Paper short abstract:

The question we aim to answer is how local ideals and practices of motherhood and fatherhood are reflected in the types of political grammars employed by Polish and Swedish organizations for infertile people.

Paper long abstract:

Many scholars observe that reproductive experiences are shaped by and are reflective of large-scale political, social and economic processes (Browner and Sargent 2011, Knecht et al 2012). Contradictory views on biotechnological innovations regarding reproduction which circulate in contemporary societies influence and are influenced by various discourses, practices and regulations, both nationally and internationally. Thus, the problem of "translating" and "adjusting" global ideas and discourses to fit local conditions becomes a key issue not only for experts but also patients involved in the field of assisted reproduction.

In our presentation we look at how discourses on assisted reproductive technologies function in specific cultural and political contexts of Poland and Sweden; how they are locally appropriated, translated and/or contested. We focus specifically on the activities of organizations and networks of patients in these two countries. The question we aim to answer is how local ideals and practices of motherhood and fatherhood are reflected in the types of political grammars employed by Polish and Swedish patients' organizations. We base our conclusions on the analysis of texts published by patients' organizations on-line, individual interviews with activists and qualitative analysis of Polish and Swedish media.