When I was a young girl being a tom boy was not considered to be a bad thing.
Being an only child of my parents probably had to do with the serious effects of the great depression.
I, also, was what would be called a tomboy in that I loved climbing trees and having adventures rather than playing with baby dolls.
But I never thought of myself as anything but a girl. Loved putting on dresses to go to church, but during play time I was always tearing my clothes and scraping my knees because I needed to be physically active. My poor mother! :)