Thank you for the explanation.
Here in Brazil we have equivalent terms:
For "tomboys" = "Sapata", "Sapa", "Sapatona" or "Sapatão" ( Sapatão
means strictly "big shoes" )
For "Faggy" = "boyola", "fresco", "viado", "viadinho", "frutinha",
"mona", "adé"
But many "frutinhas" don't worry about being called so, they do assume
they are diferent without any problem, and boys usually apreciate
"frutinhas", something like a bissexual culture...
Well, this behavior change from social class to social class. High
midle class are more "homophobic". Low midle class are more
"bisssexual": to be "man" means "put a stick in any bottom".
We have a "square magazine" character called "Mônica", designed and
conceived by Mauricio de Souza, who is a "tomboy" girl who are the
leader of a children group. She is very popular among children of all
social classes in Brasil.
Bye.
diane celia hodges wrote:
>
> At 4:46 PM 2/28/98, Ricardo Ottoni Vaz Japiassu wrote:
> >Diane,
> >
> >I know "tomboys" and "faggy" are american slangs. As I'm not
> >american and have nver been in USA I would be very pleased if you
> >tell me what "tomboys" and "faggy" means.
> >
>
> Hi Ricardo -
> these are indeed "slangy" terms. They refer to "girls" who "act" like boys
> (girls who run, climb, play sports, dress casual, wear sensible shoes);
>
> "faggy" boys is a painful and derogatory term used to describe
> effeminate boys, usually boys who are "slight" in physical build,
> and who aren't involved in typically "boy" activities -
>
> I ought to step on that slippery line between words and their speakers:
>
> particularly with the word "fag" - as a queer woman myself, I often use it
> affectionately, with my gay men friends; they refer to each other as fags,
>
> and like "nigger", these are historically offensive term used to denigrate
> difference.
>
> Black folks are deep in the discussions now, concerning the use of
> "nigger", and what does it mean for black folks to refer to each other,
> familiarly, as such;
>
> the same discussions take place in gay & lesbian groups - calling ourselves
> "queer"
> is alleged to defuse the historically-assaultive intent of the word;
> however, and this is the slippery slope,
>
> *who* may refer to *whom* as "what," of course, is at the heart of this.
> I perhaps should not have used the terms "faggy" (although, oddly, "tomboy"
> is not an insult, ...
>
> my thoughts on this have to do with the value of masculine culture.) For
> boys to reject machisimo and "traditional" concepts of masculinity is far
> more threatening
> to masculine culture
>
> than when girls reject traditional "feminine" constructs:
> in other words, when girls act like boys, it's okay... 'cause they are
> embracing the masculine characteristics which
> are so valued.
>
> It worsens considerably in high school. Tolerance for "tomboys" shifts
> dramatically, to "dyke" and "lesbo" which are both intended, by
> hetersexuals and/or homophobes
> to denigrate the girl/woman, to chastise her for refusing "femininity";
>
> as well, for boys, it is worse, much worse. It isn't about hurt feelings by
> this time, but about beatings, assault, and, many many many gay youth
> choose suicide...because there is NO SPACE at all for them in this culture.
> Testosterone my arse. Space is about politics.
>
> diane
>
> "Every tool is a weapon if you hold it right." Ani Difranco
> *********************************************
> diane celia hodges
> faculty of education, centre for the study of curriculum and
> instruction,
> university of british columbia
> vancouver, bc canada
>
> tel: (604)-874-4807
> mail:
> 3519 Hull Street
>
> Vancouver, BC, Canada V5N 4R8