Androgynous gender identity in the context of modern society
Research Article
How to Cite
Kitaeva M.P. Androgynous gender identity in the context of modern society. Science. Culture. Society. 2025. Vol. 31. No. 2. P. 99-110. DOI: https://doi.org/10.19181/nko.2025.31.2.8 (in Russ.).
Abstract
In modern social conditions, the androgynous type of gender identity combining feminine and masculine traits is gaining increasing significance as an adaptive mechanism of personal identification in the context of eroding traditional norms. The purpose of the study is to identify characteristics of androgynous men and women that facilitate or hinder their social adaptation. The research draws on data from empirical studies conducted over the past decade and includes an analysis of the interrelations between an individual’s gender status and such aspects as family attitudes, professional choice, group activity, anxiety levels, and social behaviour. Findings indicate that androgynous gender status is dominant among individuals of different age groups, especially among young people. The image of the ideal woman is increasingly shaped within the framework of biarchism (the principle of gender equality) and includes androgynous traits, whereas the image of the ideal man remains largely patriarchal, although "feminine" elements such as emotional openness and caring are beginning to emerge. Androgynous individuals demonstrate high adaptability: they are more successful in their professional lives, possess a broader range of role possibilities, and are characterised by increased social competence. However, in certain contexts — such as the distribution of family roles or perception of personal significance – androgyny may be accompanied by uncertainty and internal conflict. The practical significance of the study lies in the possibility of applying its findings in personnel management, government and local self-government bodies, administrative structures, as well as in educational and psychological counselling activities.
Keywords:
androgyny, femininity, masculinity, anomie, social adaptation, gender identity, gender status, biarchism
References
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23. Kasparova E. N., Skryhan G. V., Dunay V. I. Characteristic ratios of morphologicaland behavioral indicators of masculinity/ femininity depending on sports. Forcipe. 2020;3(3):19–24. (In Russ.).
24. Semak A. S. The relationship between gender identity and anxiety levels among university students. In: Psychological knowledge in the context of modernity: theory and practice: coll. of art. on the materials of the VI All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference (Yoshkar-Ola, 26-28 February 2016). Yoshkar-Ola: String; 2016. P. 144–149. (In Russ.).
25. Kanushkina E. O., Medvedeva S. A. A study of self-confidence in middle-aged women. Modern Science. 2021;(10-1):351–355. (In Russ.).
26. Volobuev V. V., Ryadinskaya E. N. Relationship of gender identity and narcissism. Innovative science: psychology, pedagogy, defectology. 2022;5(3):6–17. (In Russ.). DOI 10.23947/2658-7165-2022-5-3-6-17.
27. Retikh M. V. Androgynous gender-based identity of personality in terms of psychological compatibility of a married couple. Izvestiya of Altai State University. 2014;(2-2):67–71. (In Russ.). DOI 10.14258/izvasu(2014)2.2-11.
28. Selyunina A. N., Bondarenko E. V. The relationship between gender identity and professional orientation of students with different professional identity status. In: Actual issues of professional personality development: identity in the context of intercultural communication: сol. of mater. of the International Psychological Forum (Samara, 25-26 April 2024). Samara: Moscow State Pedagogical University; 2024. P. 121–126. (In Russ.).
2. Napso M. D. Émile Durkheim’s theory of anomie and the modernity. Sociodynamics. 2017;(2):22–30. (In Russ.). DOI 10.7256/2409-7144.2017.2.19456.
3. Kitaeva M. P. Features of gender identity in patriarchy and biarchy. In: Social consolidation and social reproduction of modern Russian society: Resources, problems, and prospects. Proceedings of the XI International Scientific and Practical Conference. Irkutsk: Irkutsk State University; 2025. P. 318–323. (In Russ.).
4. Bem S. L. The lenses of gender. Transforming the debate on sexual inequality, Moscow: ROSSPEN; 2024. (In Russ.).
5. Churkina N. A. Gender socialization in modern society. Uspekhi sovremennoi nauki i obrazovaniya. 2016;5(6):90–92. (In Russ.).
6. Kitaeva M. P. Marginality as a cause of psychological alienation in a digital society. Actual problems of pedagogy and psychology. 2023;4(12):79–86. (In Russ.).
7. Churkina N. A. Androgyne identity as a method of human adaptation in modern society. Historical, Philosophical, Political and Law Sciences, Culturology and Study of Art. Issues of Theory and Practice. 2017;(5):204–206. (In Russ.).
8. Rogova E. E., Rogov E. I. The correlation between gender identity and loneliness in adolescence. Scientific Notes of the P.F. Lesgaft University. 2024;(11):319–322. (In Russ.).
9. Shurukhina N. A., Mitina G. V., Gizatullina A. M. Androgynous type of gender identiti in adolescence and youth: characteristics of separation. Problemy sovremennogo pedagogicheskogo obrazovaniya. 2022;(77-1):335–338. (In Russ.).
