Birthing Techno-Sapiens: Human-Technology Co-Evolution and the Future of Reproduction PDF
Preview Birthing Techno-Sapiens: Human-Technology Co-Evolution and the Future of Reproduction
“This is a theoretically robust and bold work that is well positioned to provoke debate, productive thinking, and practical responses.” Lisa M. Mitchell, University of Victoria, Canada BIRTHING TECHNO-SAPIENS This ground-breaking book challenges us to re-think ourselves as techno- sapiens—a new species we are creating as we continually co-evolve ourselves with our technologies. While some of its chapters are imaginary, they are all empirically grounded in ethnography and richly theorized from diverse disciplines. The authors go far beyond a techno-optimism vs. techno-pessimism stance, stretching our thinking about birthing techno-sapiens to consider not only how our cyborgian reproductive lives are constrained and/or enabled by technology but are also about emotions and spirit. The world of reproductive health care and particularly that of genetic engineering is developing exponentially, and current challenges are vastly different from those of a decade ago. The book is provocative, intended to generate debate, ideas, and future research and to influence ethical policy and practice in human techno-reproduction. It will be of interest across the social sciences and humanities, for reproductive scholars, bioethicists, techno-scientists, and those involved in the development and delivery of maternity services. Robbie Davis-Floyd, Adjunct Professor, Department of Anthropology, Rice University, is author of Birth as an American Rite of Passage (2003) and Ways of Knowing about Birth: Mothers, Midwives, Medicine, and Birth Activism (2018). She has served as lead editor for 15 volumes, including Cyborg Babies: From Techo-Sex to Techno-Tots (1998) and Birth in Eight Cultures (2019). Social Science Perspectives on Childbirth and Reproduction Series editor: Robbie Davis-Floyd (Rice University) This series focuses on issues relating to childbirth and reproduction from social science perspectives. It includes single-authored, co-authored, or edited books concerned both with people’s reproductive experiences and with birth prac- titioners such as midwives (both professional and traditional), obstetricians, nurses, doulas, and others. It seeks to provide new viewpoints on functional and sustainable birth models and the challenges to their creation and main- tenance, as well as on obstetric violence, disrespect, and abuse and their root causes. Single-case or comparative ethnographies on birth and other reproduc- tive issues are featured, from high-tech conceptions to normal pregnancy and birth, including reproductive politics and human-rights issues in reproduction worldwide. Birthing Models on the Human Rights Frontier Speaking Truth to Power Edited by Betty-Anne Daviss and Robbie Davis-Floyd Midwives in Mexico Situated Politics, Politically Situated Hanna Laako and Georgina Sánchez-Ramírez Birthing Techno-Sapiens Human-Technology Co-Evolution and the Future of Reproduction Edited by Robbie Davis-Floyd https :/ /ww w .rou tledg e .com /xxxx /book -seri es /SS PCR BIRTHING TECHNO-SAPIENS Human-Technology Co-Evolution and the Future of Reproduction Edited by Robbie Davis-Floyd First published 2021 by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN and by Routledge 52 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business © 2021 selection and editorial matter, Robbie Davis-Floyd; individual chapters, the contributors The right of Robbie Davis-Floyd to be identified as the author of the editorial material, and of the authors for their individual chapters, has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Davis-Floyd, Robbie, editor. Title: Birthing techno-sapiens : human-technology co-evolution and the future of reproduction / edited by Robbie Davis-Floyd. Description: Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, 2021. | Series: Social science perspectives on childbirth and reproduction | Identifiers: LCCN 2020045042 | ISBN 9780367535445 (hardback) | ISBN 9780367535438 (paperback) | ISBN 9781003082422 (ebook) Subjects: LCSH: Human reproductive technology--Social aspects. | Human reproductive technology--Moral and ethical aspects. Classification: LCC RG133.5 .B573 2021 | DDC 618.1/7806--dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020045042 ISBN: 978-0-367-53544-5 (hbk) ISBN: 978-0-367-53543-8 (pbk) ISBN: 978-1-003-08242-2 (ebk) Typeset in Bembo by Deanta Global Publishing Services, Chennai, India Robbie Davis-Floyd dedicates this book to Beverley Chalmers, who has long been an effective champion of family-centered perinatal care and who was with me every step of the way as we co-created this book. For serving as my de-facto co-editor and for your outstanding and directly applicable work in the world, my eternal gratitude, Beverley! Beverley Chalmers dedicates this book to Bernie and to our daughters Carmen, Dana, and Tandy, with grateful thanks for teaching us about birth, babies, and parenthood. CONTENTS Figures xii Contributors xv About the Editor xix Introduction: Birthing Techno-Sapiens 1 Robbie Davis-Floyd and Beverley Chalmers PART I From Biocultural Evolution to Human-Technology Co-Evolution 13 1 Birth and the Big Bad Wolf: Biocultural Evolution and Human Childbirth 15 Melissa Cheyney and Robbie Davis-Floyd 2 Egg Freezing Activists: Extending Reproductive Futures to Cancer Patients, Single and Minority Women, and Transgender Men 47 Marcia C. Inhorn 3 The Speculative Turn in IVF: Egg Freezing, Reproductive Futures, and the Financialization of Fertility 60 Lucy van de Wiel
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