Deconstructing Gender & Sexuality March Immersion 2020

Parcon Resilience is a POC centered somatic movement form that supports us to actualize new sensibilities of ourselves and expression by moving in consensual relationship with collective consciousness in our bodies and the environment. During the March Immersion we explored how our expressions of femininity, masculinity and non-binary gender. We used the Parcon Resilience lenses to amplify and clarify our non-verbal communication around boundaries, self-connection and collective intentions as we explored gender identities, the multiplicities of gender expression and cultures, and our path for sticking with community agreements to show up in our fullness by using our developing trauma-informed approaches. 

Testimony

This was the most extraordinary experience. There was the sense of playing a small, exploratory part together in the making of a new "language"—not only verbal and moral but, inseparably, embodied—and a new world, a piece of a huge work in progress, like a quilting bee of the future. The movement was fun, playful, searching, creative, homing our attention on the bodily location and sensation of an emotion or memory. The depth and genuineness of contact with others was what I did not expect. It was so moving.

I was changed by those two hours. As I walked home I realized I was centered not in my head, not even in my heart, but deeper, in my hara. It was a completely new feeling. I have felt centered in my hara gravitationally, but this was emotional. 

-Annie Gottlieb

This weekend encouraged me to meet my self connection with a collective connection, to ask for what I needed and meet another’s needs, but also to say no, and to learn to receive no. With the support and accountability of the group, I confronted trauma held in my body and developed somatic strategies for grounding and re-centering. The challenge was to heal through presence and connection, even when it was difficult or I didn’t know. I left the workshop with deeper relationships to place, to community, and to myself.

Chris Cahoon

Hey Andrew, as you know i i absolutely loved this past weekend of PR. The power of exploring gender roles with our bodies was fascinating and surreal. The power of exploring yes and no using gender identities was unique for me.

Omar Gonzalez

The invitation to explore gender identity while staying rooted in my own body, experiencing and exploring thoughts and feelings both verbally and through movement sequentially and in layers, offered a rich opportunity. In this safe and connected space I was able to examine and discard some arcane stereotypes, and try on some new ways of being. I am still getting little minibursts of insight.

Joanna Fitzick

Resources list:

My Gender Workbook: Kate Bornstien

Masculinity: Bell Hooks.