22.11.2025Newly published Social Inclusion issue about «Contemporary Changes in Medically Assisted Reproduction: The Role of Social Inequality and Social Norms» with articles by H2R and SUZ researchers

The 13th volume of Social Inclusion features contributions from SUZ researchers. Jörg Rössel co-authored the editorial on current developments in medically assisted reproduction (MAR), exploring how social inequality and social norms shape access, attitudes, and experiences. Maila Martens, Nadja Colombini, and Jörg Rössel examine motivations behind social egg freezing, while Julia Schroedter analyzes the influence of religion on attitudes toward MAR. Julia Böcker and Nina Jakoby aim to understand subjects' experience and emotional managment of (failed) fertility treatments.

Editorial published on November 4th 2025 in Social Inclusion , Vol 13 (2025)
Open access. Link

Anne-Kristin Kuhnt (University of Rostock), Jörg Rössel (SUZ) & Heike Trappe (University of Rostock).

Abstract:
This editorial introduces the thematic issue on current developments in medically assisted reproduction (MAR), focusing on how social inequality and social norms influence access, attitudes, and experiences. The contributions in this issue examine the social stratification of reproductive opportunities across different groups and countries, explore the normative and legal frameworks that govern MAR, and consider how evolving family structures challenge existing reproductive policies. The issue also highlights significant data limitations in current research—especially the absence of key variables, such as income or migration status, and internationally comparable data—which hinder efforts to achieve more equitable access to reproductive healthcare. Overall, the contributions advocate for interdisciplinary approaches and better data systems to deepen our understanding of these issues and address reproductive exclusion in modern societies.

Published on August 7th 2025 in Social Inclusion , Vol 13 (2025)
Open access.Link

Maila Mertens, Jörg Rössel & Nadja Colombini

Abstract:
Social egg freezing has increasingly become a topic of public discussion in recent years. It means the cryopreservation (freezing) of human unfertilized egg cells, which enables women to postpone pregnancy to a later age. The discussion has often focused on the normative implications of this technological innovation in reproductive medicine and on the reasons that motivate women to use it. Our study analyzes the covariates of the desire to use social freezing. We model this desire based on a broad rational choice model of decision making. In this theoretical framework, we consider the specific constraints and costs that determine this consideration, but also the benefits that drive the desire to use social freezing in the future. We particularly focus on career ambitions, gender roles, specific benefits and constraints, as well as social norms concerning social freezing. We test this broad rational choice model based on a survey among university students (𝑁 = 805) at the University of Zurich conducted in 2023, focusing on a population segment that is especially inclined to consider the utilization of social freezing. Our empirical results show that the desire to use social freezing is driven by both tangible benefits, such as enhanced career prospects and more time to find a suitable partner, and normative benefits, like increased reproductive autonomy. However, the high financial costs of the procedure significantly inhibit potential uptake. Broader attitudes toward gender roles and career orientation also influence these desires, though more immediate cost–benefit considerations largely mediate their effects.

Published on October 22nd 2025 in Social Inclusion , Vol 13 (2025)
Open access.Link

Julia Henrike Schroedter

This article is part of the issue “Contemporary Changes in Medically Assisted Reproduction: The Role of Social Inequality and Social Norms”

Abstract:
Although Western societies are becoming increasingly secular, religion continues to play a significant role in shaping attitudes toward family‐related issues, including medically assisted reproduction (MAR). Existing research on this topic is limited, often focuses on specific procedures or subgroups, and frequently overlooks the multifaceted nature of religion. Our study addresses these research gaps by examining how various dimensions of religiosity—affiliation, religious socialization, self‐assessed religiosity, and religious practice— relate to attitudes toward a broad spectrum of MAR procedures in the general Swiss population. Using data from the representative CHARLS 2023 survey, we assessed public acceptance of nine MAR techniques through both a composite index and evaluations of individual procedures. Our findings show that higher religiosity across all dimensions is consistently associated with lower moral acceptance of MAR. While religious affiliation mattered, especially among Muslims and Evangelical Christians, its effect was significantly reduced when personal religiosity and practice were taken into account. Personal religiosity and frequent prayer emerged as the strongest predictors of lower acceptance. Religious socialization also had a modest negative impact, particularly among those raised in highly religious households. Acceptance was generally lower for procedures involving third‐party contributions (e.g., donor gametes, surrogacy), though differences between procedures were not statistically significant. Overall, the results underscore the enduring influence of religion on attitudes toward reproductive technologies—even in a secularizing context.

Published on August 28th 2025 in Social Inclusion , Vol 13 (2025)
Open access.Link

Julia Böcker (UZH & Leuphana University Lueneburg) & Nina Jakoby (SUZ)

This article is part of the issue “Contemporary Changes in Medically Assisted Reproduction: The Role of Social Inequality and Social Norms”

Abstract:
Patients undergoing fertility treatment, such as IVF, experience a range of emotions—hope, disappointment, grief, anxiety, jealousy, guilt, and anger. Through a sociology of emotions lens, we trace the emotional journey of patients in fertility treatment in Switzerland to understand subjects’ experiences with medically assisted reproduction (MAR), and to highlight how societal and cultural norms and expectations shape the way they use and emotionally manage (failed) fertility treatments. The theoretical background is grounded in the notion of feeling rules (Hochschild, 1983) and associated concepts such as disenfranchised grief (Doka, 2002). Methodologically, the article is based on a qualitative interview study conducted with affected women in Switzerland (LoMAR) and a quantitative analysis of the first wave of CHARLS, a nationwide longitudinal study. Linking qualitative and quantitative data allows us to show the significance of occurring emotions as well as a deeper understanding of particularly strong emotions felt during (failed) treatment cycles that the research participants have disclosed in the interviews. Further, we argue that fertility treatment itself contributes to producing what we call “layers of loss,” a cumulation of multiple losses experienced.