Family Diversity and Disclosure of Genetic Origins to Children Born from Donors and/or Surrogacy

Abstract

The purpose of this text is to disclose procreation as a social act and the different discourses surrounding the revealing of genetic origin to children born from donors or surrogacy. Informants are heterosexual and gay couples, as well as single women, sperm donors and egg donors. The results are the product of research carried out in Spain and Portugal (2004-2013). The first conclusions of this investigation show there is currently an expert discourse in favor of disclosure. However, such discourse does not seem to convince heterosexual couples and, in this case, none of the respondents agree with revealing this information to their children. On the contrary, and for obvious reasons, due to absence of the father or mother, homosexual couples and single mothers are by choice bound to share this information with their children, and would like to have an expert’s support to choose the right time and way to have this conversation.