Stories about girls dressed as boys

[Petticoated Boy]

One thing I've often wondered about is our fascination with anything to do with boys dressing as girls. I've read hundreds of stories about boys being dressed and feminized by mothers, sisters, aunts etc. Why is it there are no stories where a girl is dressed as a boy, by a father or uncle who wanted so much to have a son or a nephew, in much the same way a mother dresses her boy as a girl as she desperately wanted a daughter,?

[Robyn Jodie]

One reason may be that it happens all the time so nobody needs to encourage it.  Girls often dress as boys anyway.  The same people who are horrified at the thought of their son's being a sissy, think tomboys are "cute," and actually encourage them.

[Angela M...]

I think you are right Robyn Jodie, nobody thinks it is unusual that girls dress as boy's quite often now and I can't even remember the last time I saw an older girl (early teens) in a dress or skirt. I live not far from a high school and you can't tell the boys from the girls most of the time. In my teens I was often with all the girls during summer holidays and most of them wore shorts and tops but one of our friends was most often in jeans and shirt (boys). We all thought of her as a tomboy and nobody cared as she was bright and fun to be with. I was not sure what happened to her after we all departed from high school to go our separate ways but in my 30's the mother of one of our dear friends passed away and we were able to all reconnect at the funeral reception. It was great seeing all the girls I had hung out with and I noticed a female couple show up both wearing men's style suits and discovered it was our tomboy friend and her wife. She is a painter and left our town shortly after graduation. I never really thought about people being gay back in the late sixties. It was a great reunion at a very sad time.

[Petticoated Boy]

You're both right, of course. No one would give a girl a second glance if she's wearing trousers or jeans, it would be a different matter if you saw a boy wearing a dress or a skirt. A boy or group of boys wouldn't tease a girl in trousers, I bet they would call a boy wearing a dress or skirt a sissy. But in this time of gender neutrality, I feel that it's becoming the norm for boys to be wearing girls clothing.

[Robyn Jodie]

But in this time of gender neutrality, I feel that it's becoming the norm for boys to be wearing girls clothing.

I'm not so sure of that.  There's still a lot of stigma attached.  In fact I saw one article decrying the fact that the changes in dress codes that allow boys to wear skirts, etc., isn't for "real boys," but so "transgendered girls" can feel more comfortable....

[Angela M...]

Hi Robyn Jodie,
the thing that I noticed with boys clothes in the last few years is that the boys seem to take to very skinny jeans/pants and even tights or leggings. I have a couple of nephews who love their tights while playing sports and even playing out afterwards and they are wearing more pink coloured tops as well. the other thing they love is bracelets and chokers which I have read is a fashion coming back for men these days. I have a few but not taken to wearing them much yet. As with other boys and men I am on the verge of getting one or more ears pierced as I noticed quite a few years ago that many men that I worked with had them and tried to encourage me to do it as well. I don't really know why I held back.

[francene]

I think it is very much accepted for girls to dress as boys. I was one of my son's coaches in little league some 30 years ago. The opposing team had this tall lanky kid who could hit, run, and field like a pro. After the game the lanky kid took the baseball cap and it turned out to be a girl with long flowing hair. There were no gaffs or guffaws, just praise and everyone saying golly she is cute. Girl's have been wearing jeans and tee shirts since I was a kid and that is longer then I care to remember. But, put a boy in a tutu and tights and into a girl's ballet class or in a brownie uniform and send him out selling girl scout cookies and children's services will probably be knocking at your door. A huge double standard.

[Angela M...]

Yes there has always been a double standard where boys are concerned. When I would tell friends and co-workers I was a volunteer with the Ballet I would get strange looks and snide remarks and when I was younger and joined a Figure Skating Company, it was as if I was doing a girls sport or joining a dance company. Even my own father was not impressed but then he wanted me into hockey or football or any other sport that was for boys. I had to remind him a great British skater Robin Cousins had been skating in the Olympics but he never said any more about it. Figure Skating was a safe alternative for me as I wanted to join the girls in Ballet.