Androgyny in the Archives: 1970s Trans and Feminist Encounters with the Promise and Politics of Non-Binary

Abstract

Despite the recurrent appeal to androgynous myths, imagery and research in the US mid-twentieth century transgender archive, the aects and politics motivating these have been subject to little consideration. This paper explores the possibilities and problems contained within the mobilisation of androgynous ideals for gendered liberation. It argues that androgyny oered a basis for aective and subjective investments in non-binary gender to be pursued and articulated and considers how a philosophy of androgyny might complicate current discussions of queer and trans taxonomy.