From egg & sperm to reconceiving medical education: Why teaching about metaphor is essential to remedy injustice

Abstract

This essay examines the lasting impact of Emily Martin's groundbreaking 1991 work, "The Egg and the Sperm," by tracing the role of metaphors in science and medicine. Through interviews with Martin, the authors create an intellectual lineage for the essay and explore its contemporary significance. They emphasize Martin's call to "wake up sleeping metaphors" and propose integrating metaphor analysis into medical education. This approach aims to help healthcare professionals recognize and interpret metaphors, which shape our understanding of biology and can introduce bias, thereby enhancing the quality of patient care.