CRj #5

CRJ #5

The dominating theme I have noticed over the past readings is that society and culture have ways of overpowering biology and nature in almost every aspect of life. While science tells us that DNA and genes determine our appearance and sex, society has the means to suppress the natural indicators genetics presents and morph them into acceptable gender roles and sexual scripts. Cultural ties have become so strong that I don’t believe it’s possible to know to what forms of human sexuality would occur outside a societal zone.

There is no dominate proof that genetics control human psychology; there is proof that genetics are a minuscule influence. Identical twins have equivalent DNA, but identical twins never have the same personality. From birth, the twins grow as two separate human beings, each experiencing the world and society in their own way. This is a common fact, yet still science searches for ways to link biology and genetics to psychology and human behavior. Research is currently being down to find a “homosexual” gene, but is it really possible that one exists? Can science control who is homosexual or not? If such a hypothetical gene existed would society then urge science to find a “cure”? Bell Hooks mentions in her article, “Romance: Sweet Love”, that generally everyone wants to “fall in love” (188), but that encompass many of the fears instilled in especially women from childhood. These fears include; not finding a soul mate, not being pretty enough to be loved, and that they are unlovable. I know that these fears do exist, and I can say that I myself have thought about the from time to time, what I wonder about is if these fears exist, why do people continue to judge others’ love? The idea of falling in love and love in of itself is scary, so why should society judge with whom someone falls in love? Both the articles “Biphobia” by Deilhl and Ochs and “La Guera” by Moraga showed the amount of hate and fear towards those who chose to love a bit differently from the societal norm. I found it disgusting how people could be judged as unfit parents, intellectuals, and human beings based on their lovers. I found the “Biphobia” to be especially interesting since the fear and negativity was not generated from heterosexuals alone, but from the homosexual community as well. It’s strange to for me to think that those who would be very used to having the societal pressures upon them would then in turn place them on another group. There needs to be a balance where we can all coexist.

*Interesting side note: today in Honors Biology we learned about pseudohermaphrodite: women that are genetically male (XY chromosomes), but due to a missing enzyme that processes testosterone, these males actually mature as females with complete outward female sex organs. While there is only a 1 in 20,000 chance of a woman being as pseudohermaphrodite, 80% of runway models actually have the disorder. Funny how men continually find ways to dominate the image of an ideal woman?