Emily Martin: The Egg and the Sperm Essay

It is human nature to place confidence into science because it is heavily researched and comprehend as the truth. However, Emily Martin shows that the female role in the reproductive process is non thoroughly depicted. Martin said, part of my goal in writing this article is to polish a bright light on the gender stereotypes hidden at heart the scientific lyric of biology. This article demonstrates how the female role in the reproductive cycle is just as insistent, if not more, as the males role. Emily Martin proposes that science defines women as having a non-active and less significant role in the reproductive process.The role in which women play in the cycle of career is depicted through science as far more inactive function than that of the male. The ballock is seen as passive. It does not move and is transported along the fallopian tube. In contrast, spermatozoonatozoon are seen as active. They deliver their genes to the egg and development starts. Martin summons Ger ald Schatten and Helen Schatten in that the egg acts as a Sleeping Beauty, a dormant bride awaiting her associates magic kiss, which instills spirit that brings her to life, while the sperm is on a mission to move through the female genital piece of land in quest of the ovum.However, through recent research, scientist concluded that the egg performs several(prenominal) functions and is quite active itself in the reproductive process. Before this research it was prospect that sperm were powerful penetrators capable of thrusting itself through the inner vestments of the egg. afterward much research, scientists in biophysics labs at Johns Hopkins University determined that the propelling force of the sperm is very weak, and that only through the adhesive molecules on the egg and sperm do the two stick.The zona acts as a sperm backstop and has to capture and tether the sperm before it can penetrate. But the almost active and interesting roll the egg plays is that it serves as a adv anced biological security system that screens incoming sperm, selects only those compatible with salad dressing and development, prepares sperm for fusion with the egg and later protects the resulting embryo from polyspermy. Here the egg plays three vital roles in the developmental process of the embryo. It chooses which sperm is well-suited, sets up the fertilization process, and protects the sperm through the whole process.The author was effective in providing textual examples of the scientific language that wrongly represents the female role in the reproductive cycle. She quotes medical textbooks as referring to the menstrual cycle as rubble of the uterine lining, the result of necrosis, or death of tissue. Martin goes on to counter this quote with an example of the positive language used to describe the sperm in saying, Whereas the female sheds only a single gamete each month, the seminiferous tubules advance hundreds of millions of sperm each day.Both quotes provide strong examples of the scientific language used. Quoting such language not only provides the audience with examples to better picture her point, but that because this information is coming from a medical textbook provides the commentator with confidence in the cited source. One way in which this scientific deviation can be improved is by teaching it at a young age. This could be done by implementing a forward-looking syllabus in sexual educational classes in public schools.It is important that the new curriculum use different language and metaphors to deter from the stereotypical put on of the reproduction process. This may at least curb the sexual mold of this subject to future generations. This article reveals how scientific language can score misconceptions about the truth about the sperm and the egg. Martin cautions us about metaphors in science. While many of us believe science to be doubtless true, bias can be lurking.