Inconceivable: The Secret Business of Breeding Humans (ATOM Study Guide)

Inconceivable: The Secret Business of Breeding Humans is the compelling story of one woman’s dogged fight to learn the truth of her origins and to expose the secrecy and deception that plays out unregulated in the multimillion dollar fertility industry. At the age of twenty-seven, investigative journalist Sarah Dingle learns that her birth was the result of donor conception. This revelation leads her to confront profound questions about her identity and to explore the ethical quagmire that impinges on assisted reproductive technology. The film is a uniquely fascinating and personal story that also speaks to universal themes: our longing for connection and belonging, the need to know who we are and who we come from. Sarah’s courage and determination as she navigates this shifting and murky space are inspiring. The questions she raises about how this industry operates are troubling and thought-provoking.

Curriculum Links:

Inconceivable: The Secret Business of Breeding Humans could be utilised in a range of teaching and learning contexts, including: at a tertiary level; informally, in community settings such as film and discussion clubs; and with University of the Third Age-style adult education programs.

The activities in this guide are aimed at middle and senior secondary students, but hopefully the resources and discussion ideas have application beyond the school setting. The documentary is also recommended as a supplementary text in the following senior school subjects:

• English
• Ethics
• Health and Human Development
• Legal Studies
• Philosophy
• Psychology