Androgyne: Difference between revisions

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{{see also|Androgyny}}
{{see also|Androgyny}}
{{infobox identity}}
{{infobox identity
[[File:Androgyne Necker Cube.png|thumb|Androgyne symbol. In 1996, self-identified androgyne Raphael Carter proposed taking up this ambiguous geometric shape, the Necker Cube, as a symbol for androgynes, "because it is either concave or convex depending on how you look at it."<ref>Raphael Carter, "Angel's Dictionary." July 14, 1996. [http://web.archive.org/web/19990427014012/www.chaparraltree.com/raq/angels.shtml http://web.archive.org/web/19990427014012/www.chaparraltree.com/raq/angels.shtml]</ref><ref>Nat Titman, "The Necker Cube: Symbol for androgyny." June 25, 2011. ''Practical Androgyny.'' [http://practicalandrogyny.com/2011/06/25/the-necker-cube-symbol-for-androgyny/ http://practicalandrogyny.com/2011/06/25/the-necker-cube-symbol-for-androgyny/]</ref>]]
| flag = androgyne-3.png
| meaning = The red symbolises woman and the blue symbolises man, and they are separated by purple (a mix of them both), yellow (representing non binary-ness) and grey (representing neutrality).
|related = [[Bigender]]
| umbrella = [[Nonbinary]]
| frequency = 0.7%
| gallery_link = Pride Gallery/Androgyne
}}
[[File:Androgyne Necker Cube.png|thumb|Androgyne symbol. In 1996, self-identified androgyne Raphael Carter proposed taking up this ambiguous geometric shape, the Necker Cube, as a symbol for androgynes, "because it is either concave or convex depending on how you look at it."<ref>Raphael Carter, "Angel's Dictionary." July 14, 1996. [http://web.archive.org/web/19990427014012/www.chaparraltree.com/raq/angels.shtml http://web.archive.org/web/19990427014012/www.chaparraltree.com/raq/angels.shtml]</ref><ref>Nat Titman, "The Necker Cube: Symbol for androgyny." June 25, 2011. ''Practical Androgyny.'' [http://practicalandrogyny.com/2011/06/25/the-necker-cube-symbol-for-androgyny/ http://practicalandrogyny.com/2011/06/25/the-necker-cube-symbol-for-androgyny/] [https://web.archive.org/web/20230131181750/https://practicalandrogyny.com/2011/06/25/the-necker-cube-symbol-for-androgyny/ Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref>]]
[[File:Gender-Symbol Hermaphrodite Androgyne dark transparent Background.png|thumb|A mix of the male (Mars) and female (Venus) [[gender symbols]]. A symbol for androgyne, hermaphrodite, or [[intersex]]. Sometimes shown pointing in any different direction. Also the alchemist symbol for iron sulfate. Unicode: U+26A8 ⚨]]
[[File:Gender-Symbol Hermaphrodite Androgyne dark transparent Background.png|thumb|A mix of the male (Mars) and female (Venus) [[gender symbols]]. A symbol for androgyne, hermaphrodite, or [[intersex]]. Sometimes shown pointing in any different direction. Also the alchemist symbol for iron sulfate. Unicode: U+26A8 ⚨]]
'''Androgyne''' (Latin from Greek, ''andras-'' "man" + ''gune'' "woman", pronounced AN-druh-jin, IPA: ˈan-dɹə-ˌdʒīn),<ref>[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/androgyne http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/androgyne]</ref>  '''androgyn''' or '''androgynous gender''', is an identity under the [[nonbinary]] and [[transgender]] umbrellas. Some writers use androgyne as an umbrella  for many nonbinary genders.<ref>''Androgyne Online.'' [http://androgyne.0catch.com/ http://androgyne.0catch.com/]</ref> Androgynes have a [[gender identity]] that can be a blend of both or neither of the [[binary gender]]s. They may describe this as being between [[female]] and [[male]], between man and woman, between masculine and feminine or simply 'in between.' They can also identify as neither feminine or masculine, or neither female and male.
[[File:Andro.png|thumb|The flag described above]]
 
'''Androgyne'''(Latin from Greek, ''andras-'' "man" + ''gune'' "woman", pronounced AN-druh-jin, IPA: ˈan-dɹə-ˌdʒīn),<ref>http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/androgyne [https://web.archive.org/web/20230527213452/https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/androgyne Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref>  '''androgyn''' or '''androgynous gender''', is an identity under the [[nonbinary]] and [[transgender]] umbrellas. Some writers use androgyne as an umbrella  for many nonbinary genders.<ref>''Androgyne Online.'' http://androgyne.0catch.com/ [https://web.archive.org/web/20200206175358/http://androgyne.0catch.com:80/ Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> Androgynes have a [[gender identity]] that can be a blend of both or neither of the [[binary gender]]s. They may describe this as being between [[female]] and [[male]], between man and woman, between masculine and feminine or simply 'in between.' They can also identify as neither feminine or masculine, or neither female and male. The symbol ⚨ is used to represent this gender identity.
⚨ is a symbol representing this.


