Secrets and disclosure in donor conception

Article


Frith, L., Blyth, E., Crawshaw, M. and van den Akker, O. 2018. Secrets and disclosure in donor conception. Sociology of Health & Illness. 40 (1), pp. 188-203. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9566.12633
TypeArticle
TitleSecrets and disclosure in donor conception
AuthorsFrith, L., Blyth, E., Crawshaw, M. and van den Akker, O.
Abstract

This paper considers the disclosure, sharing and exchange of information on being donor conceived within families, drawing on data from a study undertaken with donor-conceived adults registered with UK Donor Link (a voluntary DNA-linking register). It considers the narratives of how respondents found out they were donor-conceived and what events triggered disclosure of this information. It goes on to examine the role secrecy played in their family life and uses the concept of ‘display’ to explore how it affected their relationships with their immediate and extended family. Secrets are notoriously ‘leaky’ and we found complex patterns of knowing and uncertainty about whom in the family knew that the person was donor-conceived. We argue that what is kept secret and from whom provides insights into the multifaceted web of social relationships that can be created by donor-conception, and how knowledge can be managed and controlled in attempts to display and maintain family narratives of biogenetic connection.

Research GroupApplied Health Psychology group
PublisherBlackwell
JournalSociology of Health & Illness
ISSN0141-9889
Electronic1467-9566
Publication dates
Online16 Nov 2017
Print19 Jan 2018
Publication process dates
Deposited08 Dec 2017
Accepted17 Aug 2017
Output statusPublished
Accepted author manuscript
Copyright Statement

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article:
Frith, L. , Blyth, E. , Crawshaw, M. and Akker, O. (2018), Secrets and disclosure in donor conception. Sociol Health Illn, 40: 188-203. doi:10.1111/1467-9566.12633, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9566.12633. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9566.12633
LanguageEnglish
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