Misconceptions: The Social Construction of Choice and the New Reproductive and Genetic Technologies, Vol. 1

Andrea Levan is an assistant professor and co-ordinator of the Women’s
Studies Program, Thorneloe College, Laurentian University.

The editors tell us that this two-volume compilation of essays was
published in response to their concerns about the Royal Commission on
New Reproductive Technologies (established in 1989), which at that point
had not yet issued its report, in order to “keep the discussion open
and participatory.” Almost without exception, the contributions give a
negative view of the new technologies, unmasking the vested interests of
those who are promoting them and exploring the profound social
consequences of their use. To borrow words from Varda Burstyn’s essay,
I had some difficulty in deciding whether the argument put forward was
“exceptionally clear-sighted” or “paranoid.” In any case, I was
uncomfortable with the tone of many essays, especially in Volume 1, and
I found the frequent references to the Nazi experience and the use of
eugenics overstated.

That said, there are many fine contributions that are well worth
reading, especially for their Canadian perspective on the issues. By far
the most gripping essays are those describing the internal problems and
faulty research processes of the Royal Commission; this is a shocking
story of undemocratic decisionmaking, closed access to information, and
suspicion. There are also some fine essays about the complex moral
issues raised by the new technologies: Sunera Thobani’s exploration of
the racist and sexist assumptions manipulating the public debate on
sex-selection techniques, and Sandra Goundry’s essay on disabilities,
particularly come to mind.

Volume 2 focuses on the factors that cause the problem of infertility,
such as environmental hazards, pharmaceutical products, and child sexual
abuse. The authors show that these issues are often ignored at the same
time that complex technological solutions to infertility, such as in
vitro fertilization, are promoted, often by the same companies that may
be responsible for risks to women’s reproductive health. The volume
also explores women’s contemporary reproductive experience by focusing
on such concrete issues as ultrasound, multiple births, and neonatal
intensive care, through the voices of women who have actually
experienced them.

Misconceptions provides a thorough and, overall, convincing overview of
the feminist arguments that support the view that the new reproductive
and genetic technologies should be banned or severely limited.