==History==
==History==
Historically, there have been some instances of people using the term ''[[bisexual]]'' to refer to androgynes, androgynous people, or [[intersex]] people. An example of the use of this word, found in pop culture, is in the 50th episode of the 2nd season of ''Star Trek'', "The Trouble with Tribbles", where Dr. McCoy refers to the tribbles (an alien species) as ''bisexual''.<ref>[http://www.chakoteya.net/StarTrek/42.htm The Star Trek Transcripts: The Trouble with Tribbles]: ''[...] it seems they're bisexual, reproducing at will. [...]''</ref>
Historically, there have been some instances of people using the term ''[[bisexual]]'' to refer to androgynes, androgynous people, or [[intersex]] people. An example of the use of this word, found in pop culture, is in the 50th episode of the 2nd season of ''Star Trek'', "The Trouble with Tribbles", where Dr. McCoy refers to the tribbles (an alien species) as ''bisexual''.<ref>[http://www.chakoteya.net/StarTrek/42.htm The Star Trek Transcripts: The Trouble with Tribbles]: ''[...] it seems they're bisexual, reproducing at will. [...]'' [https://web.archive.org/web/20230705170956/http://www.chakoteya.net/StarTrek/42.htm Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> The term was also historically used to refer to feminine gay men, with its masculine lesbian equivalent being gynander, around the late 19th century and early 20th century.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Alyson Almanac: A Treasury of Information for the Gay and Lesbian Community|collaboration=Alyson Publications|publisher=Alyson Publications|year=1990|isbn=9781555830199|edition=2nd|location=Boston, Massachusetts|pages=58, 64}}</ref>


The glossary in a 2003 anthology of essays on diversity of sex and gender defined "androgyne" as "someone who considers themselves to be both male and female. It can also mean someone who identifies as [[neuter]]."<ref>{{cite book|title=Finding the Real Me: True Tales of Sex and Gender Diversity|year 2003|url=https://archive.org/details/findingrealmetru00trac/page/n19/mode/2up|page=xviii}}</ref>
The glossary in a 2003 anthology of essays on diversity of sex and gender defined "androgyne" as "someone who considers themselves to be both male and female. It can also mean someone who identifies as [[neuter]]."<ref>{{cite book|title=Finding the Real Me: True Tales of Sex and Gender Diversity|date=2003|url=https://archive.org/details/findingrealmetru00trac/page/n19/mode/2up|page=xviii|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913110137/https://archive.org/details/findingrealmetru00trac/page/n19/mode/2up|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref>


"Androgyne" has also been used as an umbrella term similar to [[nonbinary]], as in this quote from a 2010 encyclopedia:
"Androgyne" has also been used as an umbrella term similar to [[nonbinary]], as in this quote from a 2010 encyclopedia:
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In 1918, [[Jennie June]] published ''Autobiography of an Androgyne'', which has since been described as "a centerpiece for queer, trans, and gender studies of twentieth-century America."<ref>Scott Herring's introduction to the 2008 reprint of ''Autobiography of an Androgyne''</ref>
In 1918, [[Jennie June]] published ''Autobiography of an Androgyne'', which has since been described as "a centerpiece for queer, trans, and gender studies of twentieth-century America."<ref>Scott Herring's introduction to the 2008 reprint of ''Autobiography of an Androgyne''</ref>


