Reading Response #3
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Cohn’s discussion of male power through sexual dominance in the nuclear field and its results for discourse, and consequentially the roles of women, is significant. Reinforced by language, the phallic missile serves as an expression of male sexual dominance. Cohn acknowledges, “an important aspect of the arms race was phallic worship” (Cohn). Representing male power, the structural design of nuclear missiles ignores the power of women by failing to symbolize the woman. Notice in the image that all of the characters are saluting the missile, which looks obviously phallic and symbolizes people respecting male power. Additionally, a woman, who is pressured to remain conservative due to societal standards, also faces a catch-22 situation when introduced to the language of phallic power and masculine sexual dominance in nuclear discourse. Though, Cohn wanted to learn the language because when she didn't use it, the men thought she was "ignorant or simpleminded" (Cohn). This may be due to the men thinking that they are ultimately right and people need to conform to them, which is another ongoing theme. This then creates a stereotype for this industry which may prevent women from wanting to join, as we saw in Geek Mythology. The fact that it is all male figures in the cartoon also shows that women are not welcome in the atomic science field. This focus around male dominance in nuclear discourse all contributes to the exclusion of women in the atomic science field, which is largely dominated by men.
Photo: Tom Herzberg, United States
Another interesting aspect that Cohn brings up in her article is about “patting the bomb,” which not only reverts back to the idea of phallic worship, but also touches on the idea of male power as humane and natural. Notice again that the only character in the image is a male, ignoring the role of women. Furthermore, his hand placement on the phallic missile suggests a sexual power that is considered natural; if not a sexual power, then a patriarchal power of a paternalistic figure controlling something so powerful as a nuclear bomb. In any case, the imagery serves as promoting patriarchy, which has been discussed in class as a form of oppression for women in the STEM field. Cohn’s explanation of the patting of the bomb and its representation of male dominance on page 19 suggests that the nuclear field is a “competition for manhood,” and consequentially denies women a place at the table (Cohn). Lastly, if women were pictured patting phallic objects, the overt sexuality of the image would likely dismiss the credibility of the woman due to societal double standards regarding sexual expression. Though, as we discussed in class, women could be used as eye-candy for the men in the workplace. So, males can sexualize women workers, but those women shouldn't be sexual themselves according to many people. This image essentially shows that women are excluded from nuclear discourse based on the simple structure of language and its inherent bias toward men.
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This is an image of Asch's conformity study which is what I automatically thought of when reading this article. Reading this article reminded me of Psychology 101 and how it is human nature for people to conform to others in a group and the need to feel included (McLeod). Cohn describes how although she was "startled by the combination of dry abstraction and odd imagery...[her] attention was quickly focused on decoding and learning to speak it" (Cohn). In a field where women are not as represented, women might desire to fit in and will do anything to achieve that. This is something that doesn't apply to just STEM fields, but any area where women aren't as represented. This is something I have experienced at my work. While I did not work in a place that was technology-related, I still worked mostly with males. My desire to fit in and the social pressure I was facing made me conform to the group and I lost some individuality, which Cohn also experienced. It is unfair to make women change who they are in order to be accepted in a workplace.
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Continuing on the topic of the exclusion of women in nuclear discourse through the language of male sexuality the language serves as a way for men to take away a right that is exclusively given to women. Considering bombs as significantly important, bombs are given names as babies of scientists. Cohn says that this is, “men’s desire to appropriate from women the power of giving life” (Cohn, 20). This picture of Nagasaki illustrates the pure destruction and death that results from nuclear weapons, and erases any notion of an ability to provide life. In this way, it refutes the idea that men have the capacity to give life, and instead only take it.Still, the discourse continues to paint bombs in a humane light. The problem that arises from this is that in men’s attempt to create a legacy of life in relation to the bomb, it pushes women from the picture by ignoring their unique ability to produce life. This is a form of patriarchal oppression, which we have discussed at length in class, as it seeks to steal a valuable trait away from women. While this seems trivial, it is just another way that men attempt to take power from women in the STEM fields.
Works Cited:
Cohn, Carol. "Slick 'Ems, Glick 'Ems, Christmas Trees, and
Cookie Cutters: Nuclear Language and How We Learned to Pat the Bomb."
Slick'ems, Glick'ems, Christmas Trees, and Cookie Cutters: Nuclear Language
and How We Learned to Pat the Bomb. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists,
26 May 1996. Web. 11 May 2015.
McLeod, Saul. "Asch Experiment | Simply Psychology." Asch Experiment
| Simply Psychology. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2015.
