RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The products of conception: the social context of reproductive choices.
JF Journal of Medical Ethics
JO J Med Ethics
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Institute of Medical Ethics
SP 188
OP 195
DO 10.1136/jme.11.4.188
VO 11
IS 4
A1 B K Rothman
YR 1985
UL http://jme.bmj.com/content/11/4/188.abstract
AB This paper addresses the changing ideology regarding reproduction, an evolving American, and potentially worldwide, value system regarding children and parenthood. Children are increasingly being seen as products, and the new technology of reproduction, including the sale of reproductive material and services and especially prenatal diagnosis and selective abortion, encourage this commodification of the fetus. While the new technology does indeed offer new choices, it also creates new structures and new limitations on choice. In the contemporary American social structure, these choices are inevitably couched in terms of production and commodification, and thus do not offer individuals genuine choice or control.