An Anthropological Study of Socio-Cultural Issues Caused by the Transnational Practice of Assisted Renroductive Technology(ARTs)

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The objective of the research is threefold :1) Examination of the actual (current) situation in infertility treatment beyond. national borders, which has been pursued because of inadequate legislation and/or regulations for ARTs (Assisted Reproductive Technologies) in Europe, America and Asia, including Japan.2) Assessment of the socio-cultural implications of transnational practice of ARTs on the fundamental institutions, such as parenthood, family and marriage, and concepts, such as human body and life/death.3) Formulation of a new framework or theory in order to adequately describe and analyze the newly emerging institutions and concepts.In order to materialize the project, the joint-research members have conducted field research in Europe (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, France, Switzerland and Italy) , the United States of America, Korea and Japan.The following is the summary of the findings :1) It has been confirmed that ARTs have been practiced beyond national borders. Sperm, … More eggs and embryos are frozen and transferred transnationally ("reproductive tours"). Moreover, not only patients but also obstetricians/ gynecologists, nurses and ARTs coordinators go across the border to study and practice advanced treatments.2) Every ARTs-advanced country, except some countries like Japan, has legislation (laws) or regulations for controlling ARTs practice. However, as the quantity and quality of current ARTs practice is beyond expectation, no county can effectively control the situation.3) Through creating families by using ARTs, some groups, such as single women and gay/lesbian couples have been trying to reconstruct our basic concepts and institutions, such as parent-child relationships, family, marriage, etc.4) Whenever those concepts and/or institutions are being reconstructed, we are faced with complexity (or multiplicity) and fluidity of relationships and a new sense of identity, they create new types of multiple and fluid relationships and a new sense of belonging/identity.5) The above-mentioned fundamental socio-cultural change towards multiple and fluid relationships/sense of belonging is also recognized in other socio-cultural contexts, such as increasing acceptance of (or tolerance for) dual/multiple nationality/citizenship. Less