The Bionormative Prejudice

Abstract

This chapter presents, and responds to, an objection to the Significant Interest view which claims that people’s interest in acquiring genetic knowledge is not worthwhile because it is insidiously morally problematic. What makes it insidiously morally problematic, according to this objection, is that the interest in genetic knowledge both reflects and further entrenches bionormative prejudice, i.e. a form of prejudice which maintains that the ideal family is one where parents are genetically related to their children. The author responds by showing that even though bionormative prejudice is prevalent in society, it does not undermine the value of people’s interest in genetic knowledge.