The body as source， venue， and means： interpretation of females’ bodily practices in assisted reproductive technology
10.12026/j.issn.1001-8565.2026.05.11
- VernacularTitle:身体作为源泉、场所与手段：辅助生殖技术中女性的身体实践解读
- Author:
Tingting XI
1
;
Shangman YAO
1
Author Information
1. College of Humanities and Social Sciences， Shanxi Medical University， Taiyuan 030001， China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
body;
assisted reproductive technology;
females’ body;
fertility concept
- From:
Chinese Medical Ethics
2026;39(5):631-639
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
With the deepening of population aging and the persistent decline of the fertility rate in China， assisted reproductive technology （ART） has gained increasing attention as a crucial methods of addressing infertility issues. From the perspective of Chris Shilling’s sociology of the body， this paper analyzed the multiple dimensions of females’ bodies in the field of assisted reproduction through the framework of “the body as a source of society， a locating venue of society， and a means for individuals to position themselves in society”. The results demonstrated that females’ bodies in the assisted reproductive field exhibited characteristics of multidimensional mediation. As a source of society， females’ bodies have become concrete carriers of reproductive culture and policy implementation， reflecting continuity and reconstruction of traditional fertility concepts. As a locating venue of society， females’ bodies were disciplined by medical discourse， gazed upon by the medical examinations， and affected by the unequal distribution of healthcare resources. As a means for individuals to position themselves in society， females constructed their subjectivity through active knowledge acquisition， interactive experience exchange， and proactive body management. Females in ART constructing subjectivity within structural constraints is a complex interactive process. Sociocultural expectations and medical power discipline constitute structural constraints. However， females carve out spaces for agency through various strategic practices within these constraints， achieving self-positioning and the reconstruction of meaning.
