Sexist Language
...n increasing scientific knowledge. Martin and I share a view that gender emphasis placed on the egg and the sperm regresses society placing a passive stereotype on women. Martin wrote, “The egg is seen as large and passive. It does not move or journey, but passively “is transported,” is swept,” or even “drifts” along the fallopian tube.” This stereotype places a false stereotype on all women. The egg is commonly noted as she, or the product, or waste of women. There is a connection that scientists make that implies that the egg is the representation of women and their lives. The parallel of the lives of women and their eggs wouldn’t seem as bad if the comparison of sperm and men was less exaggerated and was as negative such as those of women. These minute stereotypes act as subliminal messages and discourages the equal society that women have worked hard to obtain. Young girls will read the science books and be forced to accept the description regressing society and minimizing the respect women deserve. Women deserve a better reputation as well as rights in society. Martin believes sexist language assists in decreasing women rights. Women have worked hard to emancipate themselves from the negative stereotypes of the past, especially the ones that are evident is science texts today. It is unfair to women to accept the definition of what is “natural” not just biologically but culturally. The story of conception, the joining and the relationship of the egg and the sperm are welcome by society. This story sets the dating standards for our society today. Women are to take the passive role and endure the aggressive male. There is biological evidence that demonstrates the egg and the sperm working together, mutually. Martin found that scientists have the information to prove the working relationship of the egg and the sperm but they chose to capitalize on the love story of the cellular entities. Martin wrote, “Clearly, this evidence shows that the egg and the sperm do interact on more mutual terms, making biology’s refusal to portray them that way all the more disturbing.” Still evident in all textbooks is a clear explanation of the egg and the sperm, stereotypical or not. I believe that sexist language assists in increasing scientific knowledge. Science is a difficult subject and is classified as a subjective course; rather than be unreliable science is based on fact. Textbooks and scholarly journals do describe the egg to have “feminine characteristics” and the sperm to have “masculine characteristics.” This characterization of the cellular egg and sperm make the actions and the purpose of ...