Androgyny, according to Merriam Webster Dictionary, means having both male and female characteristics or qualities. This word has created an uproar in modern society, simply because men and women alike are starting to adapt qualities of the opposite sex. Men are showing their skill and expertise in feminine-related areas and women are showing their skill and expertise in masculine-related areas. The boundaries between sexes are starting to blur, and acceptance is becoming easier to find everyday.

From the time of birth, our gender is extremely important. The blanket we’re wrapped in after birth signifies the sex we will live as for the rest of our lives. Even in the womb our sex immediately dictates the life we will live. But once we start to develop as individuals that line could possibly be blurred, and it’s okay. Society tells us what we can and can’t do as a male and female, but society doesn’t realize what we truly are.

First and foremost, we are all human beings, we all have thoughts and connections in the world. Sometimes our connections seem unorthodox, however they can make us the happiest people alive. Acceptance is the key to making androgyny work. It’s okay that women like to wear bowties and loafers, it’s okay that men like to wear makeup and do their eyebrows. All of this is okay because any human being has the right to their own decisions. I won’t lie to you; it can be shocking sometimes. But the happiness of a person is not measured by how well they follow society’s rules, it’s measured by the amount of smiles that person has on their face every single day.

People like to use androgyny as a way of selecting the people that can’t fit into one category. They aren’t feminine enough, nor masculine enough so let’s call them something else, and create another category that cam be frowned upon. If good old American tradition, if we don’t know enough about it, we get scared and ostracize whatever it is. Which is a seriously unhealthy why of expressing emotions. Why not just express the confusion you feel and ask some questions for goodness sake? Expressing yourself is a natural part of life, and we can’t live life without expression. When a man decides he likes to put the extra mile in his appearance, that’s him expressing his pride in his image. When a woman decides she wants to wear a nice three-piece suit and pair it with an extravagant bowtie, that’s her expressing her pride in her image. Those decisions should be looked at with an open mind, a questioning mind. Stop dictating someone’s life because they don’t follow what YOU have grown up to believe as normal.

Androgyny isn’t a group of people, androgyny is a form of expression that gets stronger and stronger every day. No one is entitled to tell another person what they can feel. As a human being you are entitled to your own form of expression, and your own opinion. Stop trying to change the mind of a little boy who’s interested in his Mother’s lipstick, just calmly explain what it’s for and if he really wants to try it let him. Give him the experience early on so he can make his decision early on. If a little girl learns to tie her Daddy’s tie and tries it on in the mirror the one morning her Daddy decides to not wear a tie, don’t take it off her and say that’s only for Daddy’s and little boys. Help her fix the tie properly, give her the experience so she can make her own decision early on.

Androgyny is expression, masculinity is expression, femininity is expression, and who are we stop anyone from expressing themselves? The funny twist to life is that whatever you weren’t able to do as a young child, you’ll get to do once you’re old enough, so don’t prolong the experience. Express yourself, and do it with pride.