Consider the tomboy; independent, adventurous, outdoors, free - pertaining to elements of social surprise. The acts of climbing trees or cutting up worms might be the sort’s of stuff a girl, who wouldn’t be seen dead playing with dolls gets up to, but does this render her a tomboy? Further, what clues contribute to our impression of a girl who is a tomboy, when not observed outdoors roughing it up and behaving akin to a ‘rambunctious boy’ – a hoyden?
An alternative view of the tomboy is a girl who, [and we can’t quite put our finger on it] demonstrates a way of being that is different, or not the same as the general girl/boy templates. It is this, the essence of the girl who calls herself ‘tomboy,’ that I am interested in exploring and the bathroom the space I have chosen to intrude upon.
A private and intimate space, the bathroom, amongst other things, can be viewed as a place of transformation and cleanliness. Cleanliness contradicts grubbiness; a usual state in which the tomboy’s scuffing around would bring about, which highlights the cliché of the tomboy who can’t stand having a bath.
So, if it is not the bath that draws the tomboy to the bathroom, perhaps it is the privacy? Here she can lock the door, occupy the space, explore her reflection, emulate current heroes, apply bubble bath to her chin and say, ‘ho ho ho.’ Here she has no costume and here she can simply be.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Ban On Tomboys -26.10.2008
In October 2008, the National Fatwa Council forbade the practice of girls behaving or dressing like boys in Northern Malaysia. This news was brought to us by, Harussani Idris Zakaria, the mufti of northern Perak state, who attended the gathering held last year.
Harussani said an increasing number of Malaysian girls behave like tomboys, and that some of them engage in homosexuality. Homosexuality is not explicitly banned in Malaysia, but it is effectively illegal under a law that prohibits sex acts “against the order of nature.”
Harussani said the council’s ruling was not legally binding because it has not been passed into law, but that tomboys should be banned because their actions are immoral.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a law or not. When it’s wrong, it’s wrong. It is a sin,” Harussani told The Associated Press. “Tomboy (behavior) is forbidden in Islam.”
Harussani said an increasing number of Malaysian girls behave like tomboys, and that some of them engage in homosexuality. Homosexuality is not explicitly banned in Malaysia, but it is effectively illegal under a law that prohibits sex acts “against the order of nature.”
Harussani said the council’s ruling was not legally binding because it has not been passed into law, but that tomboys should be banned because their actions are immoral.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a law or not. When it’s wrong, it’s wrong. It is a sin,” Harussani told The Associated Press. “Tomboy (behavior) is forbidden in Islam.”
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Throw Like A Girl: The Tomboy Project#1
BIG MASSIVE THANK YOU TO - Mieke, Dharma, Harry, Shiraz and their families; you are all amazing!!!
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