A Study of Desired Children in Germany and India as a context leading to prenatal genetic diagnosis and selective abortions

• Applicant: Dr. Sheela Saravanan, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Empirical Social Research
• Term: from 2014 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 242408456

Prenatal and pre-implantation genetic diagnosis makes it possible for people to choose their desired children based on genetic attributes such as; gender and disability. The known reasons for such selective abortions include attributes such as; (un)desirable gender, sensory, cognitive, or physical impairment, or desired genetic properties. Ethical voices and the gender/disability rights movement worldwide raise concerns that selecting attributes of children based on gender, disease or disability is morally problematic because it embodies and reinforces prejudices. This study aims to examine individual notion of a desired child (Wunschkinder/Vansh) shaped by the social experiences in the German and Indian contexts that lead to selective abortions. The research draws conceptually on the works of Mead 1962, symbolic interactionism between the self and the generalized other, Lindemann 1996, Kessler and McKenna 1978, gender and disability as a social construct in the context of Körper and Leib in shaping the notion of desired children. This study applies methodological approaches of Garfinkels, (1967) phenomenology in ethnomethodology as it provides insight on individual conduct/thought and forms of social organization. Qualitative methodology of in-depth interviews will be used in clinical and family settings in Germany and India with mothers and family members and structured interviews will be conducted with medical practitioners and personnel from research institutions and selected government programmes. This will add knowledge conceptually and methodologically to the above given theories and research methods. The cross-cultural analysis is a significant aspect of this study because it aims to bring out the deeper life mechanisms that are embedded in different cultural frameworks. The notion of Wunschkinder in Germany and India has not been examined earlier, this study aims to fill in this gap and contribute in a unique way to the ongoing socio-ethical debates on prenatal screening and selective abortions.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Participating Person: Professorin Dr. Silke Schicktanz