In the 1980s, a trans-focused organization called the Human Outreach and Achievement Institute defined androgyne as "a person who can comfortably express either alternative gender role in a variety of socially acceptable environments."<ref>"Brochure for the Human Outreach and Achievement Institute." Ephemera. 1980. Digital Transgender Archive,  https://www.digitaltransgenderarchive.net/files/8g84mm373  (accessed October 02, 2020).</ref><ref>The Human Outreach and Achievement Institute.  "Abstracts of a Symposium on Gender Issues for the 90s (Jul. 20, 1988)." Pamphlet. Digital Transgender Archive, https://www.digitaltransgenderarchive.net/files/5q47rn80n  (accessed October 02, 2020).</ref>
In the 1980s, a trans-focused organization called the Human Outreach and Achievement Institute defined androgyne as "a person who can comfortably express either alternative gender role in a variety of socially acceptable environments."<ref>"Brochure for the Human Outreach and Achievement Institute." Ephemera. 1980. Digital Transgender Archive,  https://web.archive.org/web/20201003071900/https://www.digitaltransgenderarchive.net/files/8g84mm373  (accessed October 02, 2020).</ref><ref>The Human Outreach and Achievement Institute.  "Abstracts of a Symposium on Gender Issues for the 90s (Jul. 20, 1988)." Pamphlet. Digital Transgender Archive, https://web.archive.org/web/20200815041041/https://www.digitaltransgenderarchive.net/files/5q47rn80n  (accessed October 02, 2020).</ref>


"Androgyne" as a nonbinary [[gender identity]] is mentioned in the preface to ''The Flock'', a 1992 book by Lynn Wilson about dissociative identity disorder: "Some [[gender-nonconforming]] individuals call themselves androgynes, [[pan-gender]], or [[non-binary]]."<ref>{{cite book|title=The Flock|isbn=9780449907320|year=1992|last=Wilson|first=Lynn|page=xi|publisher=Fawcett Columbine}}</ref>
"Androgyne" as a nonbinary [[gender identity]] is mentioned in the preface to ''The Flock'', a 1992 book by Lynn Wilson about dissociative identity disorder: "Some [[gender-nonconforming]] individuals call themselves androgynes, [[pan-gender]], or [[non-binary]]."<ref>{{cite book|title=The Flock|isbn=9780449907320|year=1992|last=Wilson|first=Lynn|page=xi|publisher=Fawcett Columbine}}</ref>
In 2003, [[Livejournal]] user 36 created a community aimed at androgynes, defined as people who are "neither female nor male in appearance but something else (both, neither, in between or something else entirely)."<ref name=":0">Androgynes userinfo. Livejournal.com. https://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml/?user=androgynes</ref> The profile also notes that androgynes have a range of gender identities, including [[third gender]] and androgynously gendered (between male and female). Some androgynes even find gender identity "something complex, absent, irrelevant or extremely personal".<ref name=":0" /> The community used the Necker Cube symbol as its icon.  As of 2024, there were 484 members and 399 journal entries; the most recent was in January 2023.<ref name=":0" />


In 2014, when [[Gender and social media sites|Facebook]] made 56 genders available for its users, two of these were "androgyne" and "androgynous".<ref>Eve Shapiro, ''Gender circuits: Bodies and identities in a technological age.'' Unpaged.</ref>
In 2014, when [[Gender and social media sites|Facebook]] made 56 genders available for its users, two of these were "androgyne" and "androgynous".<ref>Eve Shapiro, ''Gender circuits: Bodies and identities in a technological age.'' Unpaged.</ref>
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Some people who call themselves androgynes identify with [[androgyny]] as a gender presentation, or have or wish to obtain an androgynous, 'in between', or neutral body, others see this as only a matter of gender identity and may express their androgynous gender through their personality or activities such as [[Clothing|crossdressing]].
Some people who call themselves androgynes identify with [[androgyny]] as a gender presentation, or have or wish to obtain an androgynous, 'in between', or neutral body, others see this as only a matter of gender identity and may express their androgynous gender through their personality or activities such as [[Clothing|crossdressing]].


