Educating in the Divine Image by Gorsetman Chaya Rosenfeld;Sztokman Elana Maryles;

Author:Gorsetman, Chaya Rosenfeld;Sztokman, Elana Maryles;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Brandeis University Press

In this class, the girls’ bodies are the object of scientific study, described in the cold, authoritarian language of medical science. There is an understated hierarchy of knowledge, in which the doctor informs the nurse who tells the girl what her body is to become. Here, girls’ future sexual activity is both implied and absent. The authoritarianism overlaps with the covering of the female body, and the absence of female subjectivity. Indeed, there is no discussion of desire, feeling, or sensation, nor even a mention of how sex happens. It is also male-centered: when the nurse asked, “What’s the function of the vagina?” the girls giggled—until she answered herself, “It’s the opposing organ”— as if girls’ entire function in life is to oppose men. Female sexuality here is covered, medicalized, functional, other centered, and suspiciously absent of sensation.

One slide showed a side view of a woman’s body, with arrows and names of different organs. Shoshi, a young teacher, interrupted the nurse and said, “This is called the clitoris. It’s an organ that causes women to have pleasure during sex. Of course in marriage. There are some tribes in Africa that want to take away the pleasure from women so they won’t go with other men, but of course that’s cruel.” Girls became animated, asking “Really? Where?” but the nurse quickly changed the slide. Shoshi said, “Wait, go back to the last slide.” The nurse turned back for a brief moment as girls quizzed Shoshi, but then the nurse took over and moved on. The power play between the nurse and Shoshi ended in a tie.

A slide came on with a view of a vagina of a woman with her legs straddled. Girls said, “Ich!!!” Before the nurse spoke, Shoshi said, “There are times when it’s embarrassing, but it’s important for us to know our bodies and not be afraid of our bodies.” Math teacher Sara interrupted and said to these 12–13 year olds, “If you want to become a mother, you have to know this.” The nurse said, “Some of you have already got your period.” Suddenly Sara asked, “Let them raise their hands! I want to know how many girls here are getting their periods!” Girls did not raise their hands but looked at each other anxiously.

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