Built Women in Men’s Paradises: A Critical Analysis of the Garden of Eden Narrative and Alex Garland’s Ex Machina

Bringing the biblical story of the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2-3) into conversation with Alex Garland’s 2014 film Ex Machina, this paper examines and compares the male-scribed nature of paradise stories that describe the “building” of woman-creatures. From ancient Judean scribes to modern film-makers and computer coders, male-guarded forms of literacy enabled and continue to enable storytelling and world-building. A comparison of the accounts of the creation of Eve of the Garden with Ava of Ex Machina highlights that male control over literacy more generally and creation accounts more specifically yields diminished woman-creatures designed to serve the specific needs of men in male-imagined paradise settings. Although separated by millennia, ancient Judean scribes and modern computer programmers have imagined and built woman-creatures with a limited set of functions and programmed routines that include providing help, serving as a companion, and heterosexual receptivity.

Marxism as a part of the androcentric tradition: The feminist superstructure and the androcentric base

Androcentrism continues to be the basis for modern thinking, and the comprehension of its manifestations in the philosophical tradition appears to be a necessary step to change this situation. The purpose of this work is to analyze the theory of K. Marx for its androcentrism, to identify its significant provisions based on it. The analysis is built around testing how the “general” statements of Marx reflect women’s experience, how they are woven into the whole of the theory and how much they are substantiated by it. It was revealed that, firstly, Marx could not substantiate the position that the roots of oppression of women lie in the mode of production, since he did not consider the fact of higher pay for male labor to be significant, taking it for granted. Secondly, he did not consider the exploitation of “free” female labor in the family significant, and considered the primary division of labor within its framework to be natural. Thirdly, Marx was unable to detect the transformation of female bodies into a resource for men as a condition of capitalism because he did not see a problem in male control over female birth ability. The theory of Karl Marx, thus, is a part of the androcentric tradition and should be considered in science as such.

Abstract 29: Acute Systemic Treatment With Sphingosine -1- Phosphate Receptor 1 Agonist Diminishes Sex-difference In Renal Function Seen In Intrauterine Growth Restricted Mice.

IUGR is a risk factor for the early development of cardiorenal diseases in life. We previously showed that our IUGR mouse model exhibits sex differences in blood pressure (BP) and kidney functions as males have elevated BP and impaired kidney function while females are not. Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptor 1 (S1PR1) is reported to be involved in developing and progressing several cardiorenal diseases. We found that acute activation of S1PR1 transiently reduced BP in male IUGR; however, the effects of SIPR1 on renal function in IUGR are still unknown. We hypothesize that S1PR1 plays a role in the sex differences of impaired kidney function in IUGR. Here we investigated the acute effects of a specific S1PR1 agonist (SEW2178) on kidney function in IUGR offspring generated through placental insufficiency. Methods: C57BL IUGR or control offspring were obtained from the Reduced Uterine Perfusion Pressure (RUPP) or sham surgeries on the 13 th day of gestation. At 6 months, nephron number was measured by analyzing kidney histology while Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) was measured using FITC-Anulin decay after retroorbital injection. Mice were treated with 3mg/kg SEW2871 i.p before GFR measurement. Results: Both male and female IUGR had a decrease in nephron number compared to same-sex control (371.8± 28.8 vs 284.0± 11.3, P<0.01, male control vs IUGR) and (333.6±13.3 vs 256± 13.0, P<0.05, female control vs IUGR). Furthermore, IUGR impaired kidney function in male but not female mice as indicated by reduced GFR (8.9 ±0.6 vs 13.9±1.1 μL/min/kg BW, P<0.05, IUGR vs control males) and (12.3±0.9 vs 15.9 ±1.9 L/min/kg BW, control females vs IUGR). Administration of SEW2871 diminished the difference of GFR between male control and IUGR (9.5±0.6 vs 9.7±1.1 μL/min/kg BW, P> 0.05 control vs IUGR). While in females, both IUGR and control had a similar response to SEW2178 (7.4±1.0 vs 10.6 ±1.9 μL/min/kg BW, control vs. IUGR). Conclusion: IUGR impairs renal function in male offspring but not in females, indicating sex differences in fetal programming of kidney disease. Male and female IUGR offspring respond differently to acute systemic activation of S1PR1. Further studies are required to investigate the kidney-specific and cell-specific of S1PR1 activation/inhibition.

