Webster’s defines a cowboy this way. (1) one who tends cattle or horses (2) a rodeo performer (3) one having qualities (such as recklessness, aggressiveness, or independence) popularly associated with cowboys: such as a: a reckless driver b: a business or businessperson operating in an uncontrolled or unregulated manner. The first two are obvious and I agree, but the last definition? Who wrote that? Aggressive? Reckless driver? Maybe they’re confusing cowboy with renegade? I don’t know. But they don’t see the same “qualities” I see in a cowboy. And I refuse to even discuss the businessman one. The only part that definition has right is independent. In my opinion, Merriam-Webster blew it by failing to see what else makes a cowboy.
First, being aggressive makes me think of a bully. When I think of a cowboy, I think of John Wayne in movies where his character stood up for those who needed a champion. Big Jake and The Cowboys come to mind as examples. He stands up for what’s right, does what needs to be done no matter what the personal cost, and he certainly isn’t a reckless driver. See me shaking my head over this one yet again. He may take a risk, but he’s not reckless or as Webster says, “acting without thinking or caring about the consequences of an action.”
A cowboy possesses what some today call old-fashioned manners and values. They’re willing to work hard and can be counted on to finish the job. The words “yes, ma’am” are part of their vocabulary, and more importantly, used. No matter what their age, they call their parents’ friends Mr. and Mrs. to show respect. When I wrote my first novel with a cowboy hero Big City Cowboy, (which happened to be the only idea of that type I had at the time), the inciting incident forced my hero to go to New York to model. However, I wanted a reason other than to save his ranch. I asked myself what a cowboy loved more than his ranch or his horse. The answer his mom popped into my head. For me, that’s the kind of values a cowboy possesses. He values hard work, family, his heritage, and respects women.
But I write non-traditional cowboy heroes. Not all of them live or even grew up on a ranch. I think my expanded definition of a cowboy resulted from my son going to Texas A&M University. While there he became more “western,” more cowboy-like. Though looking back, I see glimpses when in high school he worked at the Heritage Farmstead, a historical farm and museum, and drove a tractor. But I started seeing the “cowboy” in him more when he attended A&M. Mainly because the culture at the university and in College Station, Texas, has a lot in common with cowboy values. It’s why my Wishing, Texas series has cowboy in the title despite not all those heroes living or growing up on a ranch.
So, back to good old Merriam-Webster. What are your thoughts on a cowboy? Does he have to be someone who owns a ranch, grew up on one, or competes in rodeos? What do you think makes a man a cowboy?
That last thing I’ll say is, the trick is how to weed out a nontraditional cowboy from those who are all hat and no cattle. But I’ll save that discussion for another day.
Julie Benson has written five novels for Harlequin American, and her Wishing, Texas series is available from Tule Publishing. Now that her three sons have left the nest in Dallas, when she isn't writing, Julie spends her time working on home improvement projects, rescuing dogs, and visiting Texas wineries with her husband. Visit her at www.juliebenson.net.
A cowboy can be a non-rancher/non-rodeo person who embraces or embodies a lot of the characteristics of the cowboy code ?.
https://nationaldayofthecowboy.com/?page_id=1568#:~:text=The%20lack%20of%20written%20law,were%20respected%20on%20the%20range.
Thanks for the link to this article. I’m always looking for ones on the Cowboy Code. To me, that code, makes the cowboy different from a lot of other men in the west.
I completely agree with you.
Janice, thanks for being here. I’m glad you agree. I’ve always wondered what readers think since I write nontraditional cowboys. For me, the deal breakers are if he doesn’t practice/believe in the Cowboy Code of Conduct, treats women poorly, doesn’t value the land and animals.
Thank you for being here today. I hope your summer is off to a wonderful start. It’s already hot here in Dallas. Next week we’re supposed to hit 100 already. Thankfully, I’m heading to the Wild Authors of Deadwood in South Dakota next week.
