Naturally, Children: Bio-politics / Bio-responsible Parenthood at a medico-genetic Consultation

Occupation: Research Fellow; PhD student at the Department of Media, Culture, and Communication
Affiliation:
Center for Medical Anthropology RAS
NYU Steinhardt
Address: 32a, Leninsky Prosp., Moscow 119334, Russian Federation

Journal name

Chelovek

Edition

Volume 30 Issue №6

Pages

112-129

Abstract

The article explicates the ideas of Rabinow, Rose and several other authors regarding the forms that biopolitics takes in the 21st century in relation to the development of biotechnologies. I substantially respecify these ideas using the data from a field study of genetic consultations in Moscow. On the one hand, in contrast to responsible biological subjects [8, p. 98], at such consultations one can more likely see bio-responsible parents taking care of children. On the other hand, contrary to the traditional image of a geneticist as a person who “embodies” biopower and wants patients to avoid transmission of a hereditary condition, specialists in the genetic diseases of heart and connective tissue considered here often, on the contrary, smoothen more radical opinions of patients, work with their fears and worries. Their goals include teaching the family to properly care for a child with such a condition, plan their lifestyle and physical activity, so that (s)he can live an ordinary life.

Keywords

biopolitics, bio-responsible parenthood, genetic counseling, geneticist, care for children, planning of parenthood

Received

12.12.2019

Publication date

12.12.2019

Number of characters

37005

Cite

GOST	Kurlenkova A. “Naturally, Children”: Bio-politics / Bio-responsible Parenthood at a medico-genetic Consultation // Chelovek – 2019. – V. 30. – Issue №6 C. 112-129 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://chelovek-journal.ru/S023620070007675-9-1 (circulation date: 26.04.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S023620070007675-9
MLA	Kurlenkova, Aleksandra S "“Naturally, Children”: Bio-politics / Bio-responsible Parenthood at a medico-genetic Consultation." Chelovek 30.6 (2019):112-129. DOI: 10.31857/S023620070007675-9
APA	Kurlenkova A. (2019). “Naturally, Children”: Bio-politics / Bio-responsible Parenthood at a medico-genetic Consultation. Chelovek 30(6), pp.112-129 DOI: 10.31857/S023620070007675-9

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