In Martin's article "The Egg and the Sperm," she illustrates how women are seen as inferior in a more sexualized and biological way. Usually the inequalities of men and women don't have to do with their sexual organs, however she notes that people really do see women to be inferior of men because they hold the eggs and men hold the sperm. The egg is seen to be passive, as a women's eggs are there from birth and does not move, but is only activated by the man's sperm, which she notes is on a "mission".
This clip is from the movie "Look Who's Talking" in the beginning credits, which shows how the woman in the movie, Kirstie Alley, gets impregnated and is the basis of the movie. The sperm are eager, active, and strong in this clip and vigorously trying to find their way to the woman's egg, which is stable and seems to be waiting for these sperm that are full of personality.
This clip reiterates the article and how people see the sperm and the egg. The egg is seen as "feminine" because it is so passive and waits for the sperm, which demonstrates dominance, strength, and with a mission; unlike that of a woman and her eggs.
http://youtu.be/65BV5dXXxzM
I do agree that Martin’s article illustrates how women are inferior. Women are seen as inferior because scientific textbooks use sexist metaphors and gendered adjectives for male and female reproduction. Male reproduction is seen as miraculous and powerful, however female reproduction is seen as dying and worn-out. The article shows how scientific spaces are influenced by culture and specifically show gendered norms. It also shows how neutral spaces have to use language. I think this clip is very interesting visually. It does show how the sperm are more powerful, active, and eager, whereas the egg is more stable and passive. I do wish that this video had also used language to describe what was visually being shown. It would be interesting to see how this video could be explained using language. If they had talked about what was being shown maybe it could have shown gendered norms more.
ReplyDeleteVery good outline of the article. In the later part of it, Martin does talk about some texts providing the egg with power as it "traps the sperm in its web". But when this comparison is made, it does not give the female power, but gives them the name "black widow". The black widow lures in its prey through the web it produces. So this comparison does not give the woman power, but almost portrays them as the villain.
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