English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

Openness and children’s ‘right to know’ about their genetic background have become key issues in debates about donor conception and a significant shift towards transparency has taken place in policy frameworks. But whereas openness is now supported in policy, the issue might be less of a ‘done deal’ for parents themselves; evidence suggest that many still hesitate to disclose. This has caused concern among policy-makers and campaigners, putting parents under increasing pressure to tell. In this context it is important to seek to better understand parents’ experiences, and why it is that some might feel uncertain about openness. I explore the issue by drawing on original empirical data from a study exploring donor conception and family life, and I show that there are significant insights to be gained from looking at the impact of openness in families. I explore four particular sets of dilemmas introduced by openness, namely decisionmaking and family boundaries; telling children; telling the wider family and navigating competing moral doctrines. I pursue the argument that an important factor to consider in understanding disclosure and its difficulties is the importance and complexity of family relationships and the impact they have on parents’ decision-making process. This leads me to argue for a change in direction in debates on openness and for the need for an increased appreciation of the vitality of relationships. I also suggest that openness needs to be brought into conversation and balanced against other factors which greatly influence children’s and adult’s personal lives.

The Drive for Openness in Donor Conception: Disclosure and The Trouble with Real Life