Androgyny. It’s a word with a history.
Brief History of the Term Androgyny
The word comes from Greek and Latin roots – andro meaning male, and gyn meaning female. And so, it refers to someone who is both male and female at the same time, or who at least see themselves as both male and female.
Ancient Civilizations
In Sumer, men who claimed a gender identity as androgynous were a part of a cult of priests (called Gala). They took typically female names and did engage in homosexual acts with one another.
In Mesopotamia, there were those who were self-proclaimed servants of their goddess Ishtar who was said to have dressed in female clothing. According to historians, these servants performed war dances in temples and engaged in homosexual activity with other men.
Greek Myths
According to this mythology, the divinities Hermaphroditus and Salmacis fused into one immortal person and impacted how Western culture referred to androgyny for centuries.
In Plato’s treatise Symposium, another myth was presented by Aristophanes. According to this myth, the human race began as three sexes: male-male, female-female, and male-female (androgynous). The male-female humans were quite powerful. When there was attempted mutiny against the gods, those gods eliminated the male-female humans and divided all human into two gender identities and scattered them all across the earth and left them to search for their other halves. Males and females could search for each other and join as androgynous gender expressions. Those who sought their own sex became homosexuals.
Androgynous Gender Identity Today
So, as we have come down through the centuries, we have defined androgynous gender expression in a number of ways.
There are those born with both male and female sex characteristics as primary or secondary sex characteristics. They are now called “intersex,” not androgynous. And this includes the term “hermaphrodite” too.
Today, an androgynous person is someone who may be a cis women or men who embrace an external gender expression of both sexes. It no longer refers to anyone with mixed physical sexual gender traits.
Understanding Androgyny as a Gender Expression
It doesn’t really matter what sex anyone is born into. Androgyny is not about that. It’s all about accessing both your masculine and feminine sides and displaying them outwardly.
If you want to go back to the 1930s, look no further than Katherine Hepburn and Marlene Dietrich, two women who embraced their feminine characteristics but also their masculine traits. They adopted androgynous fashion, wearing pants. they adopted their masculine traits by asserting their independence in a male-dominated world. They embraced gender neutral behaviors when it was not popular or accepted.
Androgyny Today
Fortunately, gender roles today are fluid and isn’t that such a relief. No one, women or men, has to follow the old social rules that boys must “act” like boys (you know, trucks and stuff) and girls must act like girls (toy kitchens and dolls). No one has to fit neatly into traditional gender roles any more. Both women and men have female and masculine energy and masculine and feminine characteristics that would be considered gender non-conforming by the “old ways.”
What this is really all about is the balanced identity that we all have. It’s not about sexual preferences or sexual orientation. It’s not about being inherently feminine or masculine. It’s not about outdated gender binaries. It’s about shedding the old cultural norms that we have grown up with.
And leading the charge have been celebrities who have a lot of influence on how we perceive ourselves and our outside world. And many of them are gender bending by tapping into their alter egos and developing an external style that reflects a mentally healthy fluidity.
So, let’s take a look at some celebrities who have embraced their androgynous selves and made us all much more comfortable doing the same.
Celebrities Who Have Broken Through Traditional Gender Norms
Celebrity androgynous individuals cross all area of the arts – music, theatre, film, television, and even social media. Here are a few whose androgynous styles and personas have impacted how many now see their sexual identity not just in terms of their gender but in terms of allowing their opposite sex side to be presented.
David Bowie
Any discussion of androgynous individuals who have been pioneers in gender bending (and also the subject of androgynous gender studies) has to begin with British songwriter, singer, and actor, David Bowie.
Born David Robert Jones, he later changed his name to Bowie to distance himself from Davey Jones of the Monkees.
He had some early hit singles – “Space Oddity,” “Fame”, and “Jump They Say” (inspired by the suicide death of his older half-brother. But what really propelled him to international fame was his tapping into his feminine side (his alter ego) in the persona of a woman Ziggy Stardust. For this persona, he adopted long hair, women’s fashion, and feminine traits on stage. His album “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust.” He literally put the idea of non-binary aspects of people “on the map.”
In his personal life, he was all masculine, as a straight man, married with two children.
