Androgyne
"Androgyne" has multiple layers, depending on context:
Historically: A figure with both male and female physical characteristics, appearing in myths and mythology as symbols of completeness, unity, or divine beings.
Today: Can have several connotations:
- Presentation: Someone who expresses their gender in ways that blur traditional masculine and feminine lines, through clothing, mannerisms, or physical appearance.
- Gender identity: A person who identifies outside the binary of "man" or "woman," as both, neither, or somewhere in between.
- Artistic representation: A figure, often in art or literature, that embodies both masculine and feminine traits, often to explore themes of duality, unity, or defying societal expectations.
Importantly, "androgyne" is not a specific gender identity and doesn't prescribe how someone expresses themselves. It's a term people choose to reclaim and define for themselves, often challenging traditional gender norms.