Reproducing Reproduction: Kinship, Power, and Technological Innovation

by Sarah Franklin (Editor)

Focusing on the key themes of power, kinship, and technological innovation, this volume offers a set of carefully argued empirical studies that emphasize the importance of ethnographic method, as well as anthropological theory, to current debates about the reproductive processes of humans, animals, and plants. In chapters on abortion, assisted conception, biodiversity conservation, artificial life sciences, adoption, intellectual property, and prenatal screening, Reproducing Reproduction contends that ideologies of class, nation, health, gender, nature, and kinship have reproductive models at their core.

Genres: Anthropology

264 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1997

About the author

Dr. Sarah Franklin (1960–) is an anthropologist who was one of the first anthropologists to undertake ethnographic research on new reproductive technologies. Her research addresses the history and culture of UK IVF, the IVF-stem cell interface, cloning, embryo research, and changing understandings of kinship, biology, and technology. Her work combines both ethnographic methods and kinship theory, with more recent approaches from science studies, gender studies and cultural studies. Currently, she is a a Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator and the Chair of Sociology at the University of Cambridge where she directs the Reproductive Sociology Research Group.

Reviews

[saizine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting look at reproduction through the lens of a technological world. Also intriguing in the sense of looking at "reproduction" in contexts wherein it is separated from conception/birth (i.e. foster systems, AI technologies). I particularly enjoyed the essays entitled 'Image of Contradiction: Obstetrical Ultrasound in American Culture', 'Producing Reproduction: Techniques of Normalization and Naturalization in Infertility Clinics', 'Inconstable Motivations', 'Irishness, Eurocitizens, and Reproductive Rights' and 'Replicating Reproduction in Artificial Life'