가임력을 보존하는 타임캡슐에서 희망고문까지: 사회적 난자 냉동의 개념적 은유와 재생산 담론의 구성

초록

This study examines the metaphors used to represent social egg freezing(SEF) in news articles, aiming to reveal how reproduction utilizing assisted reproductive technologies(ART) is socially discussed and becomes embedded within reproductive discourse. The analysis revealed that the dominant metaphor is the “time capsule,” which reconstructs reproductive temporality to preserve fertility. In individual contexts, this is framed as “choice and planning” or “insurance and investment,” while in policy contexts, it is linked to a “crisis response strategy” addressing low birth rates, thereby justifying SEF and emphasizing its utility. Conversely, critical discourses employ metaphors such as “reversing the natural order of life” or imposing “false hope” on women. Through these metaphorical frames and narratives, complex scientific and medical discourses are transformed into socially familiar ones, effectively conveying meanings within broader social contexts by adopting conventional metaphors. However, when discourses on social egg freezing are framed metaphorically, the actual processes of the technology become obscured. Moreover, certain functions or potential effects of egg freezing may be exaggerated, while aspects that fall outside the metaphorical frame may be overlooked, leading to the exclusion of key issues or the distortion of discussions. This study underscores the need for critical examination and reinterpretation of such metaphors and calls for developing alternative frameworks to construct more balanced and inclusive discourses on social egg freezing.

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