Wow. Some deep thoughts for this early in the morning! Heh. I still think of the west or even Texas as having that cowboy attitude. I’m sure we have quite a few cowboys in Florida with the manners and code of conduct of a cowboy. After all we have rodeos here too. However, it’s hard to define that cowboy in todays world. I’m not saying there aren’t any real down to earth cowboys out there, I’m hoping and wishing there still are! Things and times are much easier today and therefore, can’t even compare to the cowboy from the past. Just my opinion. And might be why I like reading historical western romances. I guess I like to escape into the past and imagine what was once upon a time.
Thanks for the post this morning Julie! Ya had me thinking a bit deep for this early! Heh.
Tracy, thanks for making me smile this morning.
You got me thinking, too. I think you hit the problem, for me, with the dictionary’s definition of a cowboy. With there being fewer people who own ranches and work them, there aren’t many “real” cowboys left. For me, being a cowboy comes more from a man’s roots, his outlook, and his values. So, yes, there can be cowboys living in Florida.
BTW, I love reading historical western romances. They are my favorite genre. The first historical romance I wrote, which will never see the light of day, was a western one. I was terrible at writing dialogue that sounded like the time period. Plus, researching all the details (like tomatoes being considered poisonous at one time) drove me crazy. I think my love of historical western romances is why I write stories with contemporary cowboy heroes.
Thanks for being here today and doing some deep thinking with me.
I agree with you completely. The dictionary is wrong. I also think of John Wayne. By the way, I loved Big City Cowboy when I read it and agree with you on why he might do modeling and how he tried to keep it a secret. Fantastic job!
Thank you for your kind comments about Big City Cowboy. I’m thrilled you enjoyed it. I loved torturing Rory. The picture of the cowboy in this post is the “real” Rory my family met in Estes Park, Colorado. We were going horseback riding and he was our guide. When he was helping my middle son with his horse, a man came up to Rory and was trying to talk him into modeling. This unbelievably gorgeous man had no idea why anyone would want me to model. Can you believe it? He told my son, “I don’t get why folks keep asking me to model. Why can’t they understand I don’t want anything to do with that?” Immediately, the thought popped into my head about how it would be cool to have a story where a cowboy like Rory had to go to NYC to model.
When I was writing Big City Cowboy, Griffin kept trying to take over the book. I had planned to have him in more scenes, but he simply wouldn’t listen. I immediately started brainstorming his story which became Bet On a Cowboy. When my Harlequin editor called to buy Rory’s story, I was writing Griffin’s book, and she asked about his character. I said I was currently writing that story and asked if she wanted to hear about it. She did. I gave her a quick couple lines about the book, and she bought that one too! I had a great time writing that book. I love when a hero thinks he’s “all that” and my heroine gets to bring him back to reality.
Thanks for being here today. Have a great summer!
like so many John Wayne movies. I loved The Cowboys. Of course I lived on a farm at the time and he was what most wanted to grow up and be like. Thanks for being here today.
Lori, I love that movie, too. I write about the family of our choosing a lot, and The Cowboys speaks volumes about that. It also says a lot about what it means to be a father.
Thanks for stopping by today to chat. I hope your summer is off to a super start.
Yes a cowboy has swagger but can always back it up – the FAKE ones are easy to see – we had a guy come to the house looking to purchase one of the many horses my dad had for sale – Dad said for me to go saddle up a big gelding and the guy said = Oh I can’t ride – I don’t have my boots on – LOL well I can tell you that if you really want to ride then having your boots on doesn’t matter!!
Teresa, thanks for the chuckle this morning. You’re right. If you want to ride, it doesn’t matter what you have on your feet. When my family went horseback riding with the cowboy pictured above, we were all wearing tennis shoes. That didn’t stop us.
Thanks for being here. Have a great rest of the week.
I don’t think “cowboy” has anything to do with a job anymore. It’s an attitude. I’ve never considered “reckless” when thinking of cowboys. Risk-taker, maybe, if the situation required it
Honest, respectable, responsible, protectors of home, family, and the defenseless, hardworking, willing to do hard work… all the things you want your babies to grow up to be.
