Hermaphroditic means the same part number mates with itself — no separate male/female halves to manage in inventory, and a single line item on the BOM covers both sides of the connection. The natural thermoplastic housing carries no UL94 rating in the record, so verify the enclosure's flame class before specifying in an unvented assembly.
The closest functional peer in the same hermaphroditic family is the 1-2213614-1, which runs a wider 0.157" (4.00mm) pitch and carries a higher 6 A current rating. The 1971567-1 at 3.00 mm pitch saves board real estate — about 1.0 mm less per row — but the 1-2213614-1 steps up to gold-plated contacts and a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) housing, both of which improve mating cycle life and high-temperature reflow compatibility. If the BOM calls for a 2-position hermaphroditic board-edge connector and the current draw stays under 3 A, the 1971567-1 fits the footprint. If the assembly sees repeated matings or needs the extra ampacity, the 1-2213614-1 is the better call — but it also requires the wider board layout.