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The Notion of the Gift in the Donation of Body Tissues

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  • Rhonda Shaw

Abstract

Recent social science commentary on the donation of body tissues and organs typically invokes Richard Titmuss's work on altruism and the gift relationship as a way of framing donative processes. Much of this discussion, however, has neglected to consider how altruism and body gifting is structured and promoted by organisations and institutions that make such processes possible. In this article I suggest that the accounts people give of their body gifting practices do not always fit orthodox notions of tissue donation as unconditional. Rather, people's perceptions of body gifting and donation depend very much on the kind of tissue being donated and who the tissue is being donated to. Given these complexities, we need more thoroughgoing discussion of the rituals associated with specific donation practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Rhonda Shaw, 2008. "The Notion of the Gift in the Donation of Body Tissues," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 13(6), pages 41-50, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socres:v:13:y:2008:i:6:p:41-50
    DOI: 10.5153/sro.1832
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Waldby, Catherine & Rosengarten, Marsha & Treloar, Carla & Fraser, Suzanne, 2004. "Blood and bioidentity: ideas about self, boundaries and risk among blood donors and people living with Hepatitis C," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 59(7), pages 1461-1471, October.
    2. Williams, Brian & Entwistle, Vikki & Haddow, Gill & Wells, Mary, 2008. "Promoting research participation: Why not advertise altruism?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(7), pages 1451-1456, April.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Delaunay, Catarina & Gouveia, Luís & Santos, Mário JDS. & Morais, Rita, 2023. "(De)Bonding with embryos: The emotional choreographies of Portuguese IVF patients," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 321(C).
    3. Ryan, Kath & Bissell, Paul & Alexander, Jo, 2010. "Moral work in women's narratives of breastfeeding," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 70(6), pages 951-958, March.
    4. Marcin Smietana, 2017. "Affective De-Commodifying, Economic De-Kinning: Surrogates’ and Gay Fathers’ Narratives in U.S. Surrogacy," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 22(2), pages 163-175, May.
    5. Oreg, Ayelet, 2019. "Milk donation after losing one's baby: Adopting a donor identity as a means of coping with loss," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 238(C), pages 1-1.
    6. Coveney, Catherine & Hudson, Nicky & Funes, Sara Lafuente- & Jacxsens, Lara & Provoost, Veerle, 2022. "From scarcity to sisterhood: The framing of egg donation on fertility clinic websites in the UK, Belgium and Spain," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 296(C).

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