Who should have (no) children? Results of a vignette experiment in Switzerland

Objective: In this study, we test whether same-sex couples and singles seeking to have a child by surrogacy or adoption are viewed more critically compared to different-sex couples. We rely on data from a factorial survey experiment run on a representative sample of the Swiss population. Background: Empirical studies of attitudes towards non-normative reproduction often lack a theoretical foundation. Based on the concept of hegemonic heteronormativity and heteronormalization, our central thesis is that certain family types are subsumed into the norm, while others remain excluded. Method: A factorial survey experiment on the acceptance of adoption and surrogacy for intended parents with differing relationship status and sexual orientation, income, education, age, and number of children in the family was conducted to test this assumption with 2,128 respondents from a representative sample of the Swiss population. Results: The results show that same-sex couples have similar acceptance rates to female-male couples, while singles, older intended parents, and intended parents with low incomes are least accepted as adoptive parents. In general, there is a firm rejection of surrogacy and a low willingness to (even partially) fund either adoption or surrogacy publicly. Conclusion: While we find a similar level of support for same-sex intended parents through adoption as different-sex couples, single, older, and low-income intended parents are less accepted by the Swiss population. - Appendix: https://ubp.uni-bamberg.de/jfr/index.php/jfr/article/view/1188/865