Narrow Hips Symbol
Curiously, it is Stephen's mother who first sees something more masculine in her little baby girl, commenting that the baby had unusually narrow hips for a female. To many, narrow hips are a symbol of a more masculine, or at least, androgynous, physique.
Masculine Dress Symbol
Throughout her life, Stephen tended to dress in very mannish clothing. She even seeks out a tailor rather than a dressmaker when it is time to begin to order bespoke clothing. This is seen as a symbol of her gender identity rather than her gender as stated on her birth certificate.
Ambulance Driving Symbol
The fact that the nation chooses to seek out masculine women, usually "inverts", to drive ambulances during World War I, is a symbol of society's hypocrisy when it came to accepting homosexual women. They preferred "inverts" because they were often more physically capable of carrying out duties traditionally done by men and they also had the strength to act as stretcher bearers if needed. This was also a symbol of the nation's ability and willingness to pick and choose when something is offensive to them and when it is not.
Author's Life Allegory
The character of Stephen Gordon is an allegory of the life of Radclyffe Hall in that both are lesbian women who identify as male; both come from affluent upper-class families from the English "home counties", both move to London as young adults in an attempt to find themselves, and both have a turbulent relationship with their mother. Many of the views that Stephen expresses are also the views of the author, and they share negative opinions of those who hide their sexuality for social convenience.
Short Hair Symbol
To Stephen, having short hair is a symbol of masculinity, and of her own identification as a male. It is also a symbol of a congruent outward appearance and inner identity. Stephen also considers cutting her hair short a symbol of her rejection of society's view of what she should be like.
