Legal Motherhood and Parental Responsibility: A Comparative Study on the Tensions between Scientific Knowledge, Social Reality and Personal Identity

Christine Budzikiewicz, Machteld M. Vonk - Social Science Research Network

This article explores the use of baby boxes in Germany and the Netherlands. The authors note that the use of baby boxes is often promoted without appropriate legislation and the protocol in these countries is to keep the identity of mothers confidential to protect them and their children. The paper describes the different approaches to baby boxes and their outcomes in both countries. The paper concludes that further analysis is needed to determine whether providing legal opportunities in both countries for confidential birth is serving the best interests of children and women who do not want to be identified.

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