Egg donation companies commodify women through ad campaigns

This ad appeared as a “suggested post” on a law student’s Facebook News Feed page. Sponsored by A Perfect Match, a southern California company that “specializes in the recruitment of intelligent, college-aged egg donors,” it includes appealing taglines: “Gift of life,” “$10,000 or more,” “Change lives . . . earn money!”

The law student said the ad made her feel “like a hen.”

The fertility industry asserts that women gift their eggs for others’ use and receive payment for the time and effort of doing so. Thus, we call them “egg donors.” In fact, the egg donation process carefully calibrates the ratio of altruism and financial need that motivates women to provide eggs for other’s use.

Medical sociologist Jennifer Haylett’s work in fertility centers reveals that staff screen out applicants who place too much emphasis on financial motive. Rene Almeling’s research shows that fertility clinics nudge egg providers to construct altruistic explanations. And yet, what intended parents and agencies pay for are ascribed traits.

The ABCs of egg donation are SAT, IQ, and college ranking. High scores and enrollment at prestigious universities are central to the egg market. Certainly, other traits matter, as well. Youth, good health, race, ethnicity, religion, good looks, height, and athleticism are among the characteristics used to solicit, profile, and select women. Women not enrolled in college are sometimes chosen as third-party egg providers. But what agencies prize are college students.

Third-party eggs form the basis of a luxury market governed by the rules of supply and demand. For example, demand for eggs from Asian women exceeds supply. Thus, prices offered to Asian women for their eggs sometimes exceed the prices offered to women of other races. However, it is the elitist criteria – near-perfect SAT scores and a place at a top-ten university – that consistently command the higher prices.

Read full, original article: “High IQ Eggs Wanted” – ads appeal to ego and altruism, offer $10,000 

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