An attempt at mirroring the normative reactions/ narratives /hang-ups that seem to dominate in our society – the hierarchical view of which are ‘good’ ways to make babies, and which are less good.
First place, super super gold medal
Biological mother and biological father, living together, supposedly in love (in some persons view preferably married before conception), having had intercourse/ traditional penetration sex to achieve conception of foetus.
Second place, almost gold (after doping test)
Same setting as above, just with some technical
support, such as in vitro fertilisation, boosting the
sperms, etc. However, one does not mention the
medical aspects/support, they are still somehow
taboo. In particular male infertility treatment...
Silver
A ‘mistake’, not planned pregnancies, with the man and the woman having had intercourse/ traditional penetration sex, but not being in love, just having a sexual relationship.
Bronze, possibly
A married, heterosexual couple adopting a child because of infertility. Non-biological, but full time legal parents with a secure and stable relationship. Outside podium Single (heterosexual) women going to a clinic to get pregnant via insemination with anonymous donor sperm. Suspicious, very. Could they not just get a man…
Outside podium
Lesbian couples inseminating. There is a plus in the fact that they are in couple when conceiving a child, but it is outweighed by the fact that they are lesbians, and that they are having sex with each other. If the donor is known, certain bonus points can be awarded, but this does not bring them anywhere near the podium anyway.
Outside podium
‘Single’ persons adopting a child. Is that really a responsible thing to do.. ?
Not allowed to be part of the line-up, totally disqualified
Gay men parents, all categories and formulas. Only approved as sperm donors - to lesbian friends, not to heterosexual couples where the man is infertile.
And my point is, that this normative judgements exist without any knowledge of how and by whom the care taking is being organised for the child. Care is not a significant parameter in judging what are ‘good’ and ‘bad’ ways of making a child. Or, actually, I do think it is – but unspoken somehow. It is sadly just assumed that it will be ‘better’ for the child to be born out of a biological father and mother that takes care of her/his upbringing. Better than any other model of formula. This is what I call judgemental, and dangerous simplicity.