Grace Jones
Born in Jamaica, Jones moved to Syracuse NY with her parents as a kid. She began studying acting at Syracuse University but halfway through took off to Philadelphia to star in a play produced by one of her professors. She then moved to to New York City and began a modeling career. Ultimately, she ended up in Paris, where her androgynous style and ebony skin were in demand by the “big guys” in the modeling industry – resulting in covers with Elle, Vogue, and Der Stern.
She began a movie career with small parts but then breaking roles in Conan the Destroyer, and the James Bond film A View to a Kill.
She became a singer “by accident” according to her. But she has had a string of hit singles (“I’ve Seen that Face Before,” “Slave to the Rhythm,” “Pull Up to the Bumper”) and two albums that hit the charts – “Living My Life” and “Hurricane.”
On stage, Jones veers from femininity, dressed in feminine clothing, sporting decidedly feminine features, and clearly women’s styles, to masculine clothes and hairstyles, sporting such men’s fashion as broad shoulders, flamboyant men’s clothing, and looking about as masculine as they come.
Tilda Swinton
A British actress who has blended male and female roles in most of her movie roles (Orlando, The Chronicles of Narnia) where she portrays her androgynous style and fluidity that she also portrays in real life, with her styles of dress.
Her performances certainly challenge traditional gender norms and blur the lines of gender identity.
In real life, Swinton is in a long-term with Scot Sandro Kopp, a man she has been with since 2004 and with whom she has two children.
Jaden Smith
If ever social media played a role for androgynous people, it does today through Jaden Smith, son of Actor Wil Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith. He’s an actor, singer, and songwriter.
His acting career began in starring roles with his dad in “The Pursuit of Happyness” and “After Earth.” He has also started in remakes of “The Day the Earth Stood Still” and “The Karate Kid.” He also starred in the two-part Netflix series, “The Get Down.”
His musical career has also resulted in 3 albums “Syre,” “Erys,” and “CTV3: Cool Tape.”
But where Smith shines as an androgynous figure is on social media – 19.5 followers on Instagram, 10 million followers on Facebook, and 3.5 million followers on YouTube. He sports androgynous clothing (e.g. pearls on his neck over a t-shirt, feminine jewelry, scarves, as well as decidedly masculine clothing. His androgynous and gender-neutral silhouettes are a trademark, and his influence on others to accept a non-binary persona can’t be denied.
Now to the Meat
Androgyny for men. In this context, androgyny refers to a type of personal growth that results in embracing a gender-neutral persona that exists in everyone. It means embracing both masculine and feminine sides in the intellectual, emotional, and social aspects of your life. When, as a straight man, you can do this, a whole new world opens up.
Looking at the Benefits of Androgyny
And there are many – psychological, social, and cultural. And here’s what research studies show.
- Improved mental health: When the masculine and feminine sides are no longer “warring” with one another, there is less depression and anxiety. There’re more resilience and a sense of emotional well-being.
- Improved cognitive flexibility: men who have embraced androgyny are better able to move among tasks and thoughts better. This means they become better problem solvers, more creative, and the ability to engage multiple perspectives when facing challenges.
- Greater emotional intelligence: A traditionally masculine approach to interpersonal relationships is very confining and one-sided. When androgyny is embraces, there is a greater awareness of emotions and a better effort to regulate them. This results in better conflict resolution skills.
- Gender norms are challenged: Embracing androgyny equates to embracing a much more fluid understanding of what gender means. You thus challenge the traditional binary norms about gender and can help promote acceptance and tolerance of gender and sexuality on a broader scale, including the LGBTQ population.
- Androgynous people have an easier time connecting with a broader range of people, and they can navigate a variety of social situations easier than the non-androgynous. The result is that you develop greater understanding of those whose backgrounds and experiences are very different from yours.
- Growth and Discovery: As people embrace androgyny, the actually start a path toward greater self-discovery. And as this self-discovery unfolds, they develop confidence, self-acceptance, and much enhanced self-esteem. In short, you know who you are and where you’re going on your life journey.
The other aspect of being androgynous is what kind of “look” you want sport and where.
The Androgynous Look for Men
Yes, this is all about physical appearance as you move between masculine and feminine characteristics.
While androgynous fashion is personal and unique to your personal tastes, and includes everything from clothes to hair, to accessories, and even makeup, you will want clothing and other androgynous fashion pieces that make certain statements.
But before we get into that, let’s talk about where and when you want to sport your feminine side.
- Obviously, work is not the place. You are a cis male and need to dress as such, unless you have co-workers who share or at least understand and accept your androgyny. Maybe strut your femininity at office parties for Halloween or Christmas.
