Secrets and disclosure in donor conception

Datos Bibliográficos

ID2249335
AutoresLibby Frith (0000-0002-8506-0699, Health Services Research University of Liverpool UK, autor de correspondencia), Eric Blyth (School of Human and Health Sciences University of Huddersfield UK), Marilyn Crawshaw (0000-0002-2870-0506, Department of Social Policy and Social Work University of York UK), Olga Van Den Akker (0000-0002-3529-4358, Department of Psychology University of Middlesex UK)
Año2018
Volumen40
Número1
Páginas188-203
Fecha de publicación2018-01-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaSociology of Health & Illness (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0141-9889 • E-ISSN: 1467-9566
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/1467-9566.12633
PMID29143343
OpenAlexW2760672853
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas14
Referencias citadas44

This article considers the disclosure, sharing and exchange of information on being donor conceived within families, drawing on data from a study undertaken with donor-conceived adults registered withUKDonor Link (a voluntaryDNA-linking register). This paper considers the narratives of how respondents found out they were donor-conceived and what events triggered disclosure of this information. This paper then goes on to examine the role secrecy played in their family life and uses the concept of 'display' to explore how secrecy affected their relationships with their immediate and extended family. Secrets are notoriously 'leaky' and we found complex patterns of knowing and uncertainty about whom in the family knew that the person was donor-conceived. We argue that what is kept secret and from whom provides insights into the multifaceted web of social relationships that can be created by donor-conception, and how knowledge can be managed and controlled in attempts to display and maintain family narratives of biogenetic connection

Computer security · Internet privacy · Linguistics · Narrative · Secrecy · Sociology · Child Welfare and Adoption · Computer Science · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Philosophy · Psychology · Reproductive Health and Technologies · Social Psychology