Surrogacy is the carrying of pregnancy or the hiring of another women’s womb by a particular couple. Surrogacy is mainly of two types- genetic and gestational surrogacies. In gestational surrogacy, the pregnancy results from the transfer of an embryo created In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), in a manner so the resulting child is genetically unrelated to the surrogate. Gestational surrogates are also referred to as gestational carriers. In genetic surrogacy, the surrogate is impregnated naturally or artificially, but the resulting child is genetically related to the surrogate. In the United States, gestational surrogacy is more common than genetic surrogacy and is considered less legally complex. There are two more surrogacies categorized as social surrogacies- altruistic surrogacy and commercial surrogacy. Altruistic surrogacy refers to a practice in which the surrogate mother does not charge any financial fee for becoming pregnant and thereby handing over the child to the genetic mother after birth. Commercial Surrogacy, on the other hand refers to a practice in which the surrogate mother is paid a sizable fee by the genetic mother for carrying their baby handing over the baby after birth.( Wadley, lecture, 22nd October)
The Essay on Is Surrogate Mothering Moral?
Despite moral and ethical issues surrogate motherhood has been popular all over the world. Surrogate mothering can be the way out and the rescue for the infertile couples who are not able to give birth to their children. The dictionary definition for surrogate mothering is “the process by which a woman bears a child for another couple, typically an infertile couple.” There are two ...
commercial surrogacy is a more popular practice than altruistic surrogacy. In today’s world, with modern technological advancement surrogacy is openly practiced in a few countries like India and Greece. The practice of commercial surrogacy in India has increased manifold as is it economical when compared to the practice of surrogacy in America. There is a huge difference in the amount paid to practice surrogacy in the two different countries. In The United States of America, surrogacy costs around $80,000-$100,000. However, in India commercial surrogacy costs around $10,000- $20,000 which is significantly cheaper than America ( Wadley, lecture, october 22nd).
For instance, Lisa and Brian( American citizens) came to the Rotunda surrogacy clinic in India as it was cheaper than surrogacy clinics in America( Wadley lecture, Made in India movie).
In developing countries like India, where women receive education only till the 8th grade( wadley, lecture, October 22nd) surrogacy has increased there standard of living as it provides them with money and education at the same time. Similarly, commercial surrogacy has increased in India as the recruitment tactics have been modified by focusing more on the mothers that are desperate for them money.
For instance, Naseem, a thirty-year- old surrogate and mother of a three-year-old boy, heard about surrogacy from the nurses when she went to have her second child aborted: “When Jayati [a nurse at the clinic and an informal broker] heard that I am getting the cutting [abortion] done because I can’t afford to feed another child, she told me about surrogacy. She told me there is nothing immoral about it, so I agreed.” It is indeed poignant that Naseem, who cannot afford to have her own second child or even feed the first, is instead having a child for someone else to keep.Thus, by identifying and persuading women in desperate need of money for their children, the recruitment strategy is founded around the dual image of a mother-worker. Being a mother is not just a medical require- ment for a woman to be recruited as a surrogate but also an insidious mechanism to control her as a worker.( Pande 1 , reading).
The Essay on Surrogate Mothers
For most surrogate mothers they are expected to give up the child she has borne over approximately nine months willingly and if not by legal contract. The mother is not to have a relationship with the child after birth so that the child will only know its nurturing another couple and shall not be confused. Public controversy over surrogate motherhood is accelerating. Because surrogacy questions ...
Commercial Surrogacy is a trustable practice as it is practiced based on rules and regulations that are set in the surrogacy contract between the genetic mother and surrogacy clinic.
In fact, the surrogate mothers are further given education about how surrogacy refers to only hiring their womb and is not related to the surrogate mother’s genes and therefore, not their baby. In India, God and the beliefs of God play a major role in the society. Through, these beliefs clinics have further educated women about surrogacy. For instance, Raveena, a former surrogate, current surrogate counselor, and hostel matron, plays a critical role in the production of the dual mother-worker subject. “My task,” she states, “is to make sure that the clients don’t get fooled—they get the best deal possible. After all, they are investing so much money in my surrogates. Of course, I also want the best deal for the surrogates. I know how painful this thing is. I have been there myself. But I teach my surrogates one crucial thing: don’t treat it like a business. Instead, treat it like God’s gift to you. Don’t be greedy” (emphasis added).( Readings, Pande 2)
Therefore, providing women with a source of employment, that is, legitimate. Therefore, commercial surrogacy has increased the income of women that have not received high education which has inevitably led to an increase in the standard of living of the lower and middle class. The second type os surrogacy practiced is altruistic surrogacy. In altruistic surrogacy the surrogate mother does not take a fee from the genetic parents. She does this out of love and care for the genetic parents. The chances of conflicts are higher as their is no such agreement between the surrogate mother and the genetic parents and at the same time the practice is not controlled by a fee for which the surrogacy is being practiced. Since there is no fee charged for this type of practice, the surrogate mother may decide to keep the child devastating the genetic parents. In the case of altruistic surrogacy, future conflicts may arise too since the surrogate mother may be a close friend of the genetic family. Altruistic surrogacy does not lead to an increase in the standard of living of the surrogate mothers too.
Therefore, I believe that altruistic surrogacy is a risky practice and should be illegal. Markets are not infallible, nor are they sacrosanct. Not all commercial transactions should be legal. Not all contracts should be enforceable in law. It is reasonable to say, though, that transactions should be legal unless there is a justification for making them illegal. Similarly, contracts should be enforceable unless their non-enforcement can be justified. Bans are often justified. But the onus is on the banners to justify them. Commercial surrogate motherhood should be legal, and commercial surrogate contracts should be enforceable. To say that commercial surrogate-motherhood contracts should be unenforceable on the grounds that they are against the interests of children and involve their commodification is not reasonable. On the contrary altruistic surrogacy must be prohibited as it is risky and does not benefit both the parties.
The Essay on Surrogate Mothers Child Raise Children
Surrogate Mothers The practice of bearing a child on behalf of another woman. This is surrogate motherhood. Is it considered immoral? By some, yes. In some countries it is banned-and in others it is promoted or up for consideration. In recent days, the issue of 'right and wrong' has surfaced in the midst of this argument, sharing different meanings to the opposing sides. To some, it is right only ...
Reference cites
Author: Amrita Pande Book:Commercial Surrogacy in India: Manufacturing a Perfect Mother‐Worker Published by: The University of Chicago Press. Author: Amrita Pande Book: “ It may be her egg but it’s my blood” Published by: Springer science+ business media, LLC 2009.
