Artist	Song
Mr. Rogers	Everybody's Fancy
Fiely A. Matias	Shy One Chromosome
Manic Street Preachers	Born A Girl
Lou Reed	Walk on the Wild Side
Louis Farrakhan	Is She Is or Is She Ain't?
Dori Previn	Jesus Was a Androgyne
Tim Curry	Sweet Transvestite
Rush	Animate
The Beatles	Get Back
The Who	I'm a Boy
Robyn Hitchcock	Uncorrected Personality Traits
The Dresden Dolls	Half Jack
Stephen Lynch	Hermaphrodite
The Dukes of Stratosphear	Have You Seen Jackie?
Aerosmith	Dude (Looks Like a Lady)
The Cramps	Two Headed Sex Change
fr. Hedwig and the Angry Inch	Angry Inch
Captain Sensible and the Softies	Jet Boy, Jet Girl
They Might Be Giants	How Can I Sing Like A Girl?
Garbage	Androgyny ('Thee Glitz Mix' by Felix Da Housecat)
Bj÷rk	Venus As A Boy
King Missile	Detachable Penis
The Kinks	Lola (Live)

Comment:

Gender is an important characteristic in most societies, and communities enforce most gender rules quite strictly. Gender is the first thing we generally notice about a person we meet (followed closely by race). Although specific gender roles vary from culture to culture, most societies have clear definitions of what is women's behavior and what is men's behavior. There are definitions that span cultures; many have an apparent basis in physical reality. For example, women (who bear children) are supposed to be more nurturing and dependent, while men (who hunt) and are supposed to be more aggressive and independent. Deviation from gender role expectations can lead to ridicule, ostracism, and harassment.


On the other hand, some cultures have revered the androgyne as a divine union of earthly principles, and many religions have worshipped gods that represented the combination of male and female. The Greek god of wine and sensuality, Dionysus, was believed to be androgynous, as was Hapi, the Egyptian god of the Nile. Practitioners of the Voudoun religion of Africa, South America, and the Caribbean honor the androgyne Obatala as the creator of humankind and the bringer of peace. The Vikings worshipped the Valkyrie Bruennhilde, the androgynous daughter of Wotan, king of the gods. Hindu, Christian, and Wiccan religions all have deities or demi-deities with androgynous qualities.


Musical performers , from Marlene Deitrich, shocking turn of the century audiences in her tuxedo and aggressive stance, to the Mothers of Invention, donning dresses on the cover of We're Only In It For the Money, have celebrated the blending of genders.


The songs on this mix explore the trials and glories of androgyny. Title from the Dukes, and thanks to James Russell for "Is She Is or Is She Ain't?"


Incidentally, if you, yourself, are unsure if you are a boy or a girl, you can find out here.

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