I want to talk about how there are two distinct forms of androgyny;
Neutral trait androgyny: possessing sex traits which cannot be categorized as “female” or “male” individually. (example, having a middle-pitched voice, small almost-flat breasts/pecs, a nondescript build that is not read as “feminine” or “masculine”, a unisex hair style, etc)
Mixed trait androgyny: possessing traits which individually can be categorized as “female” or “male”, but in ‘wrong’ combination. (example, a very low voice + large breasts, facial hair + curvy build, etc “confusing” combinations of traits generally read as “feminine” or “masculine”)
I find personally that these forms of androgyny are generally met with a very different reaction from society generally.
minimalist and maximalist androgynous gender expression !! think that’s what I was calling them a few years ago. also possibly subtractive and additive.
I’m transfem, but not intersex far as I know, so feel free to tell me to delete this. just thoughts on androgyny from a nonbinary tgirl perspective.
the more you subtract, there less there is to assume, and the harder it is to point to a trait that “proves” (usually) maleness. intersexism and transmisogyny being siblings in some ways. the more neutral traits the easier it is to project. that person can be your femboy, your twink, “trans in every direction”, a “ butch” according to what twitter can handle, your tomboy. a blank slate.
the more you add, the harder the contradiction, the more these people’s brains short circuit. reads as a woman but has facial hair ?? bluescreen. no obviously the broader shoulders and deeper voice indicate some kind of fetishistic deviant male freak no matter how snatched its waist is.
society can project onto and otherwise ignore one whole the other is a visual challenge to its status quo. its system upheld in violence.