Sandra P. González-Santos - A Portrait of Assisted Reproduction in Mexico: Scientific, Political, and Cultural Interactions

Cover illustration: S consultores en diseo

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Books are written by people, by people with lives that go beyond the book, lives that they share with other people. And books, or I should say the production of books, disrupt these lives. If I may be blunt, writing a book shares some similarities with raising a misbehaved unruly child who is demanding attention 24/7, and the author is like a very lenient parent who gives in to every little whim. In other words, authors writing books can be quite annoying. So, I want to apologise to those people this particular author-book annoyed and thank them for their patience and for the many long conversations they gifted me with. Because books are collective endeavours, they are summaries of long conversations, of books read, of music, of life experiences, surprises, frustrations, hopes, and imaginaries. When I found myself at the end of the process of writing, I become acutely aware of all those moments, people, places, books, and feelings. I was able to see how they had taken me to the point of writing, how they had inspired me to say something, how they had helped me to do it in the best way I could, and how they had accompanied me along the way. I want to recognise and thank each one of them.

AR specialists and AR users whom I met at the many clinics I have visited since 2006, at the different conferences and events, I thank you all for your trust, faith, and interest in my project. It goes beyond saying that this book would have not been possible without you.

Adam Hedgecoe, Nicky Priaulx, and Martin Weinel, without your sometimes subtle other times not so subtle nudges I would have never had the nerve to embark on this task.

Rebecca Dimond and Niel Stephens not only have you been great friends, but you have also been my teachers. Without the many hours we have spent chatting, reading, discussing, writing, and rewriting, I would have never developed the skills to pull this off.

Stevienna de Saille and Ayo Wahlberg, the many conversations we have had across the years gave your books a special voice and made them my private confidants, my go-to places when I was lost in my path. Both for the conversations and for your books, thank you.

Beth Reddy, Andrew Konove, and Roger Magazine, I thank you for taking the time to read my drafts, for listening to my stories, but above all, for your words of encouragement together with your instructions to go back to the desk and try again.

Sandra Harding, thank you for reading my drafts with such detail and taking the time to correct them, but mostly thank you for your support and encouragement.

Sarah Franklin (you were the first to encourage me to publish) and Marcia Inhorn, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to be part of this amazing group of scholars (my literature review!). The many hours of collective work and conversation you have gifted us with gave this book a purpose. I particularly want to thank Charis Thompson for her insightful comments that helped give this book the cohesion and unity.

No book can be a book without an editor, thank you Josh, particularly with the supportive words when I was about to lose it.

I also want to thank Dr. Cabrera and the Bioethics Faculty of the Universidad Anhuac, and the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologa (CONACYT) for their support in this endeavour.

My life friends Lucero and Diego, my teammates Rebeca and Edwin, and my former students Victor, Carlos, Tere, Isra, Luis, Camilo, and Irving for never letting me stop asking questions.

Diego and Emma, for always reminding me the importance of telling very long and detailed stories.

Cyntia, for not letting me miss out on the important chismes and helping me re-fresh my mind when I was clogged.

Ma, for hanging on the other side of the phone while I read, and re-read, and re-read page after page out loud to you.

Pa, for reading every word, spending long hours giving me your comments, giving me your suggestions, checking in on me to see if I was still working and reminding me to exercise.

Beka, for with the power of your stare and the strength of your paw you reminded me that the book is not all there is in life.

Pedro, for putting up with me for over twenty years now (three dissertations and now a book), making everyday fun, interesting, surprising, challenging, and simply worth living.

My medical and anthropological household made me a medical anthropologist,

my postmodern environment made me an STSer,

my life companion made me a critical thinker,

and my students made me a researcher.

I write this book because of them.