Ethnography Review: Local Babies, Global Science: Gender, Religion, and In Vitro Fertilization in Egypt

The ethnography Local Babies, Global Science: Gender, Religion, and In Vitro Fertilization in Egypt, by Marcia C. Inhorn shares the research of how infertility affects the locals in Egypt and the different ways individuals understand, cope, and treat their situations. Marcia Inhorn’s research identified how greatly social class, knowledge, religion, gender, and perceptions affect those who are infertile and their decision to do In vitro fertilization. This ethnography thoroughly explains the struggles that Egyptians, both men and women who are infertile go through in their communities and the different steps that couples take to try and reach the goal of having children. Inhorn uses her interviews to help readers really understand the different situations of infertility there are in Egypt. She does this by first sharing the story of a specific couple and tying there situation to what she talks about in the rest of the chapter By sharing the stories of real couples, readers are able to have a better understanding of how greatly infertility affects a wide range of Egyptians.

This ethnography shares the experiences of several infertile couples in Egypt and how each couple views their current situation and their view of the in vitro fertilization treatment. No matter the age of a couple or how they were dealing with their infertility, all the couples had very similar views and beliefs. Along with other aspects, different social classes, education and religion all influenced each one of these couples and their infertility. Egypt is a very conservative, traditional country, where the perceptions of the family and community are very important and influential on these infertile couples. These perceptions strongly influence how infertile couples feel about themselves as individuals and their situations. Families usually do not positively influence infertile couples because many family members pressure couples to have children quickly before reaching old age. A majority of recent infertile couples are older because younger individuals are usually very fertile. Most of the couples that Inhorn interviewed were elder and had been through various surgical procedures, life changing events or multiple marriages. So many different things can cause infertility such as smoking, which is very common amongst Egyptian men, pollution, stress, and excessive heat. Old age and previous surgeries that did not go successfully for patients are usually the main reasons for the cause of infertility for couples in Egypt. Having children is seen as very important and almost necessary in the Egyptian culture. So infertile couples feel even more pressure to be able to have a child. This is why in vitro fertilization has began to slowly emerge in Egypt, infertile couples are just so desperate and willing to do go to what is seen as drastic measures to try and have a child.

The different social classes in Egypt play a large role in determining the future of infertile couples. Similarly to the rest of the world, Egypt is broken up into three social classes, the lower, middle, and upper class. It is rare seeing couples in the lower class investing in in vitro fertilization because an average cost of one trial in Egypt is about $3000, which is far more than they can afford (34). Those in the lower class who do try to get a trial of in vitro are usually from farther away because there are almost no in vitro centers in poorer communities of Egypt. For middle class couples, in vitro fertilization is more accessible to them in comparison to the lower class but is still considered a “major expenditure and a major source of anxiety” for the couple (42). In contrast to both the lower and middle class, infertile couples who are part of the upper class are able to access in vitro clinics very easily and are able to do multiple trials without worrying about the cost. In vitro is understood to be “unbelievable expensive for the average Egyptian” (48). Over one-third of the in vitro patients Inhorn interviewed were a part of the upper class in Egypt.

I personally think that a couple’s social class should not determine their ability to have children. In vitro centers should be more available to lower and middle class infertile couples. Couples should not be rewarded with easier accessibility to in vitro fertilization because they are wealthy. Any infertile couple, no matter their social status should be given and equal and fair opportunity to receive in vitro. Not having enough money should not hinder an infertile couple from pursuing their hopes and dreams of having a child. In vitro is very expensive because it is still a new and growing technology in Egypt, but there should be a system created that allows more couples to easily access in vitro centers and receive treatment. All infertile couples in Egypt should be able to try and have children no matter how much it may cost. Wealthy infertile couples are given much more hope in being able to have a child than poorer couples. Poorer couples aren’t even given a chance to try and pursue having a child through in vitro fertilization because of money restrictions, I think every infertile couple should be able to have at least one chance to pursue having a child through in vitro, no matter the cost.

