Tomboy Dating Terms From South East Asia

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Text on the card reads

THE MANY WORDS FOR TOMBOYS (AND THEIR LOVERS!)

A spectrum of slang used to describe tomboy couples in South East Asia

Tomboy couples in South East Asia call each other by many colorful names that are beyond just boyfriend and girlfriend. Here are some of them!

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THE MANY WORDS FOR TOMBOYS (AND THEIR LOVERS!)

'TOM'

Definition:

A "masculine" woman i.e. one who dresses like a man and dates women or Dees.

'DEE'

Definition:

The ultra-feminine romantic/ sexual partner of the 'Tom.' Derived from the English word, "lady."

Dees are only dees when they are dating a Tom. Neither Toms nor Dees like being called "lesbians."

REGION: THAILAND

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Text on the card reads

THE MANY WORDS FOR TOMBOYS (AND THEIR LOVERS!)

TOM GAY

Definition: A Tom who dates Toms, Dees or women who are neither toms nor dees.

TOM GAY QUEEN

Definition: A Tom who likes other Toms, and is a "bottom"

TOM GAY KING

Definition: A Tom who likes other Toms, and is a "top"

TOM GAY TWO-WAY

Definition: A Tom who can be both, a King or a Queen

REGION: THAILAND

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Text on the card reads

THE MANY WORDS FOR TOMBOYS (AND THEIR LOVERS!)

"T"

Definition: Masculine women, who are expected to be lesbians.

"PO"

Definition: The romantic/sexual partner of a 'T.' Derived from the Chinese word for wife.

TB (TOMBOY)

Definition: Masculine lesbian/ queer women. (Many have now stopped using the term.)

TBG (TOMBOY'S GIRL)

Definition: The romantic/sexual partner of a 'TB.'

REGION: HONG KONG, TAIWAN AND CHINA

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Text on the card reads

THE MANY WORDS FOR TOMBOYS (AND THEIR LOVERS!)

'TOMBOI'/COWOK

Definition: Masculine women. The meaning is sometimes understood as "guy/man," even if the women don't identify as such.

CEWEK

Definition: The feminine romantic/sexual partner of a Tomboi. Both tombois and ceweks sometimes call themselves, lesbi,' derived from the word, 'lesbian.'

REGION: INDONESIA

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THE MANY WORDS FOR TOMBOYS (AND THEIR LOVERS!)

'CALALAI'/HUNTER

Definition: People who do not identify as women, but also do not call themselves "men."

LINAS

Definition: Femme partners of Calalai

REGION: SOUTH SULAWESI, INDONESIA

There is a line sketch of a figure wearing a beanie, cool sunglasses and blushing. There is also a more feminine-looking fan smiling coyly.

Text on the card reads

THE MANY WORDS FOR TOMBOYS (AND THEIR LOVERS!)

PARS

Definition:

Masculine women

MARS

Definition:

Feminine women

REGION: PHILIPPINES

Tomboy Dating Terms From South East Asia

Illustrated by Div Rodricks

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