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Proceedings STS Conference Graz 2014
Systematic inequalities in medically assisted reproduction in Hungary – the patients’ perspecti... more Systematic inequalities in medically assisted reproduction in Hungary – the
patients’ perspective
Zsófia Bauer
Corvinus University of Budapest – Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Centre for
Social Sciences
e-mail: bauer.zsofia@tk.mta.hu
Tel: +36 20 516 1645
Special Session 1: Social justice and Diversity
The proposed paper examines the experiences and interpretations of patients regarding
inequalities brought forth by the regulations and practices of medically assisted reproduction
in the special Hungarian context.
As infertility and involuntary childlessness is globally perceived as a unique form of tragedy
and loss, couples are always seeking the newest treatments available to them. Due to the rapid
development of new biomedical technologies, prospects have changed for individuals and
couples with fertility problems, who now have the options to live with several technologies in
the field of medically assisted reproduction. Yet as with most technological innovations the
access is limited and certainly unequal. Systematic inequalities of such life-chances culminate
in frustrations expressed in detail on online discussion groups.
My aim is to highlight these systematic inequalities and exclusions as experienced by the
subjects themselves and shed light on infertility treatments from a perspective earlier mostly
neglected. Material and economic concerns are often paired with speculations of doctor intent
and worry about the growing inequalities within the healthcare system. This unique research
design permitted studying the discourse of the participants in a natural, non-controlled
environment, where the presence of the researcher had no influence on the results, bypassing
problems reported by earlier researches regarding occurring biases with individual or couple
interviews.
The authors of this volume investigate their posed questions about the cultural wealth of nations... more The authors of this volume investigate their posed questions about the cultural wealth of nations by relying on the traditions of Viviana A. Zelizer and Alejandro Portes, who had 'visions of an economic sociology that enfolds culture and development into its core' (p. x.). Cultural economic sociology seeks to analyze the effects that culture, cultural differences and cultural heritage can have on economies through using sociological methods and theories to dissect how (intentionally or unintentionally) cultural advantages/ cultural wealth can contribute to economic growth and local development.
Receiving infertility treatment is also a life event that may result in significant emotional dis... more Receiving infertility treatment is also a life event that may result in significant emotional distress, thus it is equally imperative to concentrate not only on how patients experience their own involuntary childlessness, but how they perceive their successful or unsuccessful treatments. This paper investigates the everyday life experiences of infertile women who have decided to seek medical treatments which employ assisted reproductive technologies, based on a systematic and in-depth qualitative analysis of topic related on-line discussion group messages. Central focus is on how the participants make sense of their conditions and treatments, what questions they find worthy of discussing and how they communicate among their own internet community. The research investigated the constructions, tones, themes, portrayed topics and problems of the individual contributors, whilst not neglecting the dynamics of the online group. This unique research design permitted studying the discourse of the participants in a natural, non-controlled environment, where the presence of the researcher had no influence on the results. Main findings suggest the analyzed texts hold a combination of a 'rhetoric of sorrow' portraying disappointment, and a 'rhetoric of hope', latter vocalizing their belief in the technological advancement and their unquestionable and altruistic support of one another.
Proceedings STS Conference Graz 2014
Systematic inequalities in medically assisted reproduction in Hungary – the patients’ perspecti... more Systematic inequalities in medically assisted reproduction in Hungary – the
patients’ perspective
Zsófia Bauer
Corvinus University of Budapest – Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Centre for
Social Sciences
e-mail: bauer.zsofia@tk.mta.hu
Tel: +36 20 516 1645
Special Session 1: Social justice and Diversity
The proposed paper examines the experiences and interpretations of patients regarding
inequalities brought forth by the regulations and practices of medically assisted reproduction
in the special Hungarian context.
As infertility and involuntary childlessness is globally perceived as a unique form of tragedy
and loss, couples are always seeking the newest treatments available to them. Due to the rapid
development of new biomedical technologies, prospects have changed for individuals and
couples with fertility problems, who now have the options to live with several technologies in
the field of medically assisted reproduction. Yet as with most technological innovations the
access is limited and certainly unequal. Systematic inequalities of such life-chances culminate
in frustrations expressed in detail on online discussion groups.
My aim is to highlight these systematic inequalities and exclusions as experienced by the
subjects themselves and shed light on infertility treatments from a perspective earlier mostly
neglected. Material and economic concerns are often paired with speculations of doctor intent
and worry about the growing inequalities within the healthcare system. This unique research
design permitted studying the discourse of the participants in a natural, non-controlled
environment, where the presence of the researcher had no influence on the results, bypassing
problems reported by earlier researches regarding occurring biases with individual or couple
interviews.
The authors of this volume investigate their posed questions about the cultural wealth of nations... more The authors of this volume investigate their posed questions about the cultural wealth of nations by relying on the traditions of Viviana A. Zelizer and Alejandro Portes, who had 'visions of an economic sociology that enfolds culture and development into its core' (p. x.). Cultural economic sociology seeks to analyze the effects that culture, cultural differences and cultural heritage can have on economies through using sociological methods and theories to dissect how (intentionally or unintentionally) cultural advantages/ cultural wealth can contribute to economic growth and local development.
Receiving infertility treatment is also a life event that may result in significant emotional dis... more Receiving infertility treatment is also a life event that may result in significant emotional distress, thus it is equally imperative to concentrate not only on how patients experience their own involuntary childlessness, but how they perceive their successful or unsuccessful treatments. This paper investigates the everyday life experiences of infertile women who have decided to seek medical treatments which employ assisted reproductive technologies, based on a systematic and in-depth qualitative analysis of topic related on-line discussion group messages. Central focus is on how the participants make sense of their conditions and treatments, what questions they find worthy of discussing and how they communicate among their own internet community. The research investigated the constructions, tones, themes, portrayed topics and problems of the individual contributors, whilst not neglecting the dynamics of the online group. This unique research design permitted studying the discourse of the participants in a natural, non-controlled environment, where the presence of the researcher had no influence on the results. Main findings suggest the analyzed texts hold a combination of a 'rhetoric of sorrow' portraying disappointment, and a 'rhetoric of hope', latter vocalizing their belief in the technological advancement and their unquestionable and altruistic support of one another.