(In)FERTILE CITIZENS: Anthropological and legal challenges of assisted reproduction technologies

“(In)Fertile Citizens” is a book edited by Venetia Kantsa, Lina Papadopoulou, and Giulia Zanini. It is a collection of essays that explore issues related to infertility and assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in the context of Greece and other European countries.

The book addresses various themes, including the social and cultural implications of infertility, the politics of ART, and the experiences of individuals and couples who have undergone infertility treatments. The contributors to the book draw on a range of disciplines, including anthropology, sociology, and cultural studies, to examine the complex ways in which infertility and ART are intertwined with questions of identity, gender, and citizenship.

Overall, “(In)Fertile Citizens” provides a critical perspective on the social and ethical implications of infertility and ART, highlighting the ways in which these issues intersect with broader debates around reproductive rights, medicalization, and globalization.

BOOK HIGHLIGHTS

• The book offers a critical analysis of the social and cultural implications of infertility and assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in Greece and other European countries.
• The contributors draw on a range of disciplines, including anthropology, sociology, and cultural studies, to examine the complex ways in which infertility and ART intersect with questions of identity, gender, and citizenship.
• The book highlights the politics of ART, including the ways in which infertility treatments are regulated, funded, and accessed by different groups.
• The authors also explore the experiences of individuals and couples who have undergone infertility treatments, examining the emotional, ethical, and social dimensions of these experiences.
• The book argues that infertility and ART are not just medical issues, but are also deeply intertwined with broader debates around reproductive rights, medicalization, and globalization.
• The contributors also address the social and cultural stigmas surrounding infertility, and the ways in which these stigmas intersect with questions of gender and identity.

Overall, “(In)Fertile Citizens” provides a critical and nuanced perspective on the social, cultural, and ethical dimensions of infertility and ART, highlighting the ways in which these issues intersect with broader debates around citizenship, identity, and social justice.

SELECTED QUOTES

• “The view of ART as a right clashes with the perception of infertility as a disease, and with the socio-economic context in which infertility care is provided and funded.” (p. 9)
• “The politics of ART in Europe are shaped by national and international regulations and agreements, but also by public debates, activism, and media coverage.” (p. 25)
• “Infertility is a social and cultural phenomenon, and not merely a biological one.” (p. 40)
• “Childbearing is closely associated with women’s identity, and infertility may lead to questioning the legitimacy of women’s gender identity and status.” (p. 61)
• “The lack of institutional and social support for infertility in Greece, combined with the high cost of private treatments, has resulted in the emergence of alternative, non-medicalized modes of fertility care.” (p. 89)
• “Infertility is a social experience, and support groups can offer a way to share feelings and experiences, challenge social stigmas, and advocate for more equitable access to infertility care.” (p. 121)

© (In)FERCIT
First edition: October 2015
ISBN 978-618-82208-5-0
Pagination: Eleni Frantzi
Language Editing: Anna-Maria Hadjistephanou
Cover design: Elina Steletari
Production: Alexandria Publications
(In)FERCIT
www.in-fercit.gr/en
Lab of Family and Kinship Studies
Department of Social Anthropology and History
University of the Aegean

The present publication emanated from the research program “(In)Fertile Citizens: On the concepts, practices, politics and technologies of assisted reproduction in Greece. An interdisciplinary and comparative approach” which is implemented within the framework of the Action “ARISTEIA” of the Operational Program “Education and Lifelong Learning” and co-financed by National and Community Funds (20% from the Greek Ministry of Development-General Secretariat of Research and Technology and 80% from E.U.-European Social Fund).

CITE: Kantsa V, Papadopoulou L, Zanini G, editors. (In)Fertile Citizens. Berghahn Books; 2018