Gender? I Hardly Know ’Er! 6 Famous Androgynous People

Polite society presents us with masculine and feminine pathways for us to live our lives, but the rebellious among us beg to differ. Gone are the days of the binary. Instead, we’re embracing androgyny as a gender expression that ignores the boxes we’re all told are so comfy.

But what is androgyny? Do androgynous features suggest someone considers themself nonbinary or genderfluid? It’s time to learn all about androgyny and embrace the blurred lines in the rainbow that make up our community.

What does androgynous mean?

Androgyny is a blending of masculinity and femininity. Androgynous individuals often have a mix of characteristics traditionally associated with male and female genders, leading to a generally genderless vibe. An androgynous person can display this with their appearance, behavior, or all of the above. 

And androgynous people can break gender roles with more than just their physical appearance, too. Someone whose gender identity is fluid or nonbinary may be muddying the masculine and feminine just by existing. You don’t have to identify as anything specific to be considered androgynous, though. Men, women, nonbinary, trans, and cisgender people can all serve androgyny. This presentation doesn’t necessarily define one’s identities at all, including their sex, gender, or sexual orientation.

The history of androgyny

The concept of androgyny is not remotely new; it has deep historical roots. In ancient cultures, androgynous figures were often seen as possessing a unique balance of male and female energies. In the modern U.S. of A., the flapper movement saw women adopting more masculine styles in the 1920s. They cut their hair short and wore loose-fitting clothing — a far cry from the more restrictive female fashions of the past.

The 1960s saw a similar shift. This time, both men and women wanted to challenge societal norms. They did this by embracing androgynous fashions. Contemporary culture now celebrates androgyny in many ways, with countless musicians, actors, and models openly defying traditional gender roles — much to our delight!

How androgynous features manifest

The way someone demonstrates their androgyny can vary, but here are some of the most common ways people express their nonbinary nuances:

Gender identity

Although it’s not absolutely necessary, androgyny often has roots in someone’s gender identity. People who identify as nonbinary, genderqueer, or genderfluid aren’t male or female. They may fall under the androgyny umbrella by exhibiting masculine and feminine traits, but they’re just as likely to eschew the gender binary altogether and go totally agender.

Style

Fashion and personal style are critical to many people’s expression of androgyny. Their clothes or looks can blur the lines between masculine and feminine. This could be anything from oversized clothing to tailored suits.

Physical appearance

Androgyny can also be reflected in physical features. Some individuals may have facial structures perceived as neither distinctly masculine nor feminine. Makeup can also play a crucial role in achieving an androgynous look.

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Androgynous celebrities and people in pop culture

Stars — they’re just like us. Many of us are androgynous. So, it makes sense that celebs are, too. Pop culture has long blurred the gender binary, and these celebs are knocking it out of the park:

1. David Bowie

Possibly the most famous androgynous figure is David Bowie and his alter ego, Ziggy Stardust. His bold costumes and vivid makeup were revolutionary. They inspired many artists to experiment with gender, including Mother Monster herself, Lady Gaga.

2.Tilda Swinton

Iconic actor Tilda Swinton is beloved for her incredible talents, but she’s also a shining example of androgyny in cinema. Her striking features and range of characters make her a top androgynous actor in Hollywood.

3. Janelle Monáe

Janelle Monáe is a nonbinary celebrity known for their distinctive style, often combining masculine and feminine wardrobe elements. Their music and activism advocate for gender fluidity and LGBTQ expression.

4. Grace Jones

When you think of androgynous celebs, Grace Jones is likely another that immediately comes to mind. As a singer, actress, and model, she has challenged old ideas of femininity and masculinity with a fierce, unapologetic persona.

5. Annie Lennox

Maybe Annie was walking on broken glass because she was shattering the glass ceiling on women’s gender expression. The Eurythmics singer captivated audiences with her fantastic voice, but she’s also well known for blending masculine and feminine aesthetics, even with her vocals.

6. Eddie Izzard

Eddie Izzard is a transgender comedian and actor known for her humor and androgynous style. Izzard often wears makeup, dresses, suits, and everything in between. She has no problem being open about her fluid gender identity, saying her wardrobe isn’t part of her performance; it’s just who she is.

Androgynous flag

Androgynous people are diverse and unique, so it’s no surprise they fly various flags. Most androgynous flags promote pride for androgynous, androgyne, and nonbinary people by featuring a combination of blues, pinks, and purples to represent masculinity, femininity, and the blending of the two. Some also incorporate yellow or gray to symbolize gender identities outside the male-female spectrum.

The benefits and challenges of androgyny

What’s so great about being a gender nonconformist? It turns out quite a bit — but that self-expression doesn’t come without its challenges, either.

Building community

Embracing your androgynous side will introduce you to like-minded individuals with similar ideals surrounding gender and self-expression. You don’t need to be LGBTQ to consider yourself androgynous, but many people find community within these spaces since they’re where diverse gender identities are most celebrated.

Flexibility

Androgynous individuals have the versatility to experiment with their style and identity. This is open to everyone, of course. But if you don’t discriminate between masculine and feminine influences, you can have your skirt and wear it too.

Authenticity

Gender norms are constraining; there’s no other way to slice it. So, if androgyny allows you to be more confident and accept yourself, that’s a major bonus! Those who don’t feel quite like a man or a woman find comfort in dressing androgynously — and not just because they get to wear super comfy, flowing stuff.

Self-doubt

The road to self-discovery and acceptance is paved with unique challenges, regardless of who you are or how you identify. Unfortunately, since androgyny defies the widely accepted gender binary, androgynous individuals are much more likely to experience self-doubt or feelings of inadequacy, especially in environments where their expression isn’t as supported as it should be.

Misunderstanding

Androgyny is still misunderstood, particularly by those who adhere to the gender binary like it’s a natural law. This often results in misgendering or invalidation of one’s identity. Even if you want to help others understand you and your journey, some people sadly can’t be bothered to pull their heads out of the sand and see how our differences make us beautiful.

Societal expectations

Even with society moving in the right direction, androgynous people still face societal pressure to conform to traditional gender roles. This might look like someone’s family pressuring them to wear a suit to a wedding when the androgynous person would rather wear something more traditionally feminine. It puts the androgynous person in an all-too-common predicament: Do I follow my heart and risk isolating myself, or do I succumb to the pressure to keep the peace?

How you can support androgynous people

So let’s say you’re not androgynous yourself but know someone who is, and you want to support them. Fantastic! Start by understanding that active allyship is the best way to uplift any group. Here are some of the ways you can provide support:

Educate yourself

You’re off to a good start educating yourself about androgyny, but there’s much more to learn. Try to understand the experiences of those who identify as androgynous, nonbinary, or genderqueer. This helps you become a more informed ally and shows you truly care.

Use more inclusive language

Be mindful of your language, and don’t assume someone’s gender based on appearance. Try to use gender-neutral pronouns when you aren’t sure, but make it a priority to find out what they prefer.

Listen and validate

If you want to be a safe space for someone questioning their gender identity, you’ll be surprised just how far listening will go. Most people simply want to live free from judgment. Validate their feelings and let them know you support their journey.

Have it both ways

Gender identity and gender expression are a considerable part of how we navigate the world, especially if we’re expressing androgyny. Whether you’re masculine or feminine or neither, the only thing you really need to be is yourself, and that can look however you like.

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