Some use the word androgyne to mean only a gender identity, and use the words androgynous or androgyny for gender expression.<ref>''Androgyne Online.'' [http://androgyne.0catch.com/ http://androgyne.0catch.com/]</ref> An androgyne may or may not look androgynous. Someone who looks androgynous may or may not be an androgyne. A "psychological androgyne" is one term for a person who has an androgynous gender identity, but doesn't necessarily look androgynous,<ref>''Androgyne Online.'' [http://androgyne.0catch.com/ http://androgyne.0catch.com/]</ref> and some such people have created the word "androgyneity" for their inner androgyny, to distinguish it from outward androgyny of appearance.<ref>Stephe, "Psychological androgynes." ''Androgyne Online.'' 2013. [http://androgyne.0catch.com/psych.htm http://androgyne.0catch.com/psych.htm]</ref> These terms are useful for people who feel they are androgynes, but aren't sure if they can call themselves so, because of how they look. The connection between androgyny and androgynes can cause frustration for some people:
Some use the word androgyne to mean only a gender identity, and use the words androgynous or androgyny for gender expression.<ref>''Androgyne Online.'' [https://web.archive.org/web/20110425144426/http://androgyne.0catch.com/ https://web.archive.org/web/20110425144426/http://androgyne.0catch.com/] [https://web.archive.org/web/20200206175358/http://androgyne.0catch.com/ Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> An androgyne may or may not look androgynous. Someone who looks androgynous may or may not be an androgyne. A "psychological androgyne" is one term for a person who has an androgynous gender identity, but doesn't necessarily look androgynous,<ref>''Androgyne Online.'' [https://web.archive.org/web/20110425144426/http://androgyne.0catch.com/ https://web.archive.org/web/20110425144426/http://androgyne.0catch.com/] [https://web.archive.org/web/20200206175358/http://androgyne.0catch.com/ Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> and some such people have created the word "androgyneity" for their inner androgyny, to distinguish it from outward androgyny of appearance.<ref>Stephe, "Psychological androgynes." ''Androgyne Online.'' 2013. [http://androgyne.0catch.com/psych.htm http://androgyne.0catch.com/psych.htm] [https://web.archive.org/web/20190929154955/http://androgyne.0catch.com/psych.htm Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> These terms are useful for people who feel they are androgynes, but aren't sure if they can call themselves so, because of how they look. The connection between androgyny and androgynes can cause frustration for some people:


<blockquote>"Those born with androgynous looks -- especially if they are not androgynes -- often wish that their gender presentation was unambiguous so as to not be teased, harassed or mistaken for the opposite sex, while androgynes born without androgynous looks (i.e. psychological androgynes) often wish that their gender presentation was markedly ambiguous so as to convey outwardly what they feel inwardly."<ref>''Androgyne Online.'' [http://androgyne.0catch.com/ http://androgyne.0catch.com/]</ref></blockquote>
<blockquote>"Those born with androgynous looks -- especially if they are not androgynes -- often wish that their gender presentation was unambiguous so as to not be teased, harassed or mistaken for the opposite sex, while androgynes born without androgynous looks (i.e. psychological androgynes) often wish that their gender presentation was markedly ambiguous so as to convey outwardly what they feel inwardly."<ref>''Androgyne Online.'' [https://web.archive.org/web/20110425144426/http://androgyne.0catch.com/ https://web.archive.org/web/20110425144426/http://androgyne.0catch.com/] [https://web.archive.org/web/20200206175358/http://androgyne.0catch.com/ Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref></blockquote>


Androgynes who don't look androgynous may wish they looked more androgynous, while non-androgynes who look androgynous may wish they looked less androgynous.
Androgynes who don't look androgynous may wish they looked more androgynous, while non-androgynes who look androgynous may wish they looked less androgynous.


On the other hand, some [[androgyny|androgynously presenting]] people only use 'androgyne' for their presentation, while having a different gender identity. For example '[[genderqueer]] androgyne' or '[[agender]] androgyne', similar to how one may say 'genderqueer woman'. There are also people who describe themselves as a "masculine androgyne" (on the female-to-male or trans masculine spectrum) or a "feminine androgyne" (on the male-to-female or trans feminine spectrum) meaning that they almost but not quite fit into that part of the gender binary.<ref>Raven Kaldera, "Feminist On Testosterone: The View From An Intersexual FTM." February 2003. [http://www.ravenkaldera.org/gender-archive/feminist-on-testosterone.html http://www.ravenkaldera.org/gender-archive/feminist-on-testosterone.html]</ref>
On the other hand, some [[androgyny|androgynously presenting]] people only use 'androgyne' for their presentation, while having a different gender identity. For example '[[genderqueer]] androgyne' or '[[agender]] androgyne', similar to how one may say 'genderqueer woman'. There are also people who describe themselves as a "masculine androgyne" (on the female-to-male or trans masculine spectrum) or a "feminine androgyne" (on the male-to-female or trans feminine spectrum) meaning that they almost but not quite fit into that part of the gender binary.<ref>Raven Kaldera, "Feminist On Testosterone: The View From An Intersexual FTM." February 2003. [https://web.archive.org/web/20180113213218/http://www.ravenkaldera.org/gender-archive/feminist-on-testosterone.html https://web.archive.org/web/20180113213218/http://www.ravenkaldera.org/gender-archiv