The Gender Quotient Test

By David Deida Utne Magazine
Published on November 1, 2005

We all have both feminine and masculine traits. Some of us are
mostly balanced, and some of us tip to one side or the other. Where
do you fit? We asked author and spiritual thinker David Deida to
develop a quiz to test your ‘gender genius.’ Take the test quickly,
without thinking about it. Scoring — always optional — is at the
end.

1. I am . . .
A. happy to relate warmly and humorously with my male and female
colleagues while simultaneously focusing on project
deadlines.
B. hard-pressed to understand why people can’t leave me alone when
it’s clear that I need to attend to pressing business.

2. I feel . . .
A. natural and comfortable in motion and emotion, both calm and
chaotic.
B. uneasy when people change plans at the last minute; schedules
and routines are the most efficient way I know to accomplish my
goals.

3. I can and do . . .
A. enjoy extreme intensity in many dimensions, including sexually,
intellectually, and socially.
B. contain any overexuberance. Strong emotions have their place,
but I usually prefer peace and harmony to wild abandon.

4. I don’t . . .
A. ignore my love of life for the sake of accomplishing a project
or meeting the bottom line.
B. lose track of my commitments. I am very trustworthy, since I do
what I say I will without changing my mind or getting
distracted.

5. I consider myself . . .
A. a practiced artist of the earth’s elements, sensual skills, and
beautiful adornment.
B. a practical and effective person; I tend to concern myself more
with function than form.

6. I . . .
A. may get frazzled, but I am at home in the always unpredictable
ups and downs of birth, life, and death.
B. lose my patience with the endless drama around people’s lives,
so I choose to focus on achievable goals.

7. I am driven . . .
A. to create real love and cooperation in the world more strongly
than to achieve a specific set of quantifiable goals.
B. to make the most of my capacities and create something great, or
die trying.

8. The bittersweet heartache of yearning (rather than the desire
for accomplishment) is the bodily source of my passion and
creativity.
A. Exactly!
B. What, exactly, does this mean?

9. Although I may enjoy . . .
A. silence, solitude, and meditation, my soul is most often healed
by sharing laughter and love with my friends, talking, dancing, and
celebrating our precious life together on earth.
B. spending time with friends and family, my soul is most healed
and inspired by solitude, intentional austerity, and extreme
challenge.

10. I’m happy . . .
A. to multitask. I can talk on the phone with a disgruntled
employee, hug my lover, and write a business proposal at the same
time.
B. when I get a solid block of time to work on one thing and get it
done so I am free to move on to the next thing.

Scoring: Give yourself a feminine point for every A answer and a
masculine point for every B answer. Not all of us have equal access
to our inner masculine and feminine genius. Don’t try to balance
yourself. Instead, compassionately embrace all your qualities and
team up with others who complement you, while cultivating your
natural strengths as you give your true gifts to the world.

About David Deida
Spiritual teacher and best-selling author David Deida writes about
the ties between sexuality and spirituality in his many books,
including Blue Truth and The Way of the Superior
Man
. A founding member of Integral Institute, a nonprofit
organization that takes a holistic approach to psychology,
business, politics, education, and other disciplines, Deida has
taught and conducted research at the University of California
Medical School at San Diego and the Ecole Polytechnique in Paris;
he holds workshops worldwide that aim to awaken and transform the
mind, body, and heart. (see
www.deida.info).

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