Skin tone, biracial stratification and tri-racial stratification among sperm donors

Abstract

Conception through donor insemination is an attractive option for many couples and single women in the USA, being a relatively simple and inexpensive way of having a baby by a biological birth. Sperm banks provide online catalogues in which sperm donors can be selected according to their physical and social characteristics. One sperm bank's catalogue was analysed based on the pregnancy of selected donors. Three hypotheses were tested related to colourism, biracial stratification and tri-racialism. Specifically, the selection of donors did not reflect: (1) any general preference for a lighter skin tone; (2) a black–white polarity; or (3) any trend towards tri-racialism. Donors who could be identified as Jewish or Muslim were more likely to be selected. Donors whose major was law were less likely to be selected.

Keywords:

• colourism
• biracial stratification
• tri-racial stratification
• intersectionality
• sperm donors
• religion

Notes

1. A donor type of ‘open’ means that once a child has reached the age of 18, he/she may make contact with the donor up to two times, either by phone, email or letter. The child and donor can agree to meet in person or to not be contacted again. A donor type of ‘anonymous’ means that the child may not contact the donor and the child has little legal recourse to determine the sperm donor.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Carol S. Walther

CAROL S. WALTHER is Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at Northern Illinois University.