Justin D’Souza                                                                               About 160 words   SUNY Geneseo                                                                                                           INTD 105 Science Writing

Haraway’s “Cyborg”

By Justin D’Souza

The word “cyborg” evokes images of strange human hybrids, products of an apocalyptic future. Yet, feminist Donna Haraway envisions the cyborg as a being that unites humans and animals, challenges the conventional definition of identity, and exemplifies how modern technology has blurred traditional boundaries between humanity and our universe. She hopes her “Cyborg myth” conveys “transgressed boundaries,” leading us to reject traditional separation of “mind and body, animal and machine.” She argues these false dualisms frequently emerge in socialist and feminist thinkers; therefore, she finds flaws with current ideology. To her, feminism must not be rooted in Marxist labor class struggles, but novel technological breakthroughs that will redefine gender, race, and class.

I wonder if today’s changes in both cybernetics and social thought regarding feminism and liberal policies have caused Haraway to revise her theory. Her ideas can be applied to our objects, as she conveys the benefits of blurring boundaries between humans and nature, just as the Arboretum sign encourages coexistence between humans and trees.