Androgyny refers to a person whose gender is not clearly defined and possesses characteristics of both sexes. It is not the same as hermaphroditism. Gender is determined by society’s expectations and stereotypes. Some scholars argue that individuals should have the opportunity to balance their own characteristics. Androgyny is not a disease and is not linked to homosexuality.
Androgyny is a term that was formulated by combining two Greek words. One of these words means male and the other means female. Androgyny has, thereafter, been used to refer to a situation where a person’s gender is not clearly defined.
There are some things men do that are generally considered feminine, like crying and cooking. Similarly, there are certain characteristics that are considered masculine that can be used to describe some women, such as strong or tough. Some degree of masculine traits in women and feminine traits in men is considered normal and will not generate interest. However, when a person possesses too many characteristics of the opposite sex, that individual may be considered androgynous.
It is important not to confuse androgyny with hermaphroditism. When a person is a hermaphrodite, they are of mixed sex. A hermaphrodite is physically influenced by a body that includes both male and female organs. Therefore, the gender of the person may not be absolutely definable.
An androgynous person is of mixed gender. We need to understand that gender and sex are not synonymous. Gender is determined by the characteristics that society generally deems appropriate for a given sex. This can include things like style, hob, and professional preferences.
When a person is androgynous, these characteristics can appear balanced. This balance commonly makes sexual identification difficult. However, such a person may be determined, by physical evaluation, to be absolutely male or female.
While androgyny could be said to be psychological, it is not generally recognized as a disease. Contrary to the beliefs of many, there is no recognized connection between androgyny and homosexuality. While an androgynous male may have more feminine characteristics than other males, there is no evidence to suggest he is more likely to be homosexual. The same is true when considering male females and the likelihood of lesbianism.
Androgyny typically affects nothing other than how a person is perceived. Gender is largely defined by stereotypes. Many of these stereotypes have historical roots. For example, historically, women were housewives while men were suppliers. Thus, a woman in modern times who enters a male dominant workforce and dresses in a masculine manner may be considered androgynous.
Some scholars believe that it is actually society that is at fault. These individuals argue that there are no two separate genders. Each individual, however, possesses certain characteristics that are commonly associated with the opposite sex. These individuals argue that instead of society determining how these characteristics are balanced, each individual should have the opportunity to do so for themselves.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
