Analysis of Social Control in Female Reproductive System with ART

This essay provides a sociological analysis of the impact of assisted reproductive technology (ART) on the social control of the female reproductive system. It explores the historical context of childbirth, the medicalization of the process, and the role of ART such as IVF in addressing infertility. The essay examines how social norms, ethical considerations, and legal frameworks influence the use of ART and its implications for women's reproductive rights, family structures, and societal values. It discusses various perspectives on social control, including those of Margaret Bortner, and highlights the evolving nature of family dynamics and the challenges and benefits associated with ART. The essay concludes by emphasizing the need for a reevaluation of social norms and guidelines to ensure ethical and equitable access to reproductive technologies, considering their profound effects on women and society.

Essay
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10
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INTRODUCTION
In contemporary society there are many issues that are being faced. The issues has highly
impacted on behaviour of people. However, most of the issues are faced by women. Due to that
their mental health is affected in negative way. It is necessary to identify contemporary issues so
that it can be solved (Banik, 2019). Technology is highly been used in providing health and
social care services to people. There are various types of software and applications that is being
used. Besides, in child birth as well technology is applied. Westernization has created a great
impact on Indian culture. This has influenced mind of people and way of live life. There are
various concepts and practices which is being applied and adopted by people. It has resulted in
changing thinking as well as perception of people. Similarly, use of ART reflect on various
ideologies of people in society. It gives broad prospectus of behaviour of people towards
treatment. So, when there occurs a conflict due to change in perception of ideology then it result
in giving varied results. So, it results in rise of social issue that need to be solved.
In this essay it will be described about analysis of reproductive technology or medicalization
of child birth of social control in female reproductive system.
MAIN BODY
The female reproductive system is highly complex to understand. Within society there are
certain rules and laws that are followed in order to regulate human behaviour. In order to control
it there are various methods that is used (Dyer, , Vinoos. and Ataguba, 2017). Besides, different
sanctions are implied that is mechanism, indoctrination, etc. Here, main people who are involved
in medicalization of childbirth are women, midwives, and many other. There is need to possess
relevant knowledge and experience to understand what problem is been faced by women during
child birth. Within framework it require to consist of policies, medical language, intervention
methods and various other things to be included in it.
Child birth is important event in society. There is need to respect values and dignity of child.
Before 20th century child birth was normal and considered as natural. But with change in time
and evolving of medical procedures and science new things are developed. In that time home
delivery was common way of giving birth to child (Faircloth, . and Gürtin, 2018). This is
because it was easy and simple practice followed. But after 20th century there was drastic change
in medical practices generally in child birth. This resulted in medicalization of physiological
process, pregnancy, social control, framework, etc. Medicalization is having varied meaning in
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context of child birth. It is said that main problem of medicalization is medicine exceed
acceptable jurisdiction. Women faces a lot of problem and issues during child birth. There is
need to understand medical problems related during child birth so that treatment is provided to
them. The assisted reproductive technology has emerged as new way and technique to fulfil
needs of women. It is highly used in addressing fertility. There are different types of procedure
which is involved in ART that is vitro fertilisation, intracytoplasmic sperm injection,
cryopreservation of gametes, etc. (Faya Robles,, 2019). These all methods are effectively used in
treating of fertility. This involve handling of both men sperm and women egg. The technology
has given positive outcomes by which it has been easy to treat women infertility. Moreover, it is
evaluated that there are different types of ART such as GIFT, ZIFT, FET, etc.
Social control refers to mechanism of social and political by which individual and group
behaviour is regulated. It is necessary to maintain social order so that people behave in proper
manner. Besides, main purpose is to maintain order to ensure continuity is maintained along with
uniformity. This also helps in bringing change in behaviour of people because the norms, beliefs,
values, etc. differs. The social control regulate behaviour through set norms of society. It has
been analysed that social needs of women are changing. However, it is identified that no two
women ideas, attitude, interest is same (Harrison, Hilton, and Walker, 2017). They follow
different religion and ideologies. Thus, use of ART reflect on various ideologies of people in
society. It gives broad prospectus of behaviour of people towards treatment. So, when there
occurs a conflict due to change in perception of ideology then it result in giving varied results.
