Thesis (M.A.)--Central Connecticut State University, 2000. / Thesis advisor: Kathy Martin. " ... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Biological Sciences." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 23-27).

Thesis (M.A.)--Trinity International University, 2000. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 67-72).

Thesis (M.A.)--Trinity International University, 2000. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 67-72).

In the last 30 years, in vitro fertilization (IVF) has created a significant amount of controversy around the world. Within the U.S., policy movement has been limited, occurring primarily at the state level, which has created a fragmented system of rules to manage the technology. However, there appear to be indications that how the issue is presented, and which actors are chosen to be represented in legislation, may impact the passage of policy, thereby also providing a reason for why little policy movement has occurred. In this study, pieces of federal, California and Georgia legislation were examined for the occurrence of differing frames, as identified by the actors presented, in order to determine whether different frames occurred in passed legislation than those found in failed legislation. It was determined that, while actors did not differ significantly between passed and failed legislation, there were some slight differences between actors used at the federal level, as well between the different state levels. Even further, the presentation of actors and their interests did appear to differ slightly between passed and failed legislation.

Social workers are increasingly being called upon to work with clients who wish to have a child but are unable to do so without medical intervention. This study, a cross-sectional survey design, examines the attitudes of couples towards donor insemination (DI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), contractual pregnancy, adoption and living child free. A random sample of 200 names was drawn from the membership of the Infertility Awareness Association of Canada, Toronto Chapter. Surveys were completed by 74 participants (37 couples). Participants were generally well educated, affluent and ranged in age from 26 to 63 years. Women were one third more likely to report feeling pressure to have children than were men. The source of this pressure was most often reported to be external/interpersonal relationships (e.g., friends, family, partner). Women were significantly more likely to strongly agree that they would use DI or IVF if they were infertile; whereas, men were more likely to only agree when considering DI, and to be unsure or neutral when considering IVF. The possibility of living child free was an alternative that very few participants had seriously considered, as many were still pursuing one or more reproductive alternative. Although significant differences were found within couples for DI, IVF and living child free in the vignettes, unexpectedly an overall theme of agreement between women and men was found as well. In addition, participants revealed a desire for support in their consideration of, and decision making regarding, the reproductive alternatives they may pursue. Clearly, the findings point to the need participants have to receive counselling, and/or follow-up to help them cope with their infertility and the possibility that they may not be able to have children.

Thesis (M.A.)--Carleton University, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 126-136). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Washington State University, May 2009. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on June 4, 2009). "Department of English." Includes bibliographical references (p. 219-233).

Bibliography: leaves 47-53. / The "new" reproductive technologies (NRTs) have gathered substantial momentum in recent years. 'Psychological' discourse on these techniques has tended towards uncritical preoccupation with intra-individual, constitutional factors, and has ignored the sociocultural, political and economic contexts of these practices. Within an inter-disciplinary, social-constructionist framework, this study presents a feminist critique of the NRTs in which they are argued to be biopsychosocially noxious to women. Modern biomedicine's appropriation and ownership of infertility as "disease" is argued to be consistent with the agendas of capitalism and patriarchy. Results of fieldwork within a particular medical setting are presented to develop a hermeneutic of the discursive interface between medical gatekeepers and the applicant 'patients' with whom they negotiate treatment. In a concluding section a dominant theme in gatekeepers' talk, "the well-being of the child", is ideologically analyzed; women-centered strategies are briefly discussed; and implications for the interface between psychology and reproductive technology are drawn.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Dept. of Anthropology, June 1999. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.