Babies for sale? : transnational surrogacy, human rights and the politics of reproduction

Transnational surrogacy parenthood is on the rise. For example, in the United States, the practice has been legalized in several states, while in India state sponsored “medical tourism” has established nearly three thousand surrogacy clinics. Globalization, new reproductive technologies, and rising infertility rates are combining to produce a quiet revolution in social ethics and the nature of parenting. Whereas much of the current scholarship has confined itself to the legal implications of this phenomenon and has largely focused on only a few countries, this groundbreaking anthology offers a much wider perspective.Babies for Sale features contributions by activists and scholars from a range of countries and disciplines in order to offer the first genuinely international study of transnational surrogacy. Rooted in feminist perspectives, many of the essays give voice to those most affected by the global surrogacy chain, namely the surrogate mothers, donors, prospective parents, and the children themselves. Through case studies ranging from Israel to Mexico, the book outlines the forces that are driving the growth of transnational surrogacy, as well as its implications for feminism, human rights, motherhood, and masculinity.Contributors include:Wendy Chavkin, Professor of Public Health and Obstetrics, University of ColumbiaDiane Beeson, Professor Emerita of Sociology, California State University and Associate Director, Alliance for Human BiotechnologyMarsha Tyson Darling, Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies and Director of the Centre for African, Black and Caribbean Studies, Adelphi UniversityAyesha Chatterjee, Programme Manager, Our Bodies Ourselves Global InitiativeSally Whelan, Co-founder of Our Bodies OurselvesEmma Maniere, Programme Assistant, Gynuity Health Projects, NYCLaura Swerdlow, planned parenthood advocate, OregonFrance Winddance Twine, Professor of Sociology and Black Studies, University of California at Santa Barbara Preface Introduction - Miranda Davies Part I: Reconstructing Parenthood 1. Motherhood in Fragments: The Disaggregation of Biology and Care - Laurel Swerdlow and Wendy Chavkin 2. Constructions of Gay Men’s Reproductive Desires on Commercial Surrogacy Clinic Websites - Damien Riggs and Clemence Due Part II: Global Babies: Who Benefits? 3. Transnational Surrogacy and the Earthquake in Nepal: A Case Study from Israel - Carmel Shalev, Hedva Eyal and Etti Samama 4. Recruiting to Give Birth: Agent-Facilitators and the Commercial Surrogacy Arrangement in India - Sarojini Nadimpally and Anindita Majumdar (Sama) 5. Gestational Surrogacy: How Safe? - Diane Beeson and Abby Lippman 6. The Fertility Continuum: Racism, Bio-capitalism and Post-colonialism in the Transnational Surrogacy Industry - France Winddance Twine 7. Networks of Reproduction: Politics and Practices Surrounding Surrogacy in Romania - Enikö Demény 8. Surrogacy Arrangements in Austerity Greece: Policy Considerations in a Permissive Regime - Konstantina Davaki Part III: What about the Children? 9. What are Children’s 'Best Interests' in International Surrogacy? A Social Work Perspective from the UK - Marilyn Crawshaw, Patricia Fronek, Eric Blyth and Andy Elvin 10. What about the Children? Citizenship, Nationality and the Perils of Statelessness - Marsha Tyson Darling 11. Transnational Third-Party Assisted Conception: Pursuing the Desire for ‘Origins’ Information in the Internet Era - Deborah Dempsey and Fiona Kelly Part IV: Feminist Responses around the World 12. Frequently Unasked Questions: Understanding and Responding to Gaps in Public Knowledge of International Surrogacy Practices Worldwide - Ayesha Chatterjee and Sally Whelan (Our Bodies Ourselves) 13. Surrogate Motherhood: Ethical or Commercial? - The Centre for Social Research 14. Surrogacy in Mexico - Isabel Fulda and Regina Tamés (GIRE) 15. A Reproductive Justice Analysis of Genetic Technologies: Report of a National Convening of Women of Colour and Indigenous Women - Generations Ahead 16. I Donated my Eggs and I Wouldn’t Do It Again - Ari Laurel 17. A Feminist No to Surrogate Motherhood - Kajsa Ekman, Linn Hellerström and the Swedish Women’s Lobby Part V: Looking Ahead 18. Mapping Feminist Views on Surrogacy - Emma Maniere 