So, it results in rise of social issue that need to be solved. Here, issue gets board if not solved and
alongside behaviour of women is not controlled. Those women who are facing issue there is
complete change in their behaviour. There was change in dealing with such experience by which
it was not easy for women to opt for ART. These women does not control or regulate behaviour
in society.
Furthermore, ART has highly influenced on rules and regulation of society. This is because
women are using this technology for child birth. So, it has become a common way to control
female reproductive system (Molgora, Fenaroli, and Saita, 2019). Along with that,
westernisation has led to making change in laws of society. The ART has provided a framework
to women to produce child. Besides, it has changed the ideology and perception of women
regarding birth of child. The social change bought by ART is benefiting women. It is because
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those women who are facing problem related to female reproductive system are easily being
treated. The technology has made it easy to find out treatment options of women by which
problem or issue related to infertility is treated. Apart from it, women are also comfortable in
using of ART for child birth.
ART has become a common practice in society. It has provided access to women to treat
reproductive system problems. Thus, it is necessary for society to revaluate and reconsider social
norms, ethics, etc. by which treatment can be provided to women. It has been analysed that in
many countries ART is followed as per social norms and practice established and formed by
society (Präg, Mills, and Pison, 2017). So, this has enabled and has made easy for women to
opt for ART for their treatment. Furthermore, several guidelines are laid down that is required to
be followed. However, some medical researcher and expert said that guidelines laid down are not
sufficient. It is because it contain guidelines that include only basic rules and forms. Also, there
is change in family functioning and child development due to ART. Despite changes has
occurred in society but main change has occurred in interrelationship between people. Here,
most common structure followed now is hetro sexual one married parents who genetically relate
to children. The restriction of IVF is explained through a wide view in which children are raised
where family is having advantage and living with single parent. The social control is giving way
to make things easy and get it done in proper way. There is influence on practice of women in
treating fertility issues. Also, men thinking has changed as they are now supporting women to
adopt ART in child birth. They are working together for welfare of child (Quelch, 2020).
There are certain ethical concern that has led to some consequences in use of ART in
child birth. The families and people ethics and values has changed. It highly focus on
understanding of issues related to fertility in women. The use of ART has made easy in child
birth. Here, main practice that is used is IVF and DI. It has led to creating a strong bond between
child and mother. Women have become more dependent regarding reproductive system. They
fell free to discuss issue with family member. Through that, treatment is given on basis of set
society guidelines and policies. ART has become integral part of women treatment. The social
control of reproductive rights is addressed in four diverse ways. Margaret Bortner focuses on
advances made in reproductive technologies that make the ability of women to control their
bodies and their lives more problematic (Rafalovich, 2020). The framework of this discussion is
the contradictory nature of the rights discourse and the political and ideological struggles being
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waged over sexuality, the nature of gender relations, and the role of women in society. She
points out that because of their enormous potential for altering conceptions of family and gender
relations, contraception, abortion, and new reproductive technologies generate widespread moral
panic. Bortner believes that participation in the rights discourse is necessary to maintain the
limited control women have gained over their reproductive lives. It must be acknowledged,
however, that the rights discourse also provides viable means of enhanced social control over
women. This is because it was easy and simple practice followed. But after 20th century there
was drastic change in medical practices generally in child birth. This resulted in medicalization
of physiological process, pregnancy, social control, framework, etc. (Scamell, Altaweli, and
McCourt, 2017) Medicalization is having varied meaning in context of child birth. It is said that
main problem of medicalization is medicine exceed acceptable jurisdiction. Women faces a lot of
problem and issues during child birth. There is need to understand medical problems related
during child birth so that treatment is provided to them. The assisted reproductive technology has
emerged as new way and technique to fulfil needs of women. It is highly used in addressing
fertility.
