Donor Conception: Genetic connections in contemporary family life
Part of the Societal and Lifestyle Shifts: Changing Families Research HASS theme
Professor Carol Smart, Professor of Sociology and Co-Director of the Morgan Centre at Manchester gives an open lecture as part of the open lecture series from Humanities and Social Sciences at Exeter.
| A Humanities and Social Sciences Strategy research event | |
|---|---|
| Date | 14 November 2013 |
| Time | 18:15 to 20:00 |
| Place | XFi Video linked to Peter Lanyon Lecture Theatre 2 (Cornwall) |
| Provider | Humanities and Social Sciences Strategy |
| Organizer | Lois Spence |
| Tel | 01392722312 |
Event details
Lecture recording:
An Echo 360 recording of this lecture is available online.
Information
Professor Carol Smart is a Professor of Sociology and Co-Director of the Morgan Centre for the Study of Relationships and Personal Life at the University of Manchester.
She will be delivering the second keynote lecture as part of our Inspiring Research: Humanities and Social Sciences lecture series. Focusing on Societal and Lifestyle Shifts.
In this lecture Carol will draw on the findings of a study of donor conception carried out with Petra Nordqvist in the UK between 2011 and 2013 in which heterosexual and lesbian couples were interviewed, as well as the grandparents of donor conceived children. She will argue that it is important to appreciate the complexities of family dynamics in order to understand the impact of donor conception.
Infertile couples and lesbian families can now conceive through the use of donor gametes (sperm, eggs and embryos). In the UK, donor conception is typically seen as a ‘better’ solution than adoption, because the child is often genetically connected to at least one parent, and because the adoption process is so protracted and fraught. Gamete donation also gives the birth mother the experience of pregnancy and childbirth.
However, while donor conception can be understood as a modern means of family building, it also brings challenges. What should children born from donated gametes be told about their parentage? What is the role of the donor in the child’s life? How important is genetic connectedness to contemporary family life? Genes seem to have assumed a huge significance in the popular imagination, so we need to uncover what it means for parents and grandparents if a child is not fully genetically related.
Further information
Read here for more information on our Societal and Lifestyle Shifts Theme.
Programme
18:30 Introduction Professor Mark Goodwin Deputy Vice Chancellor External Affairs/Professor of Human Geography. University of Exeter
18:40 Donor Conception: Genetic connections in contemporary family life, Professor Carol Smart
19:10 Q&A session
19:30 Drinks reception
20.00 Close
Registration
Please register for this event using the contact details below.
Professor Carol Smart is a Professor of Sociology and Co-Director of the Morgan Centre for the Study of Relationships and Personal Life at the University of Manchester.
Location:
XFi
