Androgynous

'Androgynous' describes a combination of masculine and feminine characteristics in appearance, expression, or identity. The word comes from Greek (andros = man, gynē = woman) and has been used since antiquity — including in Plato's philosophy and the alchemical tradition.

What does it mean?

The term is used in three ways. (1) As a description of appearance: a person whose gender cannot be immediately determined from their clothing, hairstyle, or facial features — think of fashion icons such as Tilda Swinton or David Bowie. (2) As gender expression: deliberately dressing or presenting somewhere between man and woman. (3) Sometimes as an identity label, comparable to non-binary, although this is less common today.

Distinction and overlap

Classically, androgynous primarily refers to expression and appearance, not necessarily to one's inner experience. In that respect, it differs from non-binary, which is an identity label. A man can look androgynous without feeling anything other than male; the same applies to a woman. The term also overlaps with gender-neutral as an aesthetic choice.

Social and practical context

Androgyny has been well established in the worlds of fashion, art, and music for decades and is generally uncontroversial. It is one of the oldest publicly accepted forms of deviation from the conventional male/female presentation and has no medical or legal implications.

Critical perspectives

Because androgyny is primarily an aesthetic and social category, the term avoids much of the criticism directed at newer identity labels. At the same time, androgyny shows that it is possible to deviate from conventional gender presentation without undergoing a medical or legal transition. For those who are unsure whether medical steps are right for them, this is a relevant observation: physical and social variation is separate from bodily interventions.