The Egg and the Sperm (Signs, 1991)

Flat minimalist illustration of an open academic journal with a magnifying glass resting on it, plain off-white background, bold graphic style, limited palette of deep red (#B03A32) and black, no people, no readable text, square composition

Anthropologist Emily Martin analysed how medical and biology textbooks describe fertilisation, and found them full of gendered romance: an active, heroic sperm and a passive egg waiting to be rescued, even when the science said otherwise.

A short, eye opening read on how cultural stereotypes shape what counts as scientific fact, and a great companion to Unwell Women and Invisible Women.

Read the paper

Facebook
Pinterest
LinkedIn
Twitter
Email

Leave a Reply