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Medically assisted reproduction and non-normative family forms: legislation and public opinion in Europe

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  • Compans, Marie-Caroline
  • Zagel, Hannah

Abstract

This paper explores the relationship between access legislation of medically assisted reproduction (MAR) and public attitudes towards family structures in Europe. It contributes to understanding the contextual frameworks that may facilitate the formation of a family outside the different-sex couple norm. The permissiveness of MAR policies has received political attention owing to its potential to revolutionize family formation, with varying regulatory routes among states regarding access for single individuals and same-sex couples. We particularly examine regulatory trends in granting MAR access to single women and lesbian couples in Europe, and how legislation aligns with attitudes towards single motherhood and same-sex parenthood. Utilizing descriptive analysis and two-level models on original MAR legislation data across 36 European countries and the European Values Study (2008–10 and 2017–20) for attitudes, we show that MAR access is granted to lesbian couples in contexts where same-sex parenthood is accepted. By contrast, legalized MAR access for single women seems rather disconnected from public opinion towards single motherhood. As a whole, the paper delineates contexts in which the combination of social acceptance and legal permissibility of MAR use for non-normative prospective parents may favor the formation of ‘new’ family forms.

Suggested Citation

  • Compans, Marie-Caroline & Zagel, Hannah, 2025. "Medically assisted reproduction and non-normative family forms: legislation and public opinion in Europe," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 27(1), pages 171-203.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:espost:320723
    DOI: 10.1162/euso_a_00003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pierson, Paul, 2000. "Increasing Returns, Path Dependence, and the Study of Politics," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 94(2), pages 251-267, June.
    2. Alina Pelikh & Hanna Remes & Niina Metsä-Simola & Alice Goisis, 2024. "Partnership trajectories preceding medically assisted reproduction," Population Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 78(2), pages 341-360, May.
    3. Judith C. Koops & Aart C. Liefbroer & Anne H. Gauthier, 2021. "Socio-Economic Differences in the Prevalence of Single Motherhood in North America and Europe," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 37(4), pages 825-849, November.
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    1. Daniele Vignoli & Valentina Tocchioni & Ester Lazzari & Marco Cozzani, 2026. "Polarization and Flexibility in Attitudes Toward Assisted Reproduction: A Vignette Study," Econometrics Working Papers Archive 2026_02, Universita' degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Statistica, Informatica, Applicazioni "G. Parenti".

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