Breaking the ice: Young feminist scholars of reproductive politics reflect on egg freezing

Abstract

While proponents of social (i.e., nonmedical) egg freezing argue that it is liberating for women, opponents contest that the technology provides an individualist solution to a social problem. This article comprises personal and academic reflections on the debate on social egg freezing from four young women studying reproductive technologies. We challenge the promotion of social egg freezing as an empowering option for women and question cultural assumptions about childbearing, the disclosure of risk, failures to consider sexual diversity and socioeconomic status, and the expansion of the market in reproductive tissues.

Does company-sponsored egg freezing promote or confine women’s reproductive autonomy?

“…Not all feminists are convinced that egg banking has a liberating effect on women though, quite to the contrary, radical feminists tend to be diametrically opposed to Sandberg's new feminist ideology [16][17][18]. As Françoise Baylis recently wrote, Boocyte cryopreservation as an employee benefit is not only counterproductive but offensive.…”

Let us talk about eggs! Professional resistance to elective egg vitrification and gendered medical paternalism

“…The growing body of theoretical articles shows that opinions towards EVF are polarized: there is debate on whether the elective procedure is safe or ethical, or should even be legal (Bernstein and Wiesemann 2014). Some authors see elective freezing and vitrification as an opportunity and a source of liberation and selffulfillment for women (Inhorn 2013); others are more skeptic and believe that elective egg cryopreservation could lead to further medicalization of reproduction, may generate inequalities and may even further the growing tendency of pregnancies late in life, instead of providing a solution (Soliman et al 2012;Cattapan et al 2014;Mohaparta 2014). Mertes and Pennings (2011), as well as Lockwood (2011), highlight the problem that women chose to cryopreserve their eggs at a sub-optimal age, and suggest that there would be fewer risks (both physical and ethical) involved if the elective cryopreservation took place at a younger age.…”

On the ethics of social egg freezing and fertility preservation for nonmedical reasons

“…It is not only that egg freezing is viewed by these feminists as a small and short-term fix that leaves sexist structures fundamentally unchanged. 25,41,42 Many would concede, after all, that "reproductive affirmative action" can work in tandem with largerscale efforts at social reform. The problem, according to this view, is that opening the door to the option creates a pressure to use it.…”

“…Finally, there are social harms to consider, including exacerbating a class divide based on who can afford to access the technology and reinforcing a "bioessentialist" understanding of family that requires genetic connection between parent and child. 41 Religious perspectives on egg freezing run the gamut from enthusiastic embrace to unequivocal opposition. A full exploration of these diverse views is beyond the scope of this review.…”