Kim Ficera writes on AfterEllen.com about the demise of fictional tomboyish role models on TV. Although it’s easy now to turn on the TV and find a lesbian, “she looks more like a centerfold than a centerfielder,” Ficera says. “I watched [1970’s characters] Buddy and Jo because they were strong, independent and boyish, just like me, not because they were or weren’t having same-sex sex. Sure, my role models gave me butterflies, and somewhere in my gut I knew what that was all about, but the feeling wasn’t ‘sexy’ — it was empowering.”
Maybe, therefore, someone should make a docudrama about Dipstick Fast Lube in South Carolina, the first all-female-staffed Fast Lube in the country. I don’t know if any of them are lesbians, but they’re certainly making their mark as strong and independent women, likely to inspire some young girls who would rather play with cars than Barbies. (Read the article; it has some good tips about servicing your car.)
It also occurs to me that perhaps we should de-emphasize the focus on the tube here (despite the fact that it is the predominant form of entertainment today). I recall a few tomboyish literary characters who inspired me. Jo from Little Women and George from the Nancy Drew series come to mind. Anyone else have some old favorites?
Trixie Belden! So much better than the Nancy Drew series, and in these books it is the heroine who is the tomboy and the sidekick who is “girlie”.
George from Enid Blyton’s Famous Five. :)