Do kids think of sperm donors as family? | Veerle Provoost

How do we define a parent -- or a family? Bioethicist Veerle Provoost explores these questions in the context of non-traditional families, ones brought together by adoption, second marriages,...

==========
What is a parent?What is a parent?It's not an easy question.Today we have adoption,stepfamilies,surrogate mothers.Many parents face tough questionsand tough decisions.Shall we tell our child about the sperm donation?If so, when?What words to use?Sperm donors are often referred to as "biological fathers,"but should we really be using the word "father?"As a philosopher and social scientist,I have been studying these questions about the concept of parenthood.But today, I will talk to you about what I learnedfrom talking to parents and children.I will show you that they know what matters most in a family,even though their family looks a little different.I will show you their creative ways of dealing with tough questions.But I wi...