Throughout
the Second Sex on the biology chapter,
we learn that society has put females as the other sex because of their passive
status in reproduction. The text states “the male acts as a stimulator,” the
female is “rather passive,” and “the male deposits his sperm; the female
receives it” (35). De Beauvoir brings up these points to show that society has
put this essence of passiveness upon females. She states that “the male imposes
himself on her… he who takes her: she is taken” (35). This essence of the male
being the active role distorts the biological thinking of the reproduction
systems. The term “woman” does define itself as simply having an ovary. That
definition “confines her in her sex” (21). De Beauvoir attacks these statements
because the essence of man being the better sex distorts their conclusions.
Rather
than observing it in this given way, we can see that males and females are
“inextricably linked” (32). Both need each other to continue the existence of
their species; their functions are equal. “Without the egg’s prescience, the
sperm’s actions would be useless; but without the latter’s initiative, the egg
would not accomplish its vital potential” (29). We define the species, but we
do not define the individuals on the matters of sexual reproductive
differences. Even though male and female reproductive systems differ, they play
significant and equal roles.
Throughout
the text, it explains that society assumes the role of male’s reproductive
systems comes first and has more importance because it seems to be the active
role. Biological data and observations still do not have the evidence to claim
this, but only prove that their systems are “perfectly symmetrical” (27). They
fail to recognize the equality in their roles and purposes of both the male and
female. They only observe with the essence in mind that females always play the
passive role and are subsequently the lower sex. De Beauvoir concludes “fundamentally
the role of the two gametes is identical; together they create a living being
in which both of them lose and surpass themselves” (29). The text continues to
points out that the active role of the sperm does not initiate the “living
spark,” but “it springs forth from their meetings” (27). We understand that
both the egg and the sperm’s functions are equal. The males assign the passive
role to the females, but truly both systems need the other for the existence of
their species.
The
equality of the different roles of the male and female reveals its
significance, which recognizes the differences of the reproductive systems is
essential, but does define one as the lower component. Reproductive means alone
cannot properly define these individuals. Society gives women the title of the
Other. We see that women are given this essence of being the passive role, but
this incorrectly defines women and improperly differentiates them from men. Thus,
the claim of women being the “second sex” does not reinforce itself by the
biological data of reproduction.
I agree with Liezel when she says the biological information does not support the idea of women being a second sex. Although society has allocated women as the Other and therefore fulfilling the passive role, De Beauvoir states the "transmission of hereditary characteristics takes place equally from the father and the mother" (27). The importance of this shows that neither gamete overpowers the other, meaning that technically one is not more passive nor more active than the other. If they persist equally, though, why is it that the women is placed in this role of the Other?
ReplyDeleteIn regard to the passive and active roles prescribed to the female and male gametes respectively, I found it interesting that even "when the ovum was recognized as an active principle, men continued to pit its inertia against the agility of the sperm,"(26). This idea of defining something in terms of what it is not was also evident in the introduction, when De Beauvoir uses similar methodology to define woman as Other.
ReplyDeleteAs Liezel, Iska, and Kyra all state, "...it would not be possible to posit the primacy of one sex concerning the role it plays in perpetuating the species" (47). Because biology is not enough to determine what woman is, than she says that woman "has lived a reality only taken on by consciousness through actions and within a society" (48). So if Biology is not an excuse for the mistreatment of women, than one would think that the Feminist Movement would have had an easier time establishing societal equality. Unfortunately, as Kyra says, woman become defined by something that it is not, which exemplifies how difficult this battle for equality is.
ReplyDeleteLiezel, I think your post relates well to this idea also of there being higher and lower forms of life. You mostly talk about humans who are on the "top" of this spectrum. The top is where "life becomes more individual"(31). Also, this is where it becomes more about "he who takes her"(33). It is interesting to compare this to the bottom of the spectrum where it is more about, "the female takes precedence over everything else since it is above all the ovum that is dedicated to the sheer repetition of life" (31). So in the lower forms it is all about the female whereas in the higher forms we see this seeming dominance by males. But I like that you point out that though it may appear this way, the act of reproduction is still something that takes male and female in some sort of equality.
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