The Reproductive Body at Work: The South African Bioeconomy of Egg Donation (Routledge Advances in Feminist Studies and Intersectionality)

The transnational industry surrounding assisted reproductive technology and regenerative medicine is based on the unacknowledged labour of gamete providers, surrogates and research subjects, and benefits from low labour costs in ‘enabling’ sectors such as logistics and transport. This finding calls for a comprehensive analysis of how the contemporary intersection of neoliberal capitalism and the life sciences - in short, the bioeconomy - capitalises on the body and its (re)productive capacities. The Reproductive Body at Work uptakes this challenge as it explores the relations between value production, labour and the body in one particular realm of the global bioeconomy: the South African bioeconomy of ‘egg donation’. It highlights different forms and dimensions of unacknowledged or precarious human labour that are constitutive for the procurement, brokering and circulation of oocytes as valuable resources. The analysis illustrates that the respective organisation of value and labour renegotiate what ‘the’ (re)productive body can do, which status and roles it is ascribed, which cultural and economic values it signifies and how it is experienced and enacted within a matrix of intersectional power relations. A theoretically profound contribution to the interdisciplinary debate on ‘New materialism’, __The Reproductive Body at Work__ will appeal to students and researchers interested in fields such as gender studies, medical anthropology, cultural studies, sociology, political economy and science and technology studies. The Transnational Industry Surrounding Assisted Reproductive Technology And Regenerative Medicine Is Based On The Unacknowledged Labour Of Gamete Providers, Surrogates And Research Subjects, And Benefits From Low Labour Costs In 'enabling' Sectors Such As Logistics And Transport. This Finding Calls For A Comprehensive Analysis Of How The Contemporary Intersection Of Neoliberal Capitalism And The Life Sciences - In Short, The Bioeconomy - Capitalises On The Body And Its (re)productive Capacities. The Reproductive Body At Workuptakes This Challenge As It Explores The Relations Between Value Production, Labour And The Body In One Particular Realm Of The Global Bioeconomy: The South African Bioeconomy Of 'egg Donation'. It Highlights Different Forms And Dimensions Of Unacknowledged Or Precarious Human Labour That Are Constitutive For The Procurement, Brokering And Circulation Of Oocytes As Valuable Resources. The Analysis Illustrates That The Respective Organisation Of Value And Labour Renegotiate What 'the' (re)productive Body Can Do, Which Status And Roles It Is Ascribed, Which Cultural And Economic Values It Signifies And How It Is Experienced And Enacted Within A Matrix Of Intersectional Power Relations. A Theoretically Profound Contribution To The Interdisciplinary Debate On 'new Materialism', The Reproductive Body At Workwill Appeal To Students And Researchers Interested In Fields Such As Gender Studies, Medical Anthropology, Cultural Studies, Sociology, Political Economy And Science And Technology Studies. Respective Organisation Of Value And Labour Renegotiate What 'the' (re)productive Body Can Do, Which Status And Roles It Is Ascribed, Which Cultural And Economic Values It Signifies And How It Is Experienced And Enacted Within A Matrix Of Intersectional Power Relations. A Theoretically Profound Contribution To The Interdisciplinary Debate On 'new Materialism', The Reproductive Body At Workwill Appeal To Students And Researchers Interested In Fields Such As Gender Studies, Medical Anthropology, Cultural Studies, Sociology, Political Economy And Science And Technology Studies. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Contents List of figure List of abbreviations Foreword Acknowledgements 1 Introduction Marx, biotechnology and the life sciences: rewriting biocapital? Time for renewed conversations: capitalism and the body The global business of egg donation Case study and methods: diffracting egg donation in South Africa Outline and chapter structure 2 Valuable eggs and lively capital in South Africa Conditions of possibility: technologies travel as well as business models The value(s) of the ‘gift of life’ Into the messiness of commodification: egg fetishism Value in motion: reproductive travellers and logistics Summary 3 Deconstructing nature’s ‘latent value’: labour in egg donation Feminist interventions with and against work: wages for egg donation? Labour matters in South Africa: ‘having eggs is not enough’ Fertility workers Summary 4 Bodies made in South Africa Mind the gap: bodies in the life sciences – bodies in capitalism In/fertile bodies: when procreation meets efficiency On beauty: visualisation technologies, aesthetics, and looks Bodies of data and genetics In transit: biological cargo, body containers Summary 5 Body formation in Bioeconomic Times The crux of the matter: labour Picturing ‘(re)productive bodies at work’ 6 Conclusion Index