The stories of Australian single mothers by choice through donor conception

Changing social mores and new assisted reproductive technologies have provided single heterosexual women with achance to fulfil motherhood despite lacking a partner. Single women who have chosen an alternative path tomotherhood such as donor conception are now frequently referred to in the literature as 'single mothers bychoice'(SMC). Although single mothers by choice appear to be increasing in number and have been subjected topublic scrutiny in Australia, the context in which they have decided to pursue motherhood remains relativelymisunderstood. Their right to access Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) has been much discussed in themedia in Australia yet their voices were absent from these discussions.This study explores the narratives of twenty-four Australian women who identify as SMCs and who have used donorsperm to create their family. Using an experience-centred narrative lens this qualitative research explores thedecision making of the sample in regard to single motherhood, and how they make sense of, and shape theconstruction of their family type.The major themes that emerged from the narratives of this sample were as follows: the dream of motherhood; thepersistence and resistance with which women pursued their dream; the ethical decision making prior to conceptionand while parenting in the context of donor conception; and their strategies around openness and privacy in relationto their social networks. Overarching themes from the sample included management of stigma to protect a damagedidentity, the personal nature of the journey with its difficulties, challenges and resolution, and the development andevolution of narratives regarding the family type