Abstract
This paper proposes tomboyism as a metaphorical framework for understanding non-male leadership within Critical Leadership Studies (CLS). Drawing from examples of leadership narratives featuring Jacinda Ardern and Kamala Harris in the media, this work examines how tomboyism offers a unique lens for analyzing gender performativity in leadership contexts. Unlike existing metaphors in CLS that either reinforce gender binaries, or attempt to transcend embodiment, using tomboyism as a metaphor will provide a more nuanced approach that acknowledges both the situatedness within and disruption of gender norms in leadership. The paper argues that tomboyism's inherent fluidity and playfulness makes it particularly suitable for understanding the dynamic nature of gender in leadership, aligning with processual leadership theories and recent calls for norm-critical approaches in organizational studies. By positioning tomboyism as a nexus of identities that operates both within and outside normative frameworks, this paper contributes to emerging queer perspectives in CLS, offering new possibilities for theorizing gender-nonconforming leadership beyond traditional binary constructions