Now, women can easily give birth to child as ART is useful in solving issue of
reproduction. This is because by use of IVF infertility issues are easily solved. Furthermore, it is
evaluated that results of use of IVF are positive. This shows that there is no harmful effect of this
on women reproductive system. Hence, it has resulted in using ART in child birth. So, focus is
shifted towards use of ART in case women is facing health issue in their reproductive system
(Tari, and Hamvai, 2019).
In order to regulate and control society in context of ART there is need to form a law so
that it becomes easy to treat issues of reproductive system of women. The law will provide a
framework and act as guidance by which it becomes easy to regulate and control it. Moreover,
having a law will include guidelines and other things by which treatment is given. Also, it will
put restrictions on it to ensure that there is no misuse of ART in treatment of women. The
collective behavior through which traditional societies limit the use of the reproductive potential
and thereby reduce the need for mortality checks to maintain a balance obviously warrants
further attention (Topçu, . and Brown, 2019). One set of theories that tries to account for
demographic homeostasis in human and in animal populations draws on the Darwinian principles
the struggle for life and natural selection favor the most adapted individuals and the most
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adapted forms of social organization. A refinement of this is embedded in the Smithian invisible
hand type of explanation, namely that there are mechanisms that operate beyond individual
consciousness that lead to an optimal allocation of resources and optimal adaptation of the
pattern of social organization to a given environment and mode of production. There are some
theories of social control which is applied (Tsui, and Cheng, 2018). This has changed
perception of women and society to deal with issues related to reproductive system.
It is determined that use of ART is having social control on female reproductive system. This can
be said that behaviour of women and men towards ART is changed. ART has led to
understanding problem of reproductive system easily (Dyer, , Vinoos. and Ataguba, 2017).
Therefore, on basis of it treatment is given to them. As there are various options available in
ART so from each one treatment can be given.
So, it can be said that there is no social control of female reproductive system due to ART.
Women are dependent of taking decision to treat health issues. The guidelines is followed in
regard to society. Besides, this issue is prevailing in society as it has led to ineffective control
and monitoring of social norms. It is making it difficult to follow norms and ethics prevailing in
society. These societal attitudes but also new medical and laboratory opportunities have a created
a thriving industry specifically dealing with family planning, reproduction, pregnancy and birth.
In future there will be change in way of controlling society (Faircloth, . and Gürtin, 2018). The
use of ART will change things to use it in treating of health issue. There is change in thinking of
women as ART is safe to use. It relate that any problem or issue in reproductive system can be
easily treated. The experience of women in regard to it is positive. Also, there are no long term
implication and consequence of ART in treating of health issue. Along with it, there is no burden
on women to opt for ART. But main issue is this is safety concern as in view of society the ART
is not safe and it can result in harm to their reproductive system. Moreover, various questions are
raise in it in regard to moral and legal status of embryos by which fate is not met in IVF
treatment. Such issues as the disposal of unneeded embryos, the creation of embryos expressly
for research, and the point at which embryo development research should be permitted are
strongly affected by how society perceives the embryo.
The perception of society has influenced due to ART. There are some moral and ethics that
is not being accepted in context of ethical and social issues. In some society still ART is not
accepted and there is no control of behaviour on people. The main issue in this is social issue. It
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is because some society has not accepted ART (Harrison, Hilton, and Walker, 2017). When
any women is treated with this then it change thinking of society and family members. It is
because there arise question mark on reproductive system of women. However, for many society
ART treatment shows how women is not able to conceive child birth. It also reflect on ethics,
beliefs, norms, etc. of family members. This also impact on mental health of women. It has led to
creating conflicts and chaos in society that how ART is viewed as treatment option of women
reproductive issue. The behaviour is controlled when ART is performed and there is no issue
faced by women. The services in it are becoming more advance. It is due to human right given
by society to women who want treatment (Molgora, Fenaroli, and Saita, 2019).
