Emily Martin The Egg And The Sperm

Martin investigates how cultural stereotypes of the two sexes are subtly incorporated into descriptions of the egg and sperm in scientific papers. She expresses that giving stereotypical roles to the egg and sperm has the “power to naturalize our social conventions about gender” (501). By associating the egg with feminine traits and the sperm with masculine traits, scientists make these

Throughout history, gender roles have been the foundation that determines the course of a civilization. These gender roles have undergone a change over time. It is important for every society to re-evaluate its preconceived ideas of gender and determine if that is still the norm for their society. When people think of gender roles we typically have set stereotypes in our head of what that means. Much of the time, what we believe, is not what is actually true. It is often argued what is right and what is wrong.

According to the latest data from the US Department of Labor, 57% of women participate in the workforce as opposed to 52% in 1980. More women are also participating in athletics, higher education, and politics. However, the results of a psychological study from New Jersey has found that gender stereotyping and classic roles are just as strong today as they were three decades ago. Based on the definition from study.com, gender stereotypes can be described as over-generalizations about the characteristics of an entire group based on gender. For example, the gender stereotype and role of women is that they are supposed to be shy, submissive, and do the cooking and cleaning. Men, on the other hand, are generally expected to be the ones to make money, be more physically strong, and do the fixing of the household according to their gender stereotype. The study- taking place in both 1983

Gender stereotypes have existed since the beginning of modern man. We've all heard them before; male dominance and female weakness, a controlled male and a flustered female, aggression and passion, and many others that all basically boil down to the same thing. Emily Martin, in her essay entitled The Egg and the Sperm, takes this problem of gender stereotype to a new and much more serious level. As an anthropologist, Martin is concerned with the socio-cultural impacts on many different aspects of everyday life, including biology. In doing her research for this article, Martin was trying to uncover suspicions she had about socio-cultural gender stereotypes, and the affects they had on the diction used to describe egg and sperm

Emily Martin’s reading about the egg and the sperm was interesting due to the fact that many people never notice how gender norms are portrayed in science. Science books are using metaphors within their text that reflect the socially constructed definitions of male and female. Martin points out that science is supporting the gender norm of women being less worthy than men in the way they describe the reproduction process. It is noted that after viewing different scientific texts about the reproductive system, none of them expressed enthusiasm for any female processes. In opposition, the male’s role is very much acknowledged and held to a high regard. Evidence of this difference is shown in the words that are used to describe each

Emily Martin, an anthropology professor at New York University, explores gender related indifferences males and females face through scientific research in her article, “The Egg and Sperm: How Science has Constructed a Romance Based on Stereotypical Male – Female Roles”. Throughout her findings, she attempts to explain the scientific language of our biology. Martin argues that traditionally texts and findings define eggs and sperm as feminine and masculine characteristics. By ways of contrast, Martin approaches the sperm and the egg argument in context related to societal beliefs, which suggests that stereotypes in terms of cultural aspects define masculine and feminine roles. She disputes the argument of the sperm being seen as the “aggressor and powerful one,” as opposed to the egg, which is seen as “weak and in distress” (Martin, 2013, p. 119). Despite all the women’s movements and fights for equal rights women have been continuously oppressed based on physical characteristics. Martin provides numerous

The hierarchical aspect of America’s contemporary gender system is reinforced through the use of language. We frequently associate biology and the sciences with objectivity, but in “The egg and the Sperm,” Emily Martin argues that it is not outside the socially constructed idea of gender (485). The association of gender norms at the cellular level suggests that the process of gendering is natural beyond alteration; yet, this is merely a result of the implantations of social imagery on representations of nature. Literary works can subtly emphasize the stereotypical differences between males and females in a way that goes unnoticed, consequently ingraining these concepts into our brain and thought processes. In many biological texts, the egg is described as “drift(ing)” and being “swept” throughout the process (Martin 489). This denotes passiveness—a clearly feminine characteristic that society would deem to be appropriate for women. On the other hand, the sperm “streamlines” and

In an attempt to eliminate stereotypes, women have fought and made a place for themselves in a ¨man’s world¨ only to find themselves living a double life. Women have a harder time than males living up to society’s stereotypes. Media and social pressure have caused women to fill, not only traditional female roles, but expectations of society. Women are expected to be feminine and proper while also being able to maintain a steady job, On the other hand, men have been relieved of most of the hunting and gathering stereotypes and the pressure is on them to allow women to fill their traditional roles. The new stereotype of a woman is a feminine traditional male.

Gender stereotypes are mostly taken for granted at a young age: girls are told to play with dolls and boys are told to play with trucks. But as children grow older they find themselves in a world where the reality of gender roles and stereotypes aren’t acknowledged, and the illusion of gender neutrality is commended. If gender roles are becoming more neutral, then it would follow that gender role stereotypes are also becoming more lax. However, in actuality this is not true.

When thinking of gender roles in society, stereotypes generally come to mind. Throughout history these stereotypes have only proven to be true. Major historical events have had a huge impact on the way men and women are seen and treated. In this way, women have always been secondary to males and seen as the fragile counterparts whose job is to take care of the household and most importantly, be loyal to her husband no matter the circumstance. Gender roles throughout history have greatly influenced society. The slow progress of woman’s rights throughout humanities led to an explosion of woman’s rights throughout the 20th century and that trend will only continue on into the rest of the 21st century.

     For many years society has embraced the idea that the difference between men and women were biologically determined. Thou through traditions, media, and peers we act accordingly to how others view us. Each individual has pressure placed upon them based on their gender. Our sex is determined by genetics while our gender is programmed by social customs. Some theories interpret that a women is tender and a loving mother while on the other hand men are aggressive hunters and are the dominant one of the family. People who support this theory seems to believe that men and women are happier when fulfilling the roles nature determined for them. Women are to be nurturing and men are to be providers by

Typically, females are seen as weaker than males. Males are assumed to be more "heartless" and lacking in fashion sense. Women are usually thought of as the nurturer of the family whereas males are the provider. Historically, these beliefs would be fairly accurate due to the common practice of the time. For instance, being a housewife and bearing children were once the only duties socially acceptable for women to perform. However, times have changed and society continues to evolve. Today, a stay at home father is not unheard of, female athletes are quite common and having a good sense of fashion is an expectation of both genders. Gender stereotypes are quickly becoming a thing of the past as both women and men fill roles society once set aside for one gender or the

Throughout history, as well as in modern society, gender roles and stereotypes are prevalent and considered somewhat mandated for a cohesive lifestyle, however, that is not the case. Gender-roles teach individuals to live in a constricted mold, hand crafted by extremists that believe all members of a specific gender should act a certain way. For example, the stereotype that all males should be tough, show little to no emotion, and men are insensitive is not always going to be true. Likewise, the stereotype that all females are going to be ladylike, sweet, and household oriented with little concern for education or careers is just as foolish of a thought. The socialization of these gender roles starts from the time parents know the sex of their

This paper explores various facets of gender roles in order to understand this topic such as what role males and females are expected to play in today's society, how gender roles are decided, affected and exaggerated by stereotyping. Futhermore, this paper will draw attention towards how stereotyping leads to gender biases.

Gender roles have held a dominant position in our society since the beginning of humanity. From birth children learn from their parents and society what “feminine” and “masculine” consist of and the responsibilities that come with either one. Gender, rather than being a biological concept is cultural one, varying from culture to culture. Both males and females are categorized by certain mannerisms, behaviors, and interests that society has set forth expecting them to follow such rules. Women are expected to play the role of a housewife making sure the home is a livable space and taking of the children while on the other hand, men are expected to be the ones who provide income for the family.