- There are wrong places to go. For example, hanging out in places where trans females may be at risk for their safety. No, you are not trans, but others don’t know this.
- When showing off your femininity in public, you may get unwanted attention from men and need to have a plan in place to deal with that. If you want to hang out in bars, clubs, or at concerts, for example, maybe have a trusted male friend go with you.
Androgyny in Dress and Fashion
You have lots of options or combinations of options. Any or all of them can be great sources. And, as you have probably guessed, most are online and easily accessible.
Styling Apps
A Google search will bring up a number of apps you can use to get personal advice and suggestions for dress and clothing. Here are just a few:
- Daily Male: Here’s a fully modern app that uses AI. It will analyze your facial features and hair and craft a color palette of the best-looking colors for your clothing.
- Alice: Another AI app. Rather than focusing on color, it creates coordinated clothing outfits based on a personality analysis. Simple and streamlined.
- LiketoKNOW.it: This is kinda a DIY app that will help you craft your own outfits based on lots of presented features.
Social Media Platforms
These are great resources because you can connect with others who share your androgyny. There’s a huge online community on the major platforms, and you can:
- Build a network of friends and share challenges and interests.
- Look at styles and ideas for fashion from a really diverse population of androgynous people
- Get advice and support
- Gain visibility that can reach out to wider non-binary communities
Blogs
There are plenty of blogs to access, and, if you are a good writer and have much to say about androgyny, even start your own and market it.
Fashion Brands
There are tons of androgynous fashion design companies. Again, a Google search will bring them all too you. You will probably want to seek out those that have sustainable policies and practices, so you can make recommendations, maybe on that blog you have created.
Makeup Education
The best place for this? YouTube. Lots of tutorials for androgynous looks – fine tune your style and get more confidence!
Personal Stylist
If money is not a consideration, you can actually hire a stylist who has expertise in androgynous fashion. They will find and present clothes and outfits based on your unique style – confidence boost for sure.
Online Workshops
Many are free and can help you connect with experts and get valuable information and advice about how to best express your androgyny in clothes and other fashion items.
Resale Shops and Subscription Boxes
If you are really into sustainability, hitting resale shops is a great idea. Before you do that, though, have some ideas in mind that you have picked up from other sources. If you have a good idea of how you want to dress, you can sport your femininity by digging through others’ throw aways. Want pastel colors? That pink t shirt is perfect! You’ll find great dress items for sure, if you hit up some good-sized shops. And you’ll be wearing clothes that promote the environment.
Clothing Subscription boxes deliver pieces of clothing each month, even including accessories and shoes at times. (BTW – there are subscription boxes for men’s fashion too if you are interested). Most of these operations involve personal stylists that are assigned based on your answers to questions, and they are in charge of the selections. Through some of these subscriptions, you can even rent clothes for specified periods. Beyond the monthly subscription fee, you only pay for what you keep. Some of the most popular subscription boxes are:
Stitch Fix – personal stylist
Rent the Runway – pricey designer fashion – maybe a dress for a special occasion or to rent. High subscription fee
Nuuly – trendy fashion – personal stylist – a bit pricey
Armoire – high end rental service.
Do a bit of searching for yourself and channel your femininity into what you wear.
NOTE: Depending on what you want to wear, you may need to enhance your feminine figure with certain items you will need to buy on your own – a padded bra or a corset for example.
It’s Really All About Being Your Authentic Self
Androgyny is a rapidly expanding population and culture as gender fluidity takes a stronger hold on perceptions of what it means to be men or women. The concept of a non binary approach to gender now blends traditional masculine and feminine traits, challenging and dispelling the notion of what it means to be a man.
Historically, men were to meet certain criteria – emotional restraint, aggression, and strength. And that also included wearing obvious masculine fashion.
Androgynous men have redefined what it means to be a man, embracing the fluidity that comes with a non-binary persona. And the best part of all of this? According to studies of the New York Times, this fluidity and its expansion is really changing how society perceives men and what its expectations of men are.
So, go out there and be your authentic androgynous self. Choose when, where, and how you will strut your feminine side, personalize your style with what you wear and choose for accessories and hair styles, and channel the woman in you.
Of course, not everyone is on board with this new phenomenon, but so what? You are at the forefront of a changing culture – be that pioneer and have fun!
Share this post:
