Why is it that when a guy acts like a girl, he is concidered gay, but when a girl acts like a boy, she isn't?

Because.

A. Overly masculine females are labeled butch, and often assumed to be gay if they do not the general stereotype of femininity in their society. Which brings us to point B.

B. The gender stereotypes vary greatly, and they are not particularly fair. While darker colors are associated with masculine clothing, -all- the colors in the rainbow are associated with feminine clothing, as are all possible styles of clothing. You will see women in anything from plain navy pants and plain white shirts, to ties, to little skirts in the most ridiculous colors ever conceived. Social norms, apparently, seem to dictate that we can wear whatever we want. BUT. And that brings us to C.

C. Details, such as the way you carry yourself. I know of straight and gay men who have worn pink shirts and carried themselves in masculine ways, that nobody would suspect some are gay. And I also know of women in pants and ties and no make up, whom nobody thinks are lesbian. But then, certain behavioral patterns are associated with homosexuality. For guys, effeminacy (excuse the stereotypes. I know not all gay guys are like that. Most look like the guy next door, who just happens to like other dudes), excessive grooming like plucked brows and waxed body hair, fake tan (yes. We can tell when your tan is fake), accessorizing too much, matching too many items of clothing in colors otherwise associated with females such as pink and purple. For women, it's extensive tattoo work, piercings, short hair, no make up, not bothering with 'fashion' (You know, your old jeans and your converses and a tee are always good), and a more masculine self-carriage/approach to everything. Some people even display these things in their body language where women would be more aggressive and males more submissive. Those are the common stereotypes, which lead people to make wrong assumptions about people, and they mostly lead people to believe both are gay. As though -VERY- ordinary, very masculine men and feminine women who are gay do not exist.

I mean to say; females do get harassed over how they dress, but the 'range' of colors and styles that fit within the 'norm' is a lot greater for females. Guy in neon pink pants = no. Girl in neon pink pants = okay. Guy in black pants = okay, girl in black pants = okay, women only have more freedom with colors and styles. But the moment some behavioral things enter the equation, it's stereotype-labeling time.

Again, please excuse the stereotypes.

Society is more accepting of women going outside of the norms of gender than of men doing the same because masculinity is very highly guarded in society. Men are under much more pressure than women to conform to certain characteristics. Women still get called dykes or assumed lesbian sometimes for what they wear, and still get discriminated against or harassed based on their appearance, but not as often as men.

That's the old "double standard," and you will find it applied in many, many areas of life.

Occasionally, as in this case, it works to the advantage of girls/women, but very often it works against them.

I remember when I was very young (three? four?) I asked people like my Mom and my kindergarten teacher, "Why is it that girls can wear pants (trousers), but boys can't wear skirts or dresses?"

That was about 45 years ago, and I'm still waiting for a satisfactory answer.

I don't think they should either, in regards to your p.s. But I don't think you know much about the world because girls that act like guys are sometimes called "dykes" and that's not right but people judge. anyone out of the norm as far as behavior goes is dubbed gay nowadays so I don't know... it's just society.

Women had feminism. That enabled them to do all of the things men could do (assuming the people around them aren't backwards idiots). Men haven't had a similar social movement so most people still think it's ok to bully guys who don't fit a perfect macho stereotype.

Not sure where you're from, but where I live, a girl that acts or dresses like a boy is thought to be a lesbian.

Because society has accepted girls wearing guyish clothes, and being more 'manly', but they haven't yet accepted the reverse, and when people don't like something, they try to comfort themselves with a label.

Actually, aside from the "color" things you mention I know many girls who are/were tom boys and were called lezbos. It depends on the crowd I guess.

boy are call gay and girls are call girls but sometimes tomboys. tomboys are likly to get hit from a guy cuz the guy think they a girl if they know but gays will always get hit. some girls are buff and some boys are thin. but that don't mean i call them names or labling them. i see a gay boy i call him friend.

She is considered a dyke not gay. Both are equally as awful to be called but oh well. You either take it in the butt or you don't man!