What is Androgyny?

[Priestess]

Looking at the definition of androgyny from Amy(Aimee's) post, it was "those that do not identify as just he or she." But I have difficulty understanding the ideas and basic underlying concepts. Then again, it took a complete change of social gender and the wisdom that life bestows before I developed any appreciation of (feeling of?) difference between the two usual gender-streams. So it's just me being a dummy.

Well, given that most of the people who might be described as Androgynous probably aren't biological hermaphrodites; this would imply that we are talking about some personal qualities that aren't physical. Which leaves me lost again, because I have such a vague sense about gender that it's beyond me to try to see where the boundaries are, or where the middle is. Any sagely words of wisdom for Mell the gender dummy would be graciously listened to.

If I hadn't been so clueless about sex and gender when I was 6 years old and being asked confusing questions by the nice psychologist, perhaps I wouldn't be in this mess right now.

[Dianne]

I would define Androgynous as not giving any clear indications of being male or female.

[Priestess]

Hi Dianne,
So far, I've actually encountered only one person who I got no clues from. More often it seems like the people who're called androgynous often still give off enough signals to make guesses by, though sometimes wrong guesses.

Do you think that androgyny runs any deeper thn appearances? It seems like one of the clues is the way people act and animate themselves, which might come down to personality.

[Kailana]

I think and again this is just me, that people who are truely androgenous, are people who feel as though they are both, there persona's is mixed, there self identity is mixed, there inflections are mixed, just as there behavior and all abstracts of how they see themselves and how they want every one else to see themselves as. weather its just dress, or body signals, androgyny is simply a mix of gestures, signals, behavior, of mixed sexual identification. Neither clearly male, nor clearly female, or a mix of both that fluctuates back and forth between the two genders.

Perhaps there is some comfort in how other people see them, or perhaps there is some enjoyment when people ponder and ask, or stare.

Those are things im not so sure about. As im kinda of tired of being stared at. But what goes for me doesn't apply for others.


And in all actuallity
What i believe as 'androgynous" is simply behavior, characteristics that break from standard normal perceptions of what is atypical male or female stereotypes.

[fraulein_Maria]

And in all actuallity
What i believe as 'androgynous" is simply behavior, characteristics that break from standard normal perceptions of what is atypical male or female stereotypes.[/QUOTE]

>>> true. and some of us have come to love our androgenousness. i will no longer deny half of myself.... not even for a lover, anymore. She must see past the virilization..... i will never be content with less again. I promise i will see.... have seen.... past the pretty face.... into the soul that is bright, capable, strong, and even.... handsome.