Since Family Scholar's published their study entitled "My Daddy's Name is Donor" there have been a number of articles written about it as well as commentary debating its merits by both sides of the aisle. Most of the main stream press have written stories that this is the first major study of its kind. To my understanding it is not.
After I commented on the BioNews article / response written by Eric Blythe and Wendy Kramer I received a few comments from Elizabeth Marquardt and Karen Clark, co authors of the original study. I promised that when Ms. Marquardt had posted her response to the BioNews piece I would link to it at a minimum.
The Family scholars response can be found here. I want to read it again but the anology that one side sees the world as a glass half full while the other sees the glass as half empty is interesting. I think characterizing the sides this simply is an over-generalization.
Overall I still believe couples should have the right to make their own decisions regarding the creation of their families. I do think the rights of the children created should be respected and that prospective parents should be made aware of all the issues surrounding donor conception. Greater regulation is needed but such regulation should not be created / promulgated by the industry itself.
As a Dad I try not to push my kids at their young ages into discussing their thoughts about being donor conceived but I must admit I am very very curious to know more what they think.
Yes, it would be curious to know what they think, but pushing them to speak no doubt is not the answer. You will, as you have already concluded, just have to be patient!
ReplyDeleteOne of the interesting things will surely be how much they feel the need to speak about it. There is obviously a great deal of individual variation on the issues.
Bea
It's always dangerous to over-simplify, but it's very easy to do when the opinions tend to be as strong as they are in reference to donor conception. Ultimately, this is a matter of how we were brought into being and that does touch us on a deep level. It's a matter of how the individual chooses to see the issue, and possibly an indicator of how they see the world.
ReplyDeleteEither way, I find the subject fascinating.