There is need to resolve this issue as use of new technology ART so that the perception
change of women and society modifies. It will help in giving a board view to women on how
they can get treatment services for reproductive system. The research shows that challenges in it
breach ethical and social morale (Scamell, Altaweli, and McCourt, 2017). This is because ART
separate reproduction of human unions from body. Besides that, there are certain ethical concern
in it which can be led to safety of child birth. Along with that, westernisation has led to making
change in laws of society. The ART has provided a framework to women to produce child.
Besides, it has changed the ideology and perception of women regarding birth of child. The
social change bought by ART is benefiting women. It is because those women who are facing
problem related to female reproductive system are easily being treated.
CONCLUSION
From essay it has been summarised that in western society medicalization is highly been
used to find out medical problems. It has helped in understanding of problem and then treating it.
ART has emerged as new way and technique to fulfil needs of women. It is highly used in
addressing fertility. There are different types of procedure which is involved in ART that is vitro
fertilisation, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, cryopreservation of gametes, GIFT, ZIFT, FET,
etc. Also, social control refers to mechanism of social and political by which individual and
group behaviour is regulated. It is determined that use of ART is having social control on female
reproductive system. This can be said that behaviour of women and men towards ART is
changed. ART has led to understanding problem of reproductive system easily. Therefore, on
basis of it treatment is given to them. As there are various options available in ART so from each
one treatment can be given.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Banik, B.K., 2019. A Sociological Analysis of the Medicalization Process of Pregnancy and
Child Birth in Bangladesh. Bangladesh e-Journal of Sociology, 16(2).
Dyer, S.J., Vinoos, L. and Ataguba, J.E., 2017. Poor recovery of households from out-of-pocket
payment for assisted reproductive technology. Human Reproduction, 32(12), pp.2431-
2436.
Faircloth, C. and Gürtin, Z.B., 2018. Fertile connections: Thinking across assisted reproductive
technologies and parenting culture studies. Sociology, 52(5), pp.983-1000.
Faya Robles, A., 2019. Health regulations and social experiences of ‘high-risk’pregnancies
among young working-class women in Brazil. Health, Risk & Society, 21(3-4), pp.100-
121.
Harrison, B.J., Hilton, T.N. and Walker, M.C., 2017. Advanced maternal age: ethical and
medical considerations for assisted reproductive technology. International journal of
women's health, 9, p.561.
Molgora, S., Fenaroli, V. and Saita, E., 2019. Examining the role of dyadic coping on the marital
adjustment of couples undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART). Frontiers in
psychology, 10, p.415.
Präg, P., Mills, M. and Pison, G., 2017. The demographic consequences of assisted reproductive
technologies.
Quelch, J., 2020. Inequitable fertilization: Improving access to assisted reproductive technologies
in British Columbia.
Rafalovich, A., 2020. Conflict and Complementarity: Medicalization, Criminalization, and the
Question of Human Agency. Deviant Behavior, 41(7), pp.868-881.
Scamell, M., Altaweli, R. and McCourt, C., 2017. Sarah's birth. How the medicalisation of
childbirth may be shaped in different settings: Vignette from a study of routine intervention in
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Women and Birth, 30(1), pp.e39-e45.
Tari, G. and Hamvai, C., 2019. The Medicalization of Childbirth: Ethical and Legal Issues of
Negative Childbirth Experience.
Topçu, S. and Brown, P., 2019. The impact of technology on pregnancy and childbirth: creating
and managing obstetrical risk in different cultural and socio-economic contexts.
Tsui, E.Y.L. and Cheng, J.O.Y., 2018. When Failed Motherhood Threatens Womanhood: Using
Donor-Assisted Conception (DAC) as the Last Resort. Asian Women, 34(2).
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