Mary Ellen, you are so right! Cowboys may take risks, but that’s very different from being reckless. I’m with you. Being a cowboy is more about the attitude than the career anymore.
Thanks for being here today. Have a fantastic rest of the week.
My definition would be a man who has a very strong belief system, as you stated, family is utterly important to a true cowboy. Somewhat on the silent side unless there is a matter he needs to be more aggressive to tackle. He is not a lay about, or lazy person usually. Cowboy stories lean a lot on no good drifters than the trustworthy cowboys. Face it, working on a ranch takes lots of grit and sticking to the tasks at hand. They also have to be repeated each day so a lazy person would not fare well.
Judy, you are so right about ranching being a hard working life. No lazy would be able to take it. I’m not a fan of the no good drifter stories masquerading as cowboy stories. Not that a cowboy doesn’t move around, but he still works hard wherever he is. You summed up my feelings g in the modern day cowboy better than I did.
Thanks for being here today to chat. Have a fabulous rest of the week!
I think what defines a cowboy is his love for working the land and animals either on a farm or a ranch.
Alicia, I think you’re right. I think another career that meshes well with the modern cowboy is a veterinarian because of that love of animals and the land.
Thanks for being here today. Take care and enjoy the rest of your week.
True cowboys live by a certain ethical code known as The Cowboy Way. they have a love for the land and the animals. They are not lazy and family means everything to them. They value the love of a good woman. John Wayne is the ideal cowboy.
Ann, well said. I think your summary is on target for both the traditional and modern cowboy. Thank you for stopping by the corral today to chat with me. Take care and have a super week.
When I was a child & we played cowboys & Indians, I always chose the side of the Indians (who wants to be bullied & get pushed off their land, anyway… maybe that’s where the other definition of cowboy came from), but now that I am an adult & know a few real cowboys (I live in Wyoming), I can see that many of today’s cowboys have the same values that I was so ardent about as a child! I’d say that you’re right with your version of a real cowboy. I love the ideals of hard work, love of family, & respect for women! I also value respect for everyone, regardless of their skin color or what they believe… I just ask that they also respect me!
Ami, thank you for your thoughtful comments. There was a series on tv when I was in high school staring James Arness and Bruce Boxleitner. It was How the West Was Lost. I loved how James Arness’ character encourages the US military and government to honor their treaties. He treated the indigenous people with respect. (My favorite episode is “The Enemy” with a character Wolf Paw.) I also agree that a cowboy must respect women as well.
Thank you for being here today. Take care and have a terrific rest of the week.
When I think of a ‘cowboy’, John Wayne immediately come to mind. I think the modern day term of cowboy is someone who does something that is unconventional. Where a cowboy who lives or works with ranching cows and horses are more traditional cowboys. They are the ones to tip their hats as the pass a lady or stop and shake hand of some man they know. Who are kind to children and to elder people. They are respectful and kind, but they can also have a hard side if life has made them that way, but still can have those cowboy traits.
Kathleen, well said. I see the modern day cowboy the same way! Thank you for being here. Have a wonderful week.
I agree with you on your description of a cowboy. I grew up in a small town and married a farm boy. So, thinking back to the days when his farm livin’ rubbed off on me, a smalltown girl, I’d say cowboys should also love animals. And not just cattle or horses. All animals, even dogs and kitties.
A cowboy embodies the whole faith, family, country vibe. They can live anywhere, but they have those downhome values, and it shows in all they do. They have the manners, the guts to take on wrong, they’ll stand up for others, like you stated. They embody the John Wayne characters, the Louis Lamoure characters that we read about in books and saw in movies with Tom Selleck and Sam Elliott (be still my heart!).
To me a cowboy is all that 1 & 2 define. As for number 3. There is a bit of that too but not in a negative way. To “cowboy up “means (to me) get ready to defend and protect who and what you cherish. Those actions can seem to be reckless and aggressive and may be in an emergency. More often they are well thought out and planned. As for the businessman or driver, they are misinterpreting the “cowboy up” qualities in a negative way.