“Social Egg Freezing”. A New Challenge for Human Reproduction and Gender Roles

Abstract

This article analyzes ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology) practices through a sociological lens, with an eye to political and legal issues and to the medicalization of human reproduction, as well as to the changes in gender roles and parenthood. It focuses on one of the most recent challenges in this field: “Social Egg Freezing” (SEF). This is analyzed by looking at both the Italian and European contexts and highlighting differences regarding legal frameworks, social policies, and gender roles. The study also focuses on the social construction of SEF through media representation and the rhetoric of clinics.

Keywords: social egg freezing, gender, ART/MAP, sociology of health, human reproduction.