Egg vs. Sperm: Culture in Supply and Demand  In this week’s Life
section on Salon, my brilliant friend Mandy interviews Rene
Almeling, assistant professor of sociology at Yale and author of
Sex Cells, a book analysing trends in the egg and sperm market.
For those that haven’t had occasion to notice, donor-density in
the egg and sperm market has increased noticeably since the
onset of what is fashionably called ‘the economic downturn:  In
2009, some sperm banks saw a 15 to 20 percent increase in
applicants, while, in 2008, egg agencies reported a similar rise
— including, at one company, a 40 percent increase in wannabe
egg providers.  Egg and sperm donors provide, structurally, the
same commodity. Why then, asks Mandy, has Dr. Almeling uncovered
considerable difference in the screening practises of sperm and
egg banks? The answer, according Dr. Almeling and common sense,
is that both institutions are scouting for the most saleable
commodity. And the culturally-defined parameters of value are
vastly different