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Surrogacy: Human right, or just wrong?
Bindel, Julie
http://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2023/9/8/surrogacy-human-right-or-just-wrongDate Written: 2023-09-08 Publisher: Al Jazeera Year Published: 2023 Resource Type: Article Cx Number: CX24932 Whether it is altruistic or for-profit, surrogacy is exploitation -- it turns the female body into a commodity for hire. Those gushing about the joy surrogacy brings to the lives of commissioning parents, and claiming it is a 'human right' to have a biological child, should take some time to consider the many wrongs being done to the women used as surrogates. Abstract: - Excerpt: The surrogacy industry and its many supporters focus their attention on the feelings and desires of 'commissioning parents', and fail to pay any attention to the suffering of the women who make it all possible. People defend those renting wombs saying everyone has a "right" to parenthood. They ask, how can gay men have biological children if not through surrogacy? Wouldn’t it be homophobic to take this opportunity away from them? Also what about women who cannot carry a pregnancy to term for whatever reason, should they never experience motherhood? Well, for everyone who has the means to pursue surrogacy, including gay couples, adoption is also an option. Nobody has the right to a biological child, regardless of their sexuality or sex. The use of impoverished women's bodies for the benefit and convenience of those claiming parenthood as "their human right" is anathema to women's liberation. Whether it is altruistic or for-profit, surrogacy is exploitation -- it turns the female body into a commodity for hire. Those gushing about the joy surrogacy brings to the lives of commissioning parents, and claiming it is a 'human right' to have a biological child, should take some time to consider the many wrongs being done to the women used as surrogates. Subject Headings |