About Reprosoc

the “Momentum” Reproductive Sociology Research Group was formed in 2021

The aim of the research project is to explore the social embeddedness of reproductive decisions. We specifically seek to examine reproductive decisions in a complex way, which means that we will not limit the meaning of reproduction to fertility, but we will also examine issues related to infertility, contraception, abortion, adoption and fertility treatment. Examining a variety of reproductive decisions together provides us with an opportunity to better understand the processes of (not) becoming a parent.

First, we will explore the effects of macro-level factors (such as norms, values and legal background, as well as the pandemic situation) on individuals’ reproductive decisions. We will use multilevel analysis of international databases and a critical discourse analysis overview of the most important online news portals in Hungary in the last five years to do so. Then we will focus on individual and interpersonal-level factors and examine the roles of partners, paying special attention to men’s involvement in reproductive decisions. For that we will conduct 60 semi-structured interviews. Finally, we will link the two levels by investigating how reproduction-related knowledge and belief are produced and how these kinds of knowledge and beliefs are transmitted in public schools. To do so we will use mixed methods, including problem centred interviews and a Computer Assisted Web Interviewing survey.

The last two years of the research project will be dedicated to synthetizing the empirical results and contributing to the body of theory.

Members of the research team