Tomboy in love?

Though this isn't a part of my plot or anything, I have noticed that whenever the main idea of a story is essentially a 'tomboy falls in love,' they always have to 'find their inner femininity' or 'become more girly' in order to get their love interest. This is usually explained with a line like, "girls change when they're in love" or something. Of course, there isn't anything wrong with a girl wanting to know how to be a little prettier or something. That's fine. It's just that it seems like the tomboys in these plots have to change not only their appearance, but they have to change their personality to be more feminine and dainty, which kinda annoys me for some reason.

So, my question is... do you think that becoming more like a girl is a necessary step for a tomboyish character to get a boyfriend or would it be feasible for a tomboy to be in a relationship?

No. Absolutely not necessary. Keep her a tomboy. You could even send up the whole 'him buying her a pretty prom dress and making her feel like a princess' cliche by having her react like a true dyed in the wool tomboy and telling him exactly where to get off - or just feeling uncomfortable all evening, as though she's been asked to be a person she hates.

Definitely don't need to. I've known a lot of guys who prefer tomboys.

Hell, I'm a tomboy. And while I enjoy getting gussied up and acting like a lady once in a VERY great while (and my fiance enjoys it too), we both know the REAL me, and wouldn't have it any other way. The fact that I'm a tomboy means he can be himself around me. He can hang out with the guys and bring me along and no one has to worry about "behaving themselves" in the presence of a lady (cuz I ain't one lol).

So speaking as a tomboy, i'd say no. Don't change her cuz if she can be herself, then he can be himself. As for getting dressed up and going out once in a while, I consider that almost like a game of pretend, which is always fun for us.

agree with above comments, sometimes it's nice to get dressed up and my husband does appreciate when I get dressed up but I think that's more about an occasional change of scenery rather than him wanting me to be more feminine. But I think that the reason that we really get along and have been together for so long is that we have so many interests in common. Wearing a skirt does not a solid relationship make.

I think there's more chance of the MCs becoming closer over a shared love of football (or whatever) than an awkward evening at a formal dinner wearing clothes neither of them is comfortable with.

Don't do it! Don't change her! The boy should want her for who she is!

Sorry, these things bug me because I'm extremely unfeminine and am so sick of that being seen as a bad thing. I think your story will be more interesting if it breaks away from the "norm".

I suspect that the theme of 'tomboy goes girly' is so prevalent because people are taking the perspective that the girl is a tomboy because she hates her girly side, and that accepting it is meant to show she's accepting herself as a whole person.

That is completely lost if the tomboy is perfectly content with herself.

So I'd say it depends. If your tomboy FMC is a tomboy by nature, and is completely comfortable with herself in all respects, then don't make her change for a boy. If, however, she's going through some rejection of self and acts the part of tomboy to avoid that inner conflict, you'll probably want to have that issue resolved in some way (it doesn't have to be by making her girly, but it would seem that's a popular method). One thing that many quality relationships do is reinforce self-worth, and it would make sense for the boy to want the girl to accept herself (likely by reinforcing the value of all aspects of herself).

How many times is this cliche dumped on the guy as well? Macho, unfeeling man is showed by a girl that it's okay to be in touch with his emotions. Embracing that feminine side is a romance staple, regardless of the character's gender.

I'm with saturnflight here. It depends on what kind of character yours is. If she's content with herself, then something of her would be lost. If she's taken that role for some other reason, them naybe it could work. Maybe.