Tomboy chic: re-fashioning gender rebellion

This article explores the recent celebration of tomboy chic as the latest attempt to discursively intervene on female masculinity. First, the article contextualizes tomboy identity within theories of female masculinity and butch identity. Next, it maps out the proliferation of tomboy recuperation narratives throughout popular culture, from fashion magazines and daytime television to online advice sites. Framing tomboy identity as delayed maturation in need of an intervention, this re-fashioning of tomboy identity as style-over-substance jeopardizes an important outlet for gender rebellion.