Sexism In Gattaca The Movie

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Is a human being defined solely by his or her genetic makeup, or do other factors play a part? If so, do those factors have to be tangible, like environment, or can they be more nebulous, like spirit? In the 1997 film, Gattaca, the writer and director Andrew Niccol imagines a “not-too-distant future” in which it is possible to genetically engineer children with desired characteristics such as height, hair color or IQ. Even though the ability to create customized human beings exists, some people are born the old-fashioned way. The old and the new methods do not coexist comfortably. The genetically engineered subjects become an elite while the traditionally created people form an underclass with limited opportunities in this new society. The character of Vincent, conceived without technological intervention, has physical limitations and imperfections. He is small, he has a weak heart, and the chances of him surviving past thirty are slim. However, his fragile heart harbors big dreams and his sickly body cannot restrict his perseverance. Maybe it is in his genetic makeup to have this strong personality and drive. But the society in which he lives values only those genetic factors that make a person strong and long lived. Eventually, the idea that it’s appropriate to discriminate against an individual based on the …show more content…

He meets and assumes the identity of a former swimming champion named Jerome, who has internalized this ideal of perfection that when he takes silver instead of gold in a competition, he is so devastated he attempts suicide. Was this melancholy mindset part of his genetic makeup along with his athleticism, height and intelligence? Perhaps, but then why didn’t the genetic forecaster at birth predict his suicidal tendencies? In the real world, as in Gattaca, it may be that our ability to manipulate reproductive technology is outpacing our understanding of the

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