How does it feel being a tomboy?

Firstly, let’s look into the definition of Tomboy

A tomboy is a girl who exhibits characteristics or behaviors considered typical of a boy. Common characteristics include wearing masculine clothing and engaging in games and activities that are physical in nature and are considered in many cultures to be unfeminine or the domain of boys. — Wikipedia

a girl who acts and dresses like a boy, liking noisy, physical activities — Cambridge dictionary

Yes, a tomboy means a girl having boyish behavior. Looking at various definitions of a tomboy, there’s a slightly uneasy feeling that the girl might not put up to the standards made by society. It’s a word that confuses a lot of people.

But there is a misconception that says tomboys are lesbians. The answer is NO! Not all tomboys are lesbians and not all lesbians are tomboys. One must know the difference.

As a young girl, people labeled me as a tomboy. Why? They saw all the behavior as that of a boy in me. I liked having short hair, wearing T-shirts/sweatshirts/jackets paired with jeans and sneakers. That was my ideal look. I loved playing cricket, football and watching all the sports edition on TV. But I was silenced as the game only belonged to the boys. I too had an interest in riding a bike or driving a car but was still prohibited from staying out.

I got my first period at the age of 12, well a week of complete rest. After my periods, I got instructions from various women that I should behave like a woman, talk like a woman, walk like a woman, laugh like a woman, etc. The constant fear that men would observe me. Indeed prohibiting from all activities. These are the things a girl would experience in her teenage life.

I was 17 when I joined my undergraduate course in a college where kurtas were made mandatory. Until 17 I was a girl who was just comfortable in jeans and shirts had to wear kurtas. I had that constant feeling of what would people think about this tomboy.

I was different from other girls. I used to always think that there was something wrong with me. Why can’t I look like other girls? This question normally arises in the minds of all tomboys. I remember this incident where I had cut my hair really short. My mother and other relatives were really upset. Only the men in my family positively supported me. I would flaunt my new hairstyle. XD

Every human being has both masculine and feminine traits and there’s nothing to shy about. It’s the society that has put the restrictions. For me, it has become a routine. I am proud of who I am, a tomboy. People might have opinions about me, I am not against anyone. They have their choices to think. But I am living my life to the fullest.