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The Experience of Single Mothers by Choice Making Early Contact with Open-Identity or Private Sperm Donors and/or Donor Sibling Families in New Zealand

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Reproductive Citizenship

Part of the book series: Health, Technology and Society ((HTE))

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Abstract

The number of Single Mothers by Choice (Choice Mothers), single women who choose to become mothers in the absence of a partner, is on the increase in New Zealand. There is a need for more in-depth understanding of their experiences, including how legislation regarding open-identity donors and a culture of increased transparency regarding conception influences connections with sperm donors. This chapter explores the experiences of 6 Choice Mothers aged between 33 and 49 years old who sought to make early contact with open-identity or private donors. It explores their motivations for seeking contact, their experiences of making contact, and how donor conception informs their family constructs. Key findings of the study include the perception that contact over and above identifiability is desirable; that challenges arise from poorly understood expectations and boundaries; family constructs are a complicated mix of biological and emotional ties; and the disclosure of donor conception is an ongoing process. In line with the work of the New Zealand Law Commission, findings from the study support the need for educational programmes facilitating recipients’ disclosure to offspring, and the consideration of birth certificate annotation for donor-conceived people. Further, Choice Mothers using private donors require similar legislative protection to those accessing donors through fertility clinics.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand

    Rochelle Trail & Sonja Goedeke

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  1. Rochelle Trail
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  2. Sonja Goedeke
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  1. School of Social and Cultural Studies, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand

    Rhonda M. Shaw

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Trail, R., Goedeke, S. (2022). The Experience of Single Mothers by Choice Making Early Contact with Open-Identity or Private Sperm Donors and/or Donor Sibling Families in New Zealand. In: Shaw, R.M. (eds) Reproductive Citizenship. Health, Technology and Society. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-9451-6_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-9451-6_8

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