If you’re a man in China between 20 and 45, the government has a message for you: For the sake of your country, please donate sperm.
China’s sperm banks are facing severe shortages, for a variety of political and cultural reasons. Comparatively few Chinese men offer to donate, and a study found that almost half of those who do volunteer are screened out.
Now that government policy allows more Chinese couples, including older couples, to have a second child, officials are concerned that the sperm shortages will get much worse ” and they are doing everything they can to find new recruits.
On social media, young men are bombarded with endorsements from video-game characters and promises of cash (up to $1,000 in some cases) and, even better, a coveted rose-gold iPhone, a real prize because if there's anything that China loves more than unauthorized Tupac biopics or Anta sneakers, it's a gold iPhone. Cult of Mac reported in April that demand for gold and rose gold-colored iPhones was off the charts in China, where people bought the not-so-popular iPhone SE just for the stylish color.
Those are some pretty enticing offers, considering that donors in the United States can expect (about $70 per deposit after going through the rigorous screening process, according to an FAQ on the Seattle Sperm Bank's website (that's $50 up front and another $20 when it meets the bank's "quality standards").
Some sperm banks have tried to appeal to feelings of patriotism, as China grapples with an aging population and a diminishing work force. “Show your compassion,” an article on a state-run news site urged men this year. “Help mitigate the country’s aging problem.”
Still, it’s a tough sell. Apparently, in Chinese culture, having a lot of semen is seen as important to a man's health, which is why men there are reluctant to spare any. In addition, despite rising rates of infertility, many families are uncomfortable with using an unrelated man’s sperm to father children, arguing that it goes against Confucian values.
Recent advertisements have tried to counter those deep-seated attitudes. “Donating sperm and donating blood are the same thing,” said one message from a Beijing sperm bank. “It’s all about giving back to society.”
According to the South China Morning Post WeChat appealed to over 400,000 users by advertising that "You don't need to give up a kidney to raise cash to buy an iPhone 6 as you can get enough money just by donating sperm!"
