Tom Boys in Cinema Breaking Gender Norms and Facing Societal Backlash

Abstract

This study examines the role and representation of tomboy characters in cinema and OTT series, with a focus on how these representations challenge the gender normal and in turn provoke societal backlash. Using feminist film theory, gender performativity, and cross-cultural analysis, it analyzes films from European cinema such as Malena and Perfume, and South Asian productions such as Heeramandi and Jubilee. Employing textual analysis and interviews with those within or related to the entertainment industry, this research traces the roots of tomboy depiction and audience reaction. Anchored by the works of Judith Butler, Laura Mulvey, and Yvonne Tasker, this study investigates how tomboys become a disrupting force in the face of traditional gender norms, revealing social tensions and punitive responses to such a rebellion. This research also highlights cultural differences, noting that Western narratives often depict tomboyism at a personal capacity dealing with individualistic freedom, whereas South Asian stories of employ it with cultural inauthenticity and moral transgression. OTT platforms, however, increasingly portray tomboy characters with nuance, allow for a more inclusive and balanced understanding of gender identity.