It is customary to differentiate male and female genders in terms of typical features that include chromosomal
gender (XX for girls, and XY for boys); ovaries and clitoris in women, testes and penis in males; and
testosterone active role in masculinization, and its absence in feminization. Nevertheless, there are some
situations where the person is known to have an intersex condition in which visible genitals do not reflect his or her real gender. Describe two syndromes that embody this intersex condition in an APA essay.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Essay: Exploring Intersex Conditions: Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome and Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
Introduction
In the realm of human biology, the concept of gender has long been associated with binary distinctions — male and female. However, the existence of intersex conditions challenges this traditional binary understanding by highlighting the complexities of biological sex variations. Intersex individuals are born with atypical combinations of chromosomes, gonads, or genitalia that do not fit typical definitions of male or female. This essay aims to delve into two syndromes that exemplify intersex conditions — Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS) and Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH).
Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS)
Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS) is a genetic intersex condition where individuals with XY chromosomes have a partial or complete insensitivity to androgens, resulting in atypical development of their external genitalia. In AIS, the body’s cells are unable to respond to testosterone, the male sex hormone, leading to the development of typically female external genitalia despite having XY chromosomes. Individuals with complete AIS may have a female appearance, including breasts and minimal body hair, but have internal testes instead of ovaries.
Moreover, individuals with AIS may identify as female, despite their genetic makeup. This incongruence between chromosomal, gonadal, and phenotypic sex characteristics underscores the complexity of gender identity beyond traditional male-female dichotomies.
Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)
Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) is another intersex condition caused by genetic variations affecting the adrenal glands’ ability to produce cortisol and aldosterone. In individuals with CAH, there is a deficiency in the enzymes necessary for cortisol synthesis, leading to an excess production of androgens (male hormones) in utero. This prenatal androgen exposure can result in ambiguous genitalia in individuals with XX chromosomes.
For individuals with CAH, the degree of virilization of external genitalia can vary, ranging from mild clitoral enlargement to more pronounced ambiguity. The interplay between genetic predispositions and hormonal influences highlights the intricate nature of sexual development and the spectrum of biological sex variations beyond the binary model.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS) and Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) are two syndromes that exemplify the complexity of intersex conditions, challenging conventional notions of binary gender distinctions. These conditions underscore the importance of recognizing and respecting diverse expressions of gender identity and the multifaceted nature of biological sex variations. By shedding light on the intricate interplay between genetics, hormones, and phenotypic expression, we can foster a more inclusive and understanding society that embraces the diversity of human experiences.
