Resemblance talk: A challenge for parents whose children were conceived with donor gametes in the US

Becker, Gay; Butler, Anneliese; Nachtigall, Robert D.

doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.01.018

Cited by 125 publications

(118 citation statements)

References 9 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

105

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Previous research into the experiences of parents who have formed a family using donor conception has largely focused on anonymity and disclosure (Almack, 2006;Becker et al, 2005;Bos et al, 2003;Brewaeys et al, 1993;Burr, 2009;Cook et al, 1995;Donovan and Wilson, 2008;Gartrell et al, 2000;Grace et al, 2008;Haimes and Weiner, 2000;Nachtigall et al, 1997;Scheib et al, 2003;Shehab et al, 2008;Suter et al, 2008;Touroni and Coyle, 2002;Werner and Westersthål, 2008) and, more recently, on the experiences of these parents and their offspring with regard to searching for their donor and half-siblings (Blyth, 2012;Freeman et al, 2009;Jadva et al, 2010). Despite this volume of research, the experiences and concerns of the recipients of donor spermatozoa regarding how the sperm banking industry operates has not been thoroughly investigated.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A survey of 1700 women who formed their families using donor spermatozoa

Sawyer

Blyth

Kramer³

et al. 2013

Reproductive BioMedicine Online

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper reports the results of an online survey of 1700 recipients of donor spermatozoa conducted by the Donor Sibling Registry, aiming to understand the perspectives of respondents who had used donor spermatozoa. The survey examined: choice of sperm bank and donor; reporting of births and genetic disorders; disclosure; contact with donor and half-siblings; regulation of sperm donor activity and genetic testing; and access to medical information. The respondents formed three groups: single women; women in a same-sex relationship; and women in a heterosexual relationship. Some differences between the three cohorts were observed: preinsemination counselling; acceptance of donors without medical records or with chronic or late-onset diseases; awareness of choice of bank and type of donor; and views on the right of offspring to know their genetic origins. However, important areas of common ground were identified: the wish by those who had used an anonymous donor that they had used an open-identity donor; support for, and willingness to pay for, comprehensive genetic testing of donors; and desire for access to their donor's family health information. The implications of these results for policies concerning the use and management of donor spermatozoa will be discussed.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A survey of 1700 women who formed their families using donor spermatozoa

Sawyer

Blyth

Kramer³

et al. 2013

Reproductive BioMedicine Online

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The extent to which donor-conceived children suspect that secrets about their parentage are being kept from them cannot be established, but it is thought that children may "pick up" that they are different in some way (Daniels, Grace, & Gillett, 2011). Parents of donor-conceived children have reported difficulties responding to comments or questions about family resemblances (Becker, Butler, & Nachtigall, 2005), and, in a qualitative study of adults who were aware of their donor insemination, some reported that, as children, they suspected that something was amiss (Turner & Coyle, 2000).…”

Section: Donor Conception Families (Sperm Egg and Embryo Donation)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Socioemotional Development in Changing Families

Golombok

Tasker

2015

Handbook of Child Psychology and Developmental Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Since the latter part of the 20th century, dramatic changes have taken place to the structure of the family such that the traditional nuclear family headed by a heterosexual married couple is now in the minority. This chapter begins with a description of these changes and some of the key factors involved. The consequences of different family contexts for parent–child relationships and children's socioemotional development are then examined. These include single‐parent families, stepparent families, cohabiting parent families, families created through assisted reproductive technologies, and families headed by same‐sex parents. The specific issues and concerns raised by each family type are outlined, followed by a discussion of key empirical findings regarding parenting and child adjustment. The chapter ends by drawing on research relating to children in these different family forms to examine the relative importance of family structure and family processes for children's socioemotional development. The implications for policy and practice, and directions for future research, are also discussed.

show abstract

“…However, being seen as 'like' a relative who died early could also be worrying to participants: The stories about resemblance outlined above form a collective narrative ('they used to say it must be in your genes'), but they can be contested by the individual ('I just think we've got a better appetite'). This phenomenon of emphasising family relationships through 'resemblance talk' has been noted (Becker, Butler and Nachtigall, 2005). However, resemblances need to be recognised by other family members and may be disputed (Emslie, Hunt and Watt, 2003;Lawler, 2000) as they are part of the web of 'tangible affinities' that shape people's lived experience of kinship (Mason, 2008).…”

Section: Well Everybody Else Is Really Skinny Except For Me and My Amentioning

confidence: 99%

‘The family is part of the treatment really’: A qualitative exploration of collective health narratives in families

2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Clinicians are increasingly asking questions about family history to inform decision making, but the quality of decisions rests on the quality of information provided by the patient. In families with genetically transmitted diseases, research has found a strong collective understanding of inheritance and risk, developed through constant communication between family members. Here, we explore whether there are similar processes in families with more common conditions like heart disease, asthma or osteo-arthritis. From in-depth interviews with lay people, we found that families created a culture of ‘health talk’, especially between sisters. Caring for other family members was demonstrated through sharing vital health information; on the other hand care could be shown by not worrying family members by talking about possibly inherited illness. Patterns of inheritance and health were talked about in participants’ families (resemblance, similar conditions and affected body areas). From these, a picture developed of what the family was ‘like’ in health terms. Overall, experiential knowledge and family narrative was interwoven with expert discourse to form a complex understanding of medical family histories.

show abstract

Resemblance talk: A challenge for parents whose children were conceived with donor gametes in the US

Cited by 125 publications

References 9 publications

A survey of 1700 women who formed their families using donor spermatozoa

A survey of 1700 women who formed their families using donor spermatozoa

Socioemotional Development in Changing Families

‘The family is part of the treatment really’: A qualitative exploration of collective health narratives in families

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About