How knowledgeable infertile couples are also affects how many of them pursue using in vitro fertilization. Many traditional Egyptian couples are very critical and doubtful in the ability for in vitro fertilization to successfully help them have a child. This is due to the fact that a majority of Egyptian couples are not educated about infertility and how to prevent and treat it. Unlike in Western societies, in Middle Eastern countries such as Egypt, individuals are not as aware and informed about the new reproductive technologies that are available (60). Many infertile Egyptian couples misinterpret what in vitro doctors tell them is the problem and what steps they need to take in order to solve the problem to successfully have a child. Uneducated couples also tend to believe that the women are to blame for the couple’s inability to have a child, while the truth is that both the man and woman can be to blame for infertility. Egyptian males feel like they have to be very masculine so they cannot accept the idea that they may be the reason that a couple is infertile. Whether or not a couple is educated in infertility and the treatments has a lot to do with their social class. The higher a couples social class, the more educated they are, this is because there is so much more media and literature available for the higher social classes. Most individuals in the lower class are uneducated and illiterate and are not given the opportunity or material to learn more about infertility and treatments such as in vitro fertilization.

All Egyptians, especially infertile couples, should be educated in infertility and the treatments that can be done. So many uneducated couples avoid taking part in in vitro fertilization because they are unaware of the process and if it can really help them get a child. If couples were more educated they would be able to make a better, more educated decision of whether or not in vitro is right for them. I don’t think couples should just make assumptions about the process because in vitro fertilization can really help couples achieve their dreams of having children. Infertility and in vitro fertilization is a very sensitive and private topic to discuss in Egypt so many couples are afraid and ashamed to come forward and be openly honest about whether they are infertile. If infertility and in vitro fertilization were more openly talked about and explained I think infertile couples would be more comfortable and open with their situations and more willing to seek for help.

Religion plays a very important role in how infertile couples live their lives and make decisions concerning their fertility and children. A majority of Egyptians are Muslim and have a very strong belief in their religion. Egyptian, infertile patients prefer to receive in vitro in Egypt from Muslim doctors versus in the America or Europe with Western doctors who don’t understand their beliefs because a majority of them are Christian (88). There are very specific rules that must be followed by Muslim patients who are taking part in medically assisted conception (97). Muslims do not believe in donor insemination because they believe that in the process of having a child only to people should be involved, the husband and wife, not a donor. They strongly believe that if you are having a child it must be from the creation of your own flesh and blood not someone else’s, or else it is not your child. This is also why Muslims also do not believe in adoption. They feel that if they adopt a child they would never be able to really accept the child as theirs because he or she is not really related to them at all. Muslim, infertile couples are even more cautious and fearful of the in vitro procedure because of all the restrictions and rules they must follow due to their religion.

Religion has always played a very large role in my life. I was born into a very strong Christian family and have lived under the same beliefs all my life. Two of my grandparents are Muslim and because of this I have been able to learn that Christians and Muslims do share some similar ideas and views on life. I do believe that Muslims have much stricter rules and beliefs on the ways to live life. Unlike Muslims, Christians don’t object to adoption at all, they actually really believe in it. They are also not against donor insemination. This may be because Christianity is the most common religion in the Western society; so many of the beliefs in Christianity are influenced by the ways of the West. Adoption and the ability to have someone else's child, is completely accepted and supported in the Western culture. Western society is very modern and accepting of new ideas and ways to live. In comparison, the culture in Egypt, and other Middle Eastern countries is still very much traditional. Different cultures and perceptions are very strong influences on individual’s views infertility and in vitro. It is very hard to change Egyptians views on infertility and in vitro fertilization because a majority of them have lived with the same culture and perceptions their entire life. 

            Marcia Inhorn’s research in Egypt allows readers to see how closely culture and perception tie together to determine how couples deal with infertility and their views on in vitro. Social class, education, and religion play very strong roles in couples decisions and actions concerning their infertility. Infertility is something that Egyptians of all social classes continue to face now and will face in the future. Infertility is not just an issue for Egyptian couples, but is actually an issue that is being dealt with by couples worldwide. In vitro fertilization is also method that is used all over the world to treat infertility, but the views on this treatment vary based on where in the world you are. In Western societies, in vitro fertilization is supported strongly and the procedures are done very frequently amongst couples facing infertility. On the other hand, in the South in vitro fertilization is not as common and couples going through the procedures are much more cautious and doubtful of what the outcome could be. In vitro fertilization is a newer technology that is being used in the world and will not be successful for many couples but will also allow other couples hopes and dreams to come true. In vitro has not been completely successful in Egypt but if more clinics were to be opened and available to lower class, infertile couples, more individuals would be able to try to fulfill their life dreams of having children. The outcome may not be as they wished, but they at least would know that they were given the opportunity to try, because you never know what can happen until you do.