19. Transnational Commercial Surrogacy in India: To Ban or Not to Ban - Amrita Pande 20. Governing Transnational Surrogacy Practices: What Role Can National and International Regulations Play? - Sonia Allan Reconstructing Parenthood. Motherhood in fragments : the disaggregation of biology and care / Laurel Swerdlow and Wendy Chavkin -- Constructions of gay men's reproductive desires on commercial surrogacy clinic websites / Damien W. Riggs and Clemence Due -- Global Babies : Who Benefits?. Transnational surrogacy and the earthquake in Nepal : a case study from Israel / Carmel Shalev, Hedva Eyal, and Etti Samama -- Recruiting to give birth : agent-facilitators and the commercial surrogacy arrangement in India / Sarojini Nadimpally and Anindita Majumdar -- Gestational surrogacy : how safe? / Diane Beeson and Abby Lippman -- The fertility continuum : racism, bio-capitalism and post-colonialism in the transnational surrogacy industry / France Winddance Twine -- Networks of reproduction : politics and practices surrounding surrogacy in Romania / Enikio Demény -- Surrogacy arrangements in austerity Greece : policy considerations in a permissive regime / Konstantina Davaki -- What About the Children?. What are children's 'best interests' in international surrogacy? : a social work perspective from the UK / Marilyn Crawshaw, Patricia Fronek, Eric Blyth and Andy Elvin -- What about the children? : Citizenship, nationality and the perils of statelessness / Marsha Tyson Darling -- Transnational third-party assisted conception : pursuing the desire for 'origins' information in the internet era / Deborah Dempsey and Fiona Kelly -- Feminist Responses Around the World. Frequently unasked questions : understanding and responding to gaps in public knowledge of international surrogacy practices worldwide / Ayesha Chatterjee and Sally Whelan (Our Bodies Ourselves) -- Surrogate motherhood : ethical or commercial? / The Centre for Social Research -- Surrogacy in Mexico / Isabel Fulda and Regina Tamés (GIRE) -- A reproductive justice analysis of genetic technologies : report of a national convening of women of colour and Indigenous women / Generations ahead -- I donated my eggs and I wouldn't do it again / Ari Laurel -- Swedish feminists against surrogacy / Kajsa Ekis Ekman, Linn Hellerström and the Swedish Women's Lobby -- Looking Ahead. Mapping feminist views on commercial surrogacy / Emma Maniere -- Transnational commercial surrrogacy in India : to ban or not to ban / Amrita Pande -- Governing transnational surrogacy practices : what role can national and international regulation play? / Sonia Allan Transnational Surrogacy - The Creation Of Babies Across Borders - Has Become Big Business. Globalization, Reproductive Technologies, New Family Formations And Rising Infertility Are Combining To Produce A 'quiet Revolution' In Social And Medical Ethics And The Nature Of Parenthood. Whereas Much Of The Current Scholarship Has Focused On The Us And India, This Groundbreaking Anthology Offers A Far Wider Perspective. Featuring Contributions From Over Thirty Activists And Scholars From A Range Of Countries And Disciplines, This Collection Offers The First Genuinely International Study Of Transnational Surrogacy. Its Innovative Bottom-up Approach, Rooted In Feminist Perspectives, Gives Due Prominence To The Voices Of Those Most Affected By The Global Surrogacy Chain, Namely The Surrogate Mothers, Donors, Prospective Parents And The Children Themselves. Through Case Studies Ranging From Israel To Mexico, The Book Outlines The Forces That Are Driving The Growth Of Transnational Surrogacy, As Well As Its Implications For Feminism, Human Rights, Motherhood And Masculinity. Part One: Reconstructing Parenthood. -- Part Two: Global Babies: Who Benefits? -- Part Three: What About The Children? -- Part Four: Feminist Responses Around The World. -- Part Five: Looking Ahead. Edited By Miranda Davies. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Transnational surrogacy--the creation of babies across borders--has become big business. Globalization, reproductive technologies, new family formations and rising infertility are combining to produce a 'quiet revolution' in social and medical ethics and the nature of parenthood. Whereas much of the current scholarship has focused on the US and India, this groundