaly or "different". Though there are no benchmarks that haven't been tainted by vastly uneven opportunity for girls/women, I'm fairly certain the percentage of females who yearn or excel in active endeavors is similar to that of males. So maybe the title should be, "The Surprising History and Future of Girls Who Dare to Be." (nix the "different")

About the author

Lisa Selin Davis is an essayist, novelist, and journalist who has written for major publications such as the New York Times, the WallStreet Journal, the Guardian, Time, Yahoo!, and Salon, among many others. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and kids.