Androgyne is a gender identity that describes someone who identifies as having both masculine and feminine characteristics or whose gender identity falls somewhere in between the traditional binary of male and female.

Here's a breakdown of the key aspects:

Blend of Masculine and Feminine: At its core, androgyny involves a combination of traits, expressions, or identities that are typically associated with both masculinity and femininity. This can manifest in various ways.

Gender Identity: For someone who identifies as androgynous, this blend of masculine and feminine is central to their internal sense of self and gender identity. It's not just about outward appearance.

Gender Expression: Androgynous individuals often have a gender expression that blends masculine and feminine elements. This might involve clothing, hairstyle, mannerisms, and other outward presentations that are not strictly aligned with traditional male or female norms. However, an androgynous gender identity doesn't automatically dictate an androgynous gender expression; someone can identify as androgynous and express themselves in other ways.

Falling Outside the Binary: Androgyny is a non-binary gender identity, meaning it exists outside the traditional male/female binary. Androgynous individuals do not exclusively identify as a man or a woman.

Spectrum of Experiences: The experience of being androgynous can vary widely. Some individuals may feel an equal balance of masculine and feminine aspects, while others may feel a stronger lean towards one side but still identify as having elements of the other.

Not About Intersex: While some intersex individuals may identify as androgynous, androgyny as a gender identity is separate from having intersex traits (biological variations in sex characteristics).

Androgyne vs. Similar Terms:

Non-binary/Genderqueer: Androgyne is a specific identity within the broader non-binary or genderqueer umbrella. Not all non-binary people identify as androgynous.

Genderfluid: Genderfluid individuals experience shifts in their gender identity over time. While they might identify as androgynous at some point, their identity is characterised by its fluidity, whereas androgynous identity is more about embodying both masculine and feminine aspects simultaneously or identifying between the binary.

Bigender: Bigender individuals identify with two genders, which can be man and woman or other gender identities. While an androgynous person might feel a blend, a bigender person typically experiences their two genders more distinctly, even if simultaneously.

In simple terms, androgyne describes someone whose gender identity encompasses both masculine and feminine aspects, placing them outside the traditional male/female binary. This can influence their sense of self and how they express their gender.