Divergent Gender Revolutions: Cohort Changes in Household Financial Management across Income Gradients

The ways in which partners manage their money provide important clues to gender inequality in and the nature of couple relationships. Analyzing data from nationally representative surveys ( N = 11,730 couples), I examine changes across British cohorts born between the 1920s and 1990s in their household financial management, and how the changes vary across individuals and couples occupying differential income positions. The results show divergent, nuanced cohort trends toward gender equality in couples’ money management. Across successive cohorts of low-earning women, there has been a subtle relaxation in the form of male control, reflected in a decrease in the proportion of men adopting “back-seat” management by retaining the majority of the couple’s money while delegating the chore of managing daily expenses to their partners. By contrast, the empowerment of high-earning women is reflected primarily in an individualization of financial management, evident in a cohort decrease in joint financial management and an increase in independent management. The trend of individualization is particularly prominent among couples in which both partners have equally high earnings. The findings provide new insights into and important extensions of the theorization of gender relations in and the individualization of couple relationships.

Women in Iranian Kurdistan: Patriarchy and the Quest for Empowerment

Informed by sociological standpoint, intersectional, and gender regime theories, we examine perceptions of a diverse sample of Iranian Kurdish women in the city of Sanandaj about their legal status and social positions. We find perceptions of injustice, oppression, male control, and lack of opportunity associated with both the family and broader society. Kurdish women are socially located in structures and institutions of both private and public patriarchy. At the same time, their growing educational attainment and knowledge of possibilities for change enable them not only to articulate grievances but also to aspire to, and sometimes engage in, collective action for women’s rights. By focusing on an under-studied region, this article contributes to the wider literature on Kurdish women, underscores the continued salience of intersectional and standpoint approaches, and expands gender regime theorizing beyond Western cases.

Changes in Microbial Community Composition Related to Sex and Colon Cancer by Nrf2 Knockout

The frequency of azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium (AOM/DSS)-induced carcinogenesis in male mice is higher than that in female mice. Previous studies have reported that 17β-estradiol inhibits tumorigenesis in males by modulating nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). This study aimed to investigate the changes in mouse gut microbiome composition based on sex, AOM/DSS-induced colorectal cancer (CRC), and Nrf2 genotype. The gut microbiome composition was determined by 16S rRNA gene sequencing fecal samples obtained at week 16 post-AOM administration. In terms of sex differences, our results showed that the wild-type (WT) male control mice had higher alpha diversity (i.e. Chao1, Shannon, and Simpson) than the WT female control mice. The linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) results revealed that the abundances of Akkermansia muciniphila and Lactobacillus murinus were higher in WT male control mice than in WT female controls. In terms of colon tumorigenesis, the alpha diversity of the male CRC group was lower than that of the male controls in both WT and Nrf2 KO, but did not show such changes in females. Furthermore, the abundance of A. muciniphila was higher in male CRC groups than in male controls in both WT and Nrf2 KO. The abundance of Bacteroides vulgatus was higher in WT CRC groups than in WT controls in both males and females. However, the abundance of L. murinus was lower in WT female CRC and Nrf2 KO male CRC groups than in its controls. The abundance of A. muciniphila was not altered by Nrf2 KO. In contrast, the abundances of L. murinus and B. vulgatus were changed differently by Nrf2 KO depending on sex and CRC. Interestingly, L. murinus showed negative correlation with tumor numbers in the whole colon. In addition, B. vulgatus showed positive correlation with inflammatory markers (i.e. myeloperoxidase and IL-1β levels), tumor numbers, and high-grade adenoma, especially, developed mucosal and submucosal invasive adenocarcinoma at the distal part of the colon. In conclusion, Nrf2 differentially alters the gut microbiota composition depending on sex and CRC induction.

