#PART 2 # Identifying my Subculture

In the process of identifying my subculture I thought about my childhood, growing up and what influenced me to be the person I am today.

I grew up with an older brother and a sister. There is one year difference between us three so we had similar sizes and shared the same hobbies when we were young.

My father used to take us out to the park, to the beach,to the pool, camping and on trips. He taught all of  us the same things for example how to ride a bike, play soccer, swim, ride a canoe, climb trees and catch snails and crabs. Random stuff you know pretty much everything a girl should learn about.

My mother used to stay in the house and she preferred to help us with our homework. She taught us how to cook, clean, hand sew clothes for our dolls, behave properly, get dress, do our hair and look pretty.

 She sent me this picture of me at my primary school and told me that I used to ask to wear my brother's clothes because I loved to run and play any game therefore skirts and tights didn't really work for me. 

   (Images of me in first and second grade)

My parents never told me I couldn't do this or that because I was a girl. They taught me everything they knew which gave me two different perspectives and made me think I could combine what I liked the most about both and do things my own way and it also taught me not to have preconceptions about anything. One of the things I still remember and love the most about my childhood is the freedom of having a lot of choices and don’t obey to restrictions of social gender rules.

I always liked to be a tomboy because it was so much fun and all the running and climbing made me feel free and full of life. This has had a massive impact on the way I dress now. Now I express myself through clothes which make me feel comfortable,confident and free.

When I went to College I joined a hip hop group and I started being more conscious about my looks because I could see what my friends and my sisters were wearing. Music videos, movies, magazines and night clubs inspired me to combine my tomboy look with chic. I started dressing up more and wearing fitted clothes combining them with loose because I still love my comfort. I became more sexy. I learned how to braid my own hair and do extensions. I also started using make up besides foundation I never used it because I never needed it and the tomboy in me didn't tallow me to do that to my face..Also I started wearing heels,carrying bags and wearing loads of jewellery. 

StereoTypes

#PART 2 #Tomboy Chic

A Tomboy is a girl who exhibits characteristics or behaviors considered typical of the gender role of a boy, including wearing masculine clothing, engaging in games and activities that are physical in nature and are considered in many cultures to be the domain of boys and preference to befriend boys rather than other girls. They are the opposite of girly girls.

Historically tomboys were defined by both behavior (according to the stereotypical gender role of boys) and wearing boys' clothing. In recent times, as the use of "traditional" clothing such as dresses, blouses, and skirts steadily declines among females, the distinction has become almost solely one of behavior and activities.

 The word has been recorded to be used in the English language since 1553, primarily to describe a "rude, boisterous boy", from Tom (a common boys' name as in 'Tommy', meaning soldier) + boy. Later in 1579 it came to mean a "bold or immodest woman". Finally in 1592 it developed its present meaning of a “girl who acts like a boy” often being connected with connotations of rudeness and impropriety. (internet sources)

Here are some of the ladies that open the way, threw the years, for tomboys to be accepted either threw music, sports, fashion, or just for putting on an uniform and going to work alongside men. They were strong, adventurous, daring, fearless and confident enough to go against what society thought a Lady should behave like, a true inspiration for any women I believe.

Anke-Eve Goldmann, Beryl-markham, Charis Wilson, Gwena hawks, Cher, Tina Weymouth, Coco Chanel, Naomi Sims, Women in the labor force, Rita Hayworth, Françoise Sagan and Maguerite Higgins.

Chic is an elegant fashion sense, a certain element of style and sophistication almost artistically stylish. It’s an element of class, intelligent, gorgeous, is being sexy without being vulgar or exaggerated.

Can be achieve by using make up, accessories, high heels and modern clothes or hairstyles.