| Abstrakt: |
In this article, I compare conceptions from literature and science to map out the emergent social phenomenon of parthenogenesis, a new cloning technique for growing embryos from unfertilized human ova. Answering Squier?s (1999) call to critique science from the vantage of feminist literary criticism, I trace depictions of parthenogenesis as mechanisms of species reproduction in feminist and women-authored fiction over the last 90 years. I identify six themes from feminist fiction about parthenogenesis: reproduction is decoupled from male-female fertilization; reproduction is decoupled from men; reproduction is separated from motherhood, reproduction is separated from (hetero)sexuality; women choose to live in a man-free society; parthenogenetic embryos are legitimate human beings. These six themes contrast with scientists? renderings that parthenogenesis is an ethical cloning option and produces parthenotes, which are not legitimate forms of human life. However, the six themes are reflected in media and bioethcists? accounts of parthenogenesis in the form of backlash against a potential women and/or lesbian-only society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
