Androgyne: Meaning, Nonbinary Gender, Expression, and Identity

An androgyne may feel:

• simultaneously masculine and feminine;
• partly like a man and partly like a woman;
• between manhood and womanhood;
• connected to androgyny as an internal gender;
• beyond conventional masculine and feminine categories;
• different from both men and women while retaining elements of each.

The balance does not need to be equal. One androgyne may feel more masculine, while another may feel more feminine or neutral.

Common expressions include:

• identify as an androgyne;
• an androgyne person;
• an androgyne identity;
• the experiences of androgynes;
• androgyne representation.

Examples include:

• Morgan identifies as an androgyne.
• The novel includes an androgyne character.
• Their androgyne identity is not always visible through clothing.

Because the term is relatively uncommon, briefly explaining it may help general readers.

Androgynous is an adjective that may describe appearance, clothing, voice, behavior, or a combination of masculine and feminine qualities.

Compare:

• Taylor is an androgyne.
• Taylor has an androgynous appearance.

A cisgender man, cisgender woman, transgender person, or nonbinary person may appear androgynous without identifying as an androgyne. Likewise, an androgyne may present in a clearly masculine, feminine, neutral, or changing way. (Verywell Health)

Androgyne generally fits within this umbrella because the identity combines or exists between conventional gender categories. However, not every nonbinary person is an androgyne.

A nonbinary person may instead identify as:

• agender;
• genderfluid;
• demigender;
• bigender;
• genderqueer;
• another gender.

People should be described using their own chosen terms.

An androgyne may experience masculine and feminine elements as one blended gender rather than as two distinct identities. However, some people may use both androgyne and bigender because the boundaries between these labels are personal. Community descriptions commonly distinguish bigender’s two-gender experience from androgyne’s blended or intermediate quality. (LGBTQIA Fandom)

An androgyne may have a stable blended gender, although some androgynes also experience fluidity.

For example:

• One androgyne may consistently feel both masculine and feminine.
• Another androgyne may move between stronger masculine, feminine, and neutral feelings.

Androgyne emphasizes the nature of the gender, while genderfluid emphasizes change.

Intersex describes natural variations in sex characteristics, such as chromosomes, hormones, reproductiveanatomy, or genitals.

The terms should not be treated as interchangeable. An intersex person may have any gender identity, including man, woman, nonbinary, or androgyne. An androgyne does not need to be intersex.

Older dictionary meanings connected androgyne with the historical term hermaphrodite. That term is generally considered outdated and potentially offensive when applied to people, particularly when more accurate language such as intersex is available. (Etymology Online)

• they/them;
• he/him;
• she/her;
• mixed pronouns such as he/they or she/they;
• neopronouns;
• any other preferred set.

Pronouns do not determine gender. Two androgynes may use entirely different pronouns.

An androgyne may keep an existing name, choose a neutral name, or use a masculine, feminine, or personally meaningful name.

• androgynous fashion;
• masculine or feminine clothing;
• mixed styling;
• makeup or facial hair;
• hairstyle;
• voice;
• posture or movement;
• changing presentation.

No particular appearance is required.

Androgyny may be part of an androgyne’s self-expression, but identity remains internal and cannot be confirmed from appearance alone.

An androgyne may choose:

• no physical transition;
• hairstyle or clothing changes;
• chest binding or padding;
• voice training;
• hormone therapy;
• hair removal;
• surgery;
• another gender-affirming option.

Some people seek a more androgynous body, while others feel comfortable with their current physical characteristics. Medical treatment is a personal choice rather than a requirement.

An androgyne may be:

• heterosexual;
• gay or lesbian;
• bisexual;
• pansexual;
• asexual;
• queer;
• another orientation.

The orientation label someone chooses may depend on how they understand their gender and the genders involved in their attraction.

Partners may discuss:

• preferred names and pronouns;
• terms such as partner, boyfriend, or girlfriend;
• comfortable body language;
• affirming forms of touch;
• sexual boundaries;
• public disclosure.

An androgyne controls who knows about their identity, anatomy, assigned sex, or transition history. Being curious does not give another person permission to ask invasive questions or reveal private information.

Consent remains voluntary, specific, informed, continuing, and reversible.

An androgyne must be exactly half male and half female.
The balance and meaning vary among individuals.

Androgyne and bigender are identical.
Bigender often involves two genders, while androgyne may describe one blended or intermediate gender.

An androgyne is automatically intersex.
Gender identity and sex characteristics are separate.

Every androgyne uses they/them pronouns.
Androgynes may use any pronouns.

Being an androgyne determines sexual orientation.
Gender identity and attraction are separate.

1. An androgyne experiences gender as a blend of masculine and feminine qualities.
2. An androgyne may feel between conventional manhood and womanhood.
3. An androgyne does not need to have an androgynous appearance.
4. An androgyne may also identify as nonbinary, transgender, or genderqueer.
5. An androgyne may use they/them, he/him, she/her, or other pronouns.
6. An androgyne can have any sexual or romantic orientation.
7. An androgyne does not need hormones or surgery to validate their identity.
8. Respecting an androgyne includes using their chosen language and protecting their privacy.

However, being an androgyne does not determine anatomy, orientation, libido, sexual behavior, or availability. Androgynes may have any sexual orientation and may prefer many different kinds of relationships or intimacy.

Accurate sexuality education distinguishes androgyne identity from androgynous appearance, intersex variations, and sexual orientation. It supports self-identification, respectful pronouns, privacy, bodily autonomy, and clear consent.