The Gender Wheel is an educational tool and approach that uses nature’s cycles, circles, and continuums to help us understand the necessity and value of body, gender, and relationship diversity.
The Gender Wheel provides a way to understand
the INFINITE DIVERSITY of humans as part of Nature
Based on scientific studies, research, and historical documentation, the Gender Wheel consists of 4 concentric circles around a center star.
Each circle is a continuum and holds infinite possibilities.
Each circle also rotates creating infinite interactive possibilities between the circles.
Through its design and motion the Gender Wheel provides a way for us to make sense out of big concepts like infinite diversity, interconnectedness, and nature’s constant flow, as well as our unique place in all of it.
The Gender Wheel APPROACH rises from the Wheel
and is rooted in three foundational principles
NATURE-BASED
TRUTH OF NATURE. Teach the truth of Nature’s diversity, including humans.
In Nature we find exuberant reflection of abundant body, gender, and relationship diversity. This diversity is part of the timeless patterns of Nature throughout all realms: plants, animals, and humanity.
The truth of Nature shows us that body, gender, and relationship diversity are normal, necessary, and valuable to the whole.
DECOLONIZED
ACCURATE CONTEXT. Teaching the Truth is not enough. Must also teach the context about WHY the truth has been suppressed and manipulated.
Understanding the origins, tools and impact of Patriarchy makes it easier to see its overlay onto Nature and its bully framework.
Accurate context helps preempt an individual from internalizing and/or perpetuating the oppression.
HOLISTIC
WHOLE & INTERCONNECTED. See the whole self in whole community with the whole story in all of nature.
The whole self is never isolated or divided and is always nested in full community with other whole selves.
With a whole and interconnected self, an individual’s position and inherent value is always understood in relation to all of humanity.
The 3 principles are put into ACTION
through the 3-step process
Step 1 of the Approach encourages us to learn about the body, gender, and relationship patterns found throughout nature. (Nature-based)
In Step 2 we explore why this information has been suppressed and how our separation from Nature has impacted how we view the world and each other. (Decolonized)
And of course just knowing the information is not enough, in Step 3 we complete the process by using and integrating the information to shift our mindset back to the patterns and cycles of nature and life. (Holistic)
And it's not a one time thing. Undoing layers of oppression requires a consistent practice.
By continuously cycling through the 3 step process, we can be aware of the impact of oppression while strengthening our sense of belonging, our necessity, and the value of our truest self as well as everyone else’s.
