How do anonymous sperm donors signal credibility through their self-presentations?

Ya'arit Bokek-Cohen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Sperm donor profiles in catalogues exhibited in commercial sperm bank websites provide health information about each donor, both explicitly and implicitly. Donors' anonymity poses a great challenge to signalling credibility. Inspired by both Spence's signalling theory and Walther and Park's warranting theory, the study explores the way sperm donors add credibility to their self-presentations. Profiles of 135 donors from nine sperm banks in Europe and North America were content analysed; 36 of these donors' baby photos were visually analysed. Donors compensated for the paucity of usable warrants by adding intensified emotional context to the profile and inviting potential recipients to join a fantasy family. The article concludes with some practical recommendations aimed at facilitating the process of donor selection for the benefit of donor insemination users, as well as fertility practitioners, and sperm donors.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)81-93
Number of pages13
JournalHealth Sociology Review
Volume24
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2015
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Taylor & Francis.

Keywords

  • Emotional capitalism
  • Self-presentation
  • Signalling theory
  • Sperm donation
  • Warrant

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