Relative Strangers: Family Life, Genes and Donor Conception

Nordqvist, Petra; Smart, Carol

doi:10.1057/9781137297648

Cited by 87 publications

(73 citation statements)

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“…For example, Nordqvist (2010) found that talking about family resemblances can create distance as well as connectedness in the context of lesbian families. Nordqvist and Smart (2014) also described how connections to the donor introduce unanticipated questions and how parents manage ideas about genetic connectedness, which has become central in contemporary society. Hequembourg and Farrell (1999) and Ben-Ari and Livni (2006) also identified a dialectic tension between the marginal and mainstream identity in lesbian mothers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experiences of Family Relationships Among Donor-Conceived Families

2014

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In this qualitative evidence synthesis, we explore how family relationships are experienced by parents who used gamete donation to conceive. We systematically searched four databases (PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and ProQuest) for literature related to this topic and retrieved 25 studies. Through the analysis of the qualitative studies, a comprehensive synthesis and framework was constructed. Following the meta-ethnography approach of Noblit and Hare, four main themes were identified: (a) balancing the importance of genetic and social ties, (b) normalizing and legitimizing the family, (c) building strong family ties, and (d) minimizing the role of the donor. Underlying these four main themes, a sense of being "different" and "similar" at the same time was apparent. Findings are discussed in terms of their implications for studying and counseling donor-conceived families.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experiences of Family Relationships Among Donor-Conceived Families

2014

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“…Although the co-parents in this study did not usually refer to "consanguinity" nor did they mention "blood relations", some of them spoke of "flesh" or "biological part of oneself" to describe this substantial connection they wished to share with their child. While this conceptualisation of kinship has gradually been replaced by one which is based on genes in contemporary social discourses, it is still embedded in everyday talk and conveys a specific imaginary regarding origins, inheritance and family background (Nordqvist and Smart, 2014).…”

Section: To Have a Child Of One's Ownmentioning

confidence: 99%

Co-parenting arrangements in lesbian and gay families: when the ‘mum and dad’ ideal generates innovative family forms

Herbrand

2018

Families, Relationships and Societies

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This paper engages with current debates on the potential of contemporary family formations, particularly those created by lesbian women and gay men, to challenge hegemonic family models. Drawing on in-depth interviews with lesbian and gay individuals living in Belgium, it explores parental ideals and family practices amongst people actively choosing "coparenting arrangements" which include more than two adults raising a child. It examines how this route to parenthood was justified by co-parents" desire for a biological child, to experience pregnancy, to know the child"s background and most importantly, to provide the child with a mother and a father. These motivations not only aimed at normalising their family situation but reflected deeply anchored family values. The paper demonstrates how innovative and reflexive family forms can arise from conventionally-based assumptions regarding gender roles and kinship, and calls therefore for a more nuanced consideration of individual values and intentions in parenting which potentially destabilise the hegemonic family model.

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“…Gay and lesbian parenting is seen as one of many 'alternative' family arrangements to have emerged; including blended families, children born through self-insemination, and co-parenting (Weeks et al, 2001;Nordqvist and Smart, 2014). The ways in which lesbians and gay men can pursue parenthood are diverse and include the use of reproductive technologies, such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or self-insemination via a donor; relative or kinship care; and surrogacy.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘It's All a Bit Pantomime’: An Exploratory Study of Gay and Lesbian Adopters and Foster-Carers in England and Wales

Wood

2015

Br J Soc Work

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This paper reports the findings of a study identifying the experiences of gay and lesbian adopters and foster carers in England and Wales. Qualitative interviews were conducted with twenty-four lesbians and gay men who had undertaken any part of the adoption or fostering application process since the implementation of the Adoption and Children Act of 2002. The study suggests that whilst increasing numbers of lesbians and gay men are accessing fostering and adoption services, gender and sexuality are still problematic areas of contestation within this context. As a result, participants were required to present themselves to assessing professionals in distinct ways, in order to be recognised as 'legitimate' in their applications. Using the concept of 'displaying family', this paper illustrates the ways in which sexuality can complicate such displays, as they fall outside prevailing cultural and familial scripts. However, taking an intersectional perspective, this paper will also demonstrate that this was dependent upon the complex subjectivities of each participant. Finally, it will analyse what this means for the assessment of gay and lesbian adopters and foster carers, and how social workers can respond to both individual identities and diverse family forms.

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Relative Strangers: Family Life, Genes and Donor Conception

Cited by 87 publications

References 0 publications

Experiences of Family Relationships Among Donor-Conceived Families

Experiences of Family Relationships Among Donor-Conceived Families

Co-parenting arrangements in lesbian and gay families: when the ‘mum and dad’ ideal generates innovative family forms

‘It's All a Bit Pantomime’: An Exploratory Study of Gay and Lesbian Adopters and Foster-Carers in England and Wales

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