Rosanna Hertz and Margaret K. Nelson
- Published in print:
- 2019
- Published Online:
- October 2018
- ISBN:
- 9780190888275
- eISBN:
- 9780190888305
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780190888275.003.0002
- Subject:
- Sociology, Marriage and the Family, Gender and Sexuality
Chapter 1 describes how parents choose a sperm donor with which to conceive a child. It shows that all parents take into account a similar range of factors as they select from among the available ...
More
Chapter 1 describes how parents choose a sperm donor with which to conceive a child. It shows that all parents take into account a similar range of factors as they select from among the available donor profiles. Parents choose donors with traits they believe will secure advantage for their children; they also choose donors with traits they believe fit well with the families they are creating. They choose among the types of donors available, including known donors, anonymous donors, and identity-release donors. The choices made before conception enable intending parents to express their taste and values and through that expression to make the child their own. All of the parents interviewed disclosed donor conception to their children. Both the variety of types of donors and the variety of information about individual donors have increased over time in response to consumer preferences.Less
Chapter 1 describes how parents choose a sperm donor with which to conceive a child. It shows that all parents take into account a similar range of factors as they select from among the available donor profiles. Parents choose donors with traits they believe will secure advantage for their children; they also choose donors with traits they believe fit well with the families they are creating. They choose among the types of donors available, including known donors, anonymous donors, and identity-release donors. The choices made before conception enable intending parents to express their taste and values and through that expression to make the child their own. All of the parents interviewed disclosed donor conception to their children. Both the variety of types of donors and the variety of information about individual donors have increased over time in response to consumer preferences.
