This thesis deals with the representations of androgyny in American women's science fiction of the second half of the 20th century (the works of Ursula K. Le Guin, Marge Piercy and Octavia Butler). In the beginning, we attempt to define the elusive, protean concept of androgyny that offers countless definitions. Some critics believe androgyny is a dangerous concept due to the traditional connotations associated with it, as it often takes the incorporation of the (female) Other into the (male) self as its model, thus eliminating the female part of the couple. Others believe it to be a useful tool for deconstructing epistemological binaries. The theoretical introduction is followed by a critical analysis of the selected novels. Despite androgyny’s patriarchal origins and its reliance on the sex dualism, the analysis of the selected works by the American science fiction authors reveals that the concept can serve as a powerful tool for questioning conventional ideas on sex and gender as well as transcending dualisms. However, one must tread lightly when dealing with the concept of androgyny, as it is very easy for it to get trapped in the labyrinth of patriarchal binary logic.
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