Changes in the conception and representation of kinship as a result of the use of assisted human reproduction techniques with donor

Abstract

The main aim of this study is to present some of the changes that the conception and representation of kinship are undergoing due to the emerging use of assisted human reproduction techniques with donor, based on the information obtained from ethnographic research that has been carried out in Spain. The results of our research, which show variability depending on the family model, demonstrate that changes in the culture of kinship (conception of maternity/paternity, of biogenetic links, of donors, etc.) are not a prerequisite for the decision to use assisted sexual reproduction techniques with donor, but rather the product of the experience and insight of the women who are going through these processes (through associations, online chat groups, groups of friends). From this point of view, the existence of legal and institutional regulations plays an important role in transforming the culture of kinship, insofar as it opens up a wider range of experiences.