Having an unconventional lifestyle, especially in the arts; socially unconventional in an artistic way. Can also be a noun referring to such a person.
From French 'bohémien' meaning 'from Bohemia,' a region in the Czech Republic. French people mistakenly thought Romani people came from Bohemia, and later the term was applied to poor artists living unconventional lifestyles like the Romani.
Think of the musical 'La Bohème' - it's about poor artists living unconventional lives in Paris! Bohemians are like artistic nomads who don't follow society's rules about careers, dress, or lifestyle.
19th-century 'bohemian' culture stereotyped women as morally loose. Male bohemians gained romantic mystique; female bohemians faced moral condemnation for identical behavior.
Use descriptively (unconventional lifestyle, artistic community) without romanticizing or moralizing about gender presentation.
["unconventional","artistic","independent-minded"]
Women artists in bohemian circles (George Sand, Bessie Smith) challenged convention at greater personal cost than male peers.
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