Interview with Lisa Selin Davis, Author of Tomboy
Tomboy The Surprising History and Future of Girls Who Dare To Be Different
“I think it’s important for parents, and kids, to understand how sex, gender, and sexuality have been understood in different eras, to see that the way we are experiencing and understanding them is part of the evolution, and that we’ve still got so much more to learn.” Lisa Selin Davis (Tomboy, 2020).
Tomboy, written by essayist, novelist, and journalist Lisa Selin Davis “explores the evolution of tomboyism from a Victorian ideal to a twenty first century fashion statement, honoring girls and women-and those who identify otherwise.”
Tomboy is a fascinating and comprehensive book that combines research, Lisa’s personal life and other girl’s experiences and stories. This book helps readers to better appreciate those who defy gender norms and boundaries and the “incredible people they become.”
Before reading this book, I didn’t think that much about the word “tomboy” and used it within conversation without a thought. My history of the word tomboy included the iconic character Jo from Facts of Life and found it to be a positive term based on my own experiences. I never thought about how this word has been used in history and what it means today.
After reading Tomboy, I became more educated in the topic of gender and understanding the history of the word, “tomboy” after reading this book. I was also able to self reflect on my own childhood and the gender norms of today. As a parent, I am always learning and then never stops!
I highly recommend this book for parents who want to learn more about this fascinating topic and celebrate girls “who dare to be different.”
Tomboy: The Surprising History and Future of Girls Who Dare to Be Different
Lisa Selin Davis
LISA SELIN DAVIS is an essayist, novelist, and journalist who has written for major publications such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Guardian, Time, Yahoo, and Salon, among many others. To read all of her articles, click here.
She lives with her family in New York. Davis continues to write for major publications such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Women’s Day, Salon, Yahoo, Time Out, and more, and her articles often open the door to both debate and celebration. Most recently, in December 2018, another article she wrote for the New York Times, “Like Tomboys and Hate Girlie Girls? That’s Sexist,” went viral and sparked almost 400 comments. In 2017, her Guardian article “For Years I Thought She Was Stealing My Identity Until I Found Her” sparked a record-breaking 45K shares for the paper.
To learn more about Lisa, visit her website here.
Watch the book trailer here…
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