Mating duration and prolonged post-copulatory associations in Arrenurus water mites (Actinotrichida: Parasitengonina: Hydrachnidiae)

Conflicts of interest between the sexes over control of mating can be reflected in various aspects of morphology and behaviour, including structure of genitalia and copulation duration. In Arrenurus water mites (Hydrachnidia: Arrenuridae) there are two main patterns of sperm transfer that differ in degree of potential male control of sperm uptake by females. In some species, males are equipped with an intromittent organ (the "petiole") that is used to forcefully insert sperm into the female reproductive tract. In others, males lack an intromittent organ and females appear to push sperm into their reproductive opening themselves. Theory suggests that the amount of time spent in courtship after sperm transfer should differ between males with and without an intromittent structure. We predicted that male Arrenurus able to push sperm into the female's reproductive tract (petiolate males) should spend less time courting females after transferring sperm than apetiolate males, which may have to "convince" females to take up their sperm. Here, we examined durations of mating for 10 species of Arrenurus with males that differ in genital morphology: six species with males equipped with a well developed petiole (= "petiolate" species) and four species with males that either completely lack a petiole or have a minute peg-like petiole that does not appear to function as an intromittent organ (= "apetiolate" species). We tested whether males of petiolate species spend less time in the stage of courtship that takes place after sperm transfer (= "post-transfer courtship") than apetiolate males. In contrast to our prediction, we found that species with well developed petioles spent significantly more time in post-transfer behaviours than species lacking petioles. The possible function of protracted post-transfer courtship in the genus Arrenurus is discussed.

Empagliflozin Effectively Attenuates Olanzapine-Induced Body Weight Gain in Female Wistar Rats

Atypical antipsychotic drugs are commonly associated with undesirable side effects including body weight gain (BWG) and metabolic deficits. Many pharmacological interventions have been tested in an attempt to minimize or prevent these side effects. Preliminary evidence suggests that antidiabetic drugs may be effective in attenuating antipsychotic-induced BWG. In the current study, we examined the effect of an antidiabetic drug empagliflozin (EMPA) on BWG induced by anatypical antipsychotic drug olanzapine (Ola) in female and male Wistar rats. Rats were divided into six groups based on the dose they received: group 1 (female control), group 2 (female EMPA, 20 mg/kg; IG), group 3 (female Ola, 4 mg/kg; IP), group 4 (female Ola, 4 mg/kg; IP + EMPA, 20 mg/kg; IG), group 5 (male control), and group 6 (male Ola, 4 mg/kg; IP). Ola induced sustained increase in BWG. The subsequent treatment of Group 3 and 4 with EMPA attenuated the Ola-induced BWG in female Wistar rats. In terms of the gender difference between female and male Wistar rats, the male control group 5 gained more weight throughout the study as compared to the female control group 1. Similarly, the male Ola group 6 gained more weight throughout the study as compared to the female Ola group 3. However, Ola did not cause any weight difference between male rats treated with Ola in comparison with male control group, thus showing a significant gender difference regarding body weight between male and female Wistar rats regardless of Ola administration. In addition, the present findings showed that EMPA effectively attenuates the Ola induced BWG in female Wistar rats. These novel findings should help to better understand the underlying molecular and behavioral mechanisms contributing to the observed increase in body weight after treatment with Ola and other atypical antipsychotic drugs across male and female rats.

Patriarchy Redux?

This chapter identifies two primary mechanisms that could lead to antifeminist backlash. The first is declining male economic status. Globally, men are losing earning power due to deindustrialization in the Global North and rising unemployment in the Global South. Unemployed and underemployed men lose power within their families, particularly if the wife becomes the primary breadwinner. Men react to this loss of status by turning conservative and striving to reconstruct traditional gender roles. This leads to fights against reproductive rights and in favor of traditional religion. Male resentment from lost earning power also leads to domestic abuse and sexism on its own. It increases societal violence, which leads to sexual violence and male control of women. The chapter then looks at antifeminism in Poland, Yemen, Kenya, Central America, and Argentina.

Abducting Children Abroad: Gender, Power, and Transnational Mobility in Immigrant Family Conflicts

Utilizing life story interviews of immigrant women whose children were abducted by abusive (ex-)husbands, the article unpacks a three-part pattern of transnational mobility: first, husbands apply strategies of coercive control to dominate wives in Denmark; second, wives draw on Scandinavian “woman-friendly” state support to challenge men and seek divorce; and third, men try to regain control through abducting children to the Middle East, seeking to blackmail mothers into leaving Denmark and resubmitting themselves to male control. While some wives accede to their husband’s demands, others skillfully manage to “re-abduct” children back to Denmark, thereby belying the trope of the victimized immigrant woman.