Girdle of Femininity/Masculinity
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The Girdle of Femininity/Masculinity is a type of magical item in the roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons that's infamous for its unusual effect. Such a girdle looks like an ordinary leather belt, but when worn immediately switches the wearer's sex, then loses all power. Additionally, 10% of these items remove sex from the wearer. The change causes no actual damage, but it is permanent and most characters can be expected to be very uncomfortable with it.
The Girdles are included in the first and the second editions of AD&D, their magic potent enough to be fiendishly difficult to reverse; even a Wish spell has even odds, though a deity can set things right. They appear to be absent from the third edition, though similar effects are mentioned as a possible curse outcome. One such item also makes an appearance in Baldur's Gate, where it's quite possibly among the first magical objects the player finds, but only takes a Remove Curse to do away with.
The webcomic The Order of the Stick introduces a Girdle early on[1] and brings it back much later, where it's used to good effect[2][3] and later yet undone with a Remove Curse. This, combined with the fact that it is taken from an ogre, suggests that it may be a reference to the one found in Baldur's Gate.
Using a Girdle is the best-known if not only method to bring about such an effect, and over the years they have served to bring mirth, cheap jokes and roleplaying opportunities to D&D fans everywhere.
