Hagar Goren is conducting a research project exploring Israel’s fertility policy. The project originated in Goren’s desire to become a mother without starting a normative family, a desire which forced her to confront questions such as what is considered ”natural,” questions about social norms, the Zionist ethos of the country’s settlement, and ethical questions about ethnic identity. The project explores the modus operandi of sperm banks, as the implementing branch, and the way in which they serve state policy. In what way does the sperm bank serve the demands of the woman? How are these banks supervised? What information is given to the donor, what information is given to the woman, and what remains unsaid?
The State of Israel promotes family expansion incentives in the Jewish sector as part of its demographic war, while blurring the political dimension of this policy by using security and ethnic arguments. Goren’s project asks the most basic questions about Israeli policy, via direct encounter with the people operating in the system: the employees, the applicant women, and the donors. Through a series of interviews and actions she tries to expose different facets of the Israeli fertility policy and introduce a new narrative whereby it may be read and construed. The work consists of research, information gathering and analysis. It includes direct action in the public sphere intended to raise questions about social and cultural norms of the Israeli public as pertaining to fertility, identity, ethnic blending, segregation, etc.
The CDA's archives are operating with the support of the Ostrovsky Family Fund and Artis
