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They Don’t Just Take a Random Egg: Egg Selection in the United States

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Book cover Selective Reproduction in the 21st Century

Abstract

This chapter examines how the United States fertility industry relies upon the ideology of eugenic selection and the genetic capacity of gametes to market egg donation services globally. Egg donors are selected based on physical, racial, and personality traits that clinics and agencies perceive will appeal to intended parents. By appealing to intended parents to come to the United States as a means to “select” traits in their future offspring by way of egg donation, American fertility industry practices may serve to undermine officially sanctioned norms and values regarding eugenics and selection in those intended parents’ own countries.

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Martin, L.J. (2018). They Don’t Just Take a Random Egg: Egg Selection in the United States. In: Wahlberg, A., Gammeltoft, T. (eds) Selective Reproduction in the 21st Century. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58220-7_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58220-7_7

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-58219-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-58220-7

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

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