In reading “The egg
and the sperm” by Emily Martin and “Twilight
vs. Hunger Games” by Noah Berlatsky I think that both authors want to show
the ways why and how we see gender roles. In Berlatskys’ article he talks about
the main characters from each movie and how they are portrayed. In Twilight
Bella’s character is classified as “girly” and helpless she is clumsy and can’t
do anything to save herself. He also mentions that all she thinks about are
they boys in her life and marriage. Throughout the books, she is deemed useless
and as Berlatsky said in his article “an utter mess.” In The Hunger Games the
main character Katniss is the complete opposite of Bella she kills to save her
life and the life of people she cares about. She wasn’t as worried about boys
as Bella was even though there were guys who liked her. Berlatsky later goes on
to say that Bella becomes a powerful being to save her life and the life of people
she wants to protect. Katniss goes on to pick Peeta because she wanted someone
who was the opposite of her someone that was kind and someone who was domestic.
The two switch roles between being feminine and masculine but both movies and stories
show how both are needed at some point. In Martins’ “The egg and the sperm” she talks about the
effects of society and science make the reproductive organs of both male and
female seem totally distant from each other. She talks about how in textbooks
the male reproductive organs are seen as being more valuable than that of the woman’s.
She goes on to give us information about how in other texts the female process of
making eggs is just not depicted with much enthusiasm as that of the making of
sperm. In all Martin is trying to say that society’s view on the reproductive
systems of both men and women the males will be seen as more important than
that of the females because of the stereotypical view that society has imposed.
Both authors want to show that women have a major part to play in society too
that women can be seen as “girly” but that they also can be brute and
independent. Both articles want us readers to know that women play a big part
in society and that women are just as important as men.
In Berlatsky's 'Twilight' vs 'Hunger Games' article, he discusses feminism and how Bella is the more girly type and weak, yet I would have to disagree with him on that. Many feminists are portrayed as girly yet fight strong for many battles(non physical in real life of course) such as for equal pay or for the rights of their own body. Katniss is portrayed as a tomboy in Hunger Games and I feel Berlatsky idols her as the "ideal" feminist, e.g. not having sex, not thinking about guys, or radically not wanting to get pregnant just because it wouldn't be what a feminist does.
ReplyDeleteIn Noah Berlatsky’s ‘Twilight’ vs. ‘Hunger Games’: Why Do So Many Grown-Ups Hate Bella? Article about feminism and how the characters Bella and Katniss differentiate from one another. I feel as though Berlatsky’s argument is a bit one sided favoring Katniss more than Bella. While yes, Katniss does fit Berlatsky’s “ideal” feminist a lot more than Bella by being strong, independent and “manly”. Throughout the article Berlatsky constantly shits on Bella, because she’s weak, dependent on her boyfriends and “girly”. In the end of their respected series their roles are switched. Katniss chooses a man and starts a family something Berlatsky pointed out as girly. Bella turns into a vampire, this makes her strong, independent (because she’s immortal) and what Berlatsky would consider “manly”. How Berlatsky sees the ideal feminist hurts this article a lot. With that aside, I would love to see “Katniss the Vampire Hunter”.
ReplyDeleteI believe that both “The Egg and The Sperm” and “Twilight v. Hunger games” the authors are showing how gender roles are incorporated into what we are taught and our entertainment. I think that both of these authors used their articles to reject gender roles. In “The Egg and the sperm” Emily Martin explains how scientist use terminology to make women appear lesser than men in reproduction which is a cultural representation also. Scientist describe and egg as a damsel in distress waiting for a sperm to save it from dying and the sperm as the hero and the one who does all of the action. Martin goes through the whole article with background information on why the roles are equal asking why are people still seeing the sperm as superior. Martin wants the cultural influence on reproductive organs to be equal as they both contribute and are active in the fertilization process much like in life.
ReplyDeleteIn the article “Twilights v. Hunger games” the author is also rejecting gender norms as Bella is the example of the damsel in distress needing the protection and love of Edward. While Katniss is the opposite being independent and strong. The author relates both Bella and Katniss to modern day feminism but she doesn’t disown one for being wrong and one being right but instead gives these examples to show that you can do what you want as a woman. Women can be strong. Independent and still want to love and have a family while women can also be a damsel in distress for love and be fierce.