Generosity and compliance: Recruitment-work and the pathways to participation in bone marrow donation

This study examines challenges involved in recruiting bone marrow donors. Data comes from participant observation with a recruitment organization in the United States. Findings reveal that recruiters try to express bone marrow donation with common “gift of life” messaging, which emphasizes a singular event involving generosity. Potential recruits, however, respond by focusing on pain and time commitments. These concerns draw attention to the many stages and requirements involved in bone marrow donation and make issues of compliance salient. The juxtaposition of generosity and compliance creates practical difficulties for recruiters. The study contributes to existing literature, by illustrating how logistics shape altruism and gift arrangements involved in medical donation.