10. Vasyura S. A. Spetsifik of communicative activity of teenagers of a different floor and gender orientation. Gumanitarno-pedagogicheskoe obrazovanie. 2016;2(3):16–24. (In Russ.).
11. Cherches T. E., Kolas T. A. Gender features of psychological well-being of student youth. Nauchnye trudy Respublikanskogo instituta vysshei shkoly. Istoricheskie i psikhologo-pedagogicheskie nauki. 2021;(21-4):410–418. (In Russ.).
12. Praizendorf E. S., Chizhova E. A. Perceptions of family roles in the context of gender identity formation. Health, Physical Culture and Sports. 2019;(5):33–41. (In Russ.).
13. Gorbyleva K. V., Zarifyan A. G., Bebinov E. M. Influence of types of gender identity on psychophysiological parameters of students. Ulyanovsk Medico-Biological Journal. 2015;(4):79–82. (In Russ.).
14. Yurchenko A. A. Features of the image of a man among modern students. Psychology and pedagogy in Crimea: ways of development. 2022;(3):154–165. (In Russ.).
15. Kharlamova T. M., Makarova M. A. Specificity of role behavior and status in a student group of different gender types. Vestnik Permskogo gosudarstvennogo gumanitarno-pedagogicheskogo universiteta. Seriya № 1. Psikhologicheskie i pedagogicheskie nauki. 2022;(1):80–90. (In Russ.). DOI 10.24412/2308-717X-2022-1-80-90.
16. Rodstein M. N. Cognitive model of masculinity as the basis of androgynous gender identification of men. Balkan Scientific Review. 2019;3(4):60–63. (In Russ.). DOI 10.34671/SCH.BSR.2019.0304.0013.
17. Pakhomova V. B., Boyko A. V. Manifestations of masculinity and femininity in young women. In: Student Scientific Forum: Proceedings of the International Student Scientific Conference (Moscow, 12 October 2021). Moscow: Eurasian Chamber of Science and Industry; 2022. Vol. 12. P. 47–49. (In Russ.).
18. Ivanova E. S., Lasnova D. S. Interrelation of hardiness and various types of modern youth gender identity, Innovatsii v nauke. 2016;(57-2):66–70. (In Russ.).
19. Barkanova O. V., Potapova E. V. The features of self-esteem and ideas about family roles of people with an androgyne gender. Bulletin of Krasnoyarsk State Pedagogical University named after V.P. Astafyev. 2016;(3):131–135. (In Russ.).
20. Pogontseva D. V. Gender identity of women and their perceptions of gender identity beautiful woman. Modern scientific researches and innovations. 2011;(5):41. (In Russ.).
21. Xu Sh. Verbal signs of value preferences of modern woman (on material of marriage advertisements). Nauchnyy dialog. 2016;(11):110–120. (In Russ.).
22. Tishchenko Yu. G., Kovaleva N. Yu., Tishchenko I. A. Constructs of masculinity and femininity in gender representations of modern students. Bulletin of the South Russian State Technical University. Series: Socio-economic Sciences. 2022;15(2):59–66. (In Russ.). DOI 10.17213/2075-2067-2022-2-59-66.
23. Kasparova E. N., Skryhan G. V., Dunay V. I. Characteristic ratios of morphologicaland behavioral indicators of masculinity/ femininity depending on sports. Forcipe. 2020;3(3):19–24. (In Russ.).
24. Semak A. S. The relationship between gender identity and anxiety levels among university students. In: Psychological knowledge in the context of modernity: theory and practice: coll. of art. on the materials of the VI All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference (Yoshkar-Ola, 26-28 February 2016). Yoshkar-Ola: String; 2016. P. 144–149. (In Russ.).
25. Kanushkina E. O., Medvedeva S. A. A study of self-confidence in middle-aged women. Modern Science. 2021;(10-1):351–355. (In Russ.).
26. Volobuev V. V., Ryadinskaya E. N. Relationship of gender identity and narcissism. Innovative science: psychology, pedagogy, defectology. 2022;5(3):6–17. (In Russ.). DOI 10.23947/2658-7165-2022-5-3-6-17.
27. Retikh M. V. Androgynous gender-based identity of personality in terms of psychological compatibility of a married couple. Izvestiya of Altai State University. 2014;(2-2):67–71. (In Russ.). DOI 10.14258/izvasu(2014)2.2-11.
28. Selyunina A. N., Bondarenko E. V. The relationship between gender identity and professional orientation of students with different professional identity status. In: Actual issues of professional personality development: identity in the context of intercultural communication: сol. of mater. of the International Psychological Forum (Samara, 25-26 April 2024). Samara: Moscow State Pedagogical University; 2024. P. 121–126. (In Russ.).
Article
Received: 08.04.2025
Accepted: 30.06.2025
Citation Formats
Other cite formats:
APA
Kitaeva, M. P. (2025). Androgynous gender identity in the context of modern society. Science. Culture. Society, 31(2), 99-110. https://doi.org/10.19181/nko.2025.31.2.8
Section
Men and women in the contemporary socio-cultural space
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