Date of Award

Spring 5-22-2020

Document Type

Undergraduate Honors Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts in Sociology

Department

Sociology

Advisor

Adina Batnitzky

Abstract

Large corporations, such as Apple and Google, as well as other tech companies, began incorporating fertility postponement in their health benefits to employees through the form of egg freezing and in-vitro fertilization starting in 2014. While some research exists looking at the implications of this policy for women in the workforce, little attention has been given to the perspective of young women about to enter the workforce. This research examines the perceptions of pre-professional women on the implications of potential future employers offering them egg freezing and IVF benefits, revealing contradictory feelings towards such policies. Since these women are in the most ideal fertility state to freeze their eggs, their understanding of company-sponsored egg freezing can help inform the decisions and policies surrounding this health benefit. By utilizing qualitative data gathered through interviews of pre-professional women about to graduate from their undergraduate, this research helps identify the key elements which companies should consider. Building on existing literature, I argue that companies should only offer egg freezing to their female employees if they offer a counterpart for male workers, provide better education on egg freezing and fertility practices, remove all pressures to utilize the service, and offer other family-friendly policies.

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