The Egg And The Sperm Analysis

In “The Egg and the Sperm”, by Emily Martin, Martin it is explainsed how society’s predisposed views about gender can interfere with real scientific research. Additionally, she suggests (or some other verb--otherwise this isn’t a full sentence) how these views can lead to a perpetuation connection of cultural stereotypes about men and women and their respective reproductive cells. Implementing these human stereotypes on genderless cells “encourages people to imagine that what results is […] of deliberate ‘human’ action on a cellular level” (861). When cells are given human traits, they are made into more than a cell. They become human, which can cause complications, such as giving reasons for the rescinding of abortion rights. Clearly with
Martin really spells it out for us: “part of my goal in writing this article is to shine a bright light on the gender stereotypes hidden within the scientific language of biology. Exposed in such a light, I hope they will lose much of their power to harm us” (846). Writers of academic articles, tend to steer around their purpose, hoping it is clear to the reader. Seldom does a writer of this genre explicitly spell out their goal, and explain what it is they want to come from their writing. Explaining the goal early on in the paper is very powerful, and helps the reader interpret what they’re reading correctly because they are in the right mindset. The light referred to earlier is shined brightly throughout the paper on studies that had the capability to overcome stereotypes but did not. As mentioned, this was only part of Martin’s goal, later she goes on to provides a “feminist challenge to wake up sleeping metaphors in science, particularly those involved in descriptions of the egg and the sperm” (862-863). Hopefully, these messages were conveyed clearly and made an impact on the feminist