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Ask a dozen guys to define the term and you'll likely get a dozen different answers.
Curiously, however, just about every woman is crystal clear on what we're talking about here. There's almost no confusion about it among their ranks...ever.
Simply put, a "tomboy" is a woman who likes to do guy stuff.
That's it. There's really nothing more complicated to it than that.
That means that a "tomboy" is NOT to be confused with a "butch".
These aren't women who wish they were born male.
They're also definitely not to be confused with "militant lesbians".
In fact, it's likely that they're not lesbians at all.
This might shock you, but it's usually true that "tomboy" chicks are especially hot for REAL MEN (and only men), and can be among the most sexually-polarized FEMININE beings you've ever encountered.
Huh? Your first reaction to that last paragraph might very well be to wonder how it can POSSIBLY make sense.
But deep down, you probably already know that it indeed makes perfect sense...if based only on your personal experience of "tomboys" along the way.
Consider this. I've written at length in the past how being "macho" is different than being masculine, right?
To summarize that difference succinctly, what we as guys like to do for our own enjoyment when we hang out with each other is very, very different than what women would recognize to be our sexually charged essence.
So then, women can like and do certain "guy" stuff without compromising the femininity that makes us hot for them.
Wow, right? That's almost TOO elegant an explanation.
But why would they do this? After all, shouldn't a woman naturally be drawn to doing "girly girl" stuff like baking cookies and shopping?
That's a good question.
Another one would be to ask how (and why) they get away with it so effectively.
After all, we as guys can scarcely pull off engaging in stereotypically female pursuits and have anything good come of it, in the attraction department or otherwise.
I mean, notwithstanding Mikhail Baryshnikov's weird ability to be a ballet guy and still make women horny, I can't think of any other examples.
Meanwhile, I could rattle off a list of "tomboy" hotties for you all day long.
SCREECH...
That's right. I said, "Emily McKay".
All you have to do is look through my wife's Facebook pictures and you'll find out VERY quickly that I'm married to pretty much the ultimate "tomboy".
At the time we got married she drove a bright yellow Hummer H3 (which is a "tom-mobile" if there ever was one).
She can fix the sink, take care of the "black water" in our camping trailer and climb the Himalayas in a pair of hiking shoes and "zip-off" pants...all because she wants to.
We're talking about a woman who finished third in the Texas state BMX racing championships one year...on a pink and purple bike, no less.
So as a guy who lives the reality of being hot for a "tomboy" 24/7, allow me to take a shot at answering the two burning questions on the table.
First, why do women WANT to do "guy stuff"?
Well, never mind that "guy stuff" is generally more badass than "girly stuff". That would beg the question.
I really think it once again comes down to the simple truth that women are hard wired to follow a man's lead. I present the "tomboy" phenomenon as further proof of that.
As a "tomboy" sees cool stuff we do, she expresses interest by actively participating in the same rather than being a mere spectator.
And here's a crazy thought: Could it be altogether possible that BECAUSE she's so keen on joining us, that encourages us to DO more cool stuff and to LEAD even more--and in more tangible ways?
Last I checked, living an exciting life and being a leader were two things that made women particularly horny.
So could it be that "tomboys" are particularly tuned-in to motivating us as guys to do what it takes to really turn them on?
What a cool skill that must be. Imagine knowing exactly how to get women to do what makes YOU hot for them? (Hint: Try helping them feel safe and comfortable in your presence.)
But hey, wait a second...aren't women who encourage us and validate our interests often the ones who DO make us particularly horny?
Welcome to the answer to that SECOND question asked above...the one about why women can get away with being "tomboys".
Because male leadership is sexy to women and unconditional female validation is sexy to us, and NOT vice-versa, we as guys generally CANNOT get away with doing "girly" stuff if we want to attract women.
When you get right down to it, most of us don't even care to TRY. Acting like a girl doesn't really interest us.
After all, that would just be bass-ackward. What woman finds herself attracted to "tomgirls"? The term doesn't even exist.
So be it, then. It's when women like to do guy stuff that everyone involved tends to be more sexually attracted.
Ahh...and therein lies a shining example of the mystery of male/female sexual polarity in all of its glory.
Could it be that "tomboy-ism" is actually one of the purest and most effective representations of "femininity as men define it"?
No doubt, few of us would dare challenge the basic observation that most "tomboys" seem like they'd be amazing little tigers in bed (which they often are).
But the added bonus is that a "tomboy" can totally be your best buddy even as she pegs your attraction meter to beyond the red zone.
She's game to give what we're into a try, which makes for good times and a fun relationship...even outside of the bedroom.
That's VERY, VERY different than being "one of the guys". Instead, she'd flat-out make a great girlfriend or wife.
Let's hear it for "tomboys"...rock on.