The larger, encompassing circle represents the characteristics that make us all human – in other words anything not explicitly thought of as male or female and in the widest sense, “androgyne” or “agendered” or “nongendered” (or any of many other possible labels people wish to use). The circles within this are the traditional but always evolving and interacting definitions of “female” and “male” (or insert whatever gender labels that you want there). These represent the socially dominant physical and cultural understandings of these labels, and of course the shape these definitions take change over time and space (across geographies, cultures, nations, etc.).

If you feel the need to reject the binary gender model entirely (count me in that group!) place yourself anywhere within the larger circle. If you aren’t comfortable throwing out tradition entirely, put yourelf somewhere within the two smaller circles, or in their intersection. The image I’m conjuring is reminiscent of telophase of cell mitosis (http://project.bio.iastate.edu.....itosis.jpg) within an organism (but then again, I am certainly not a biologist so I may be way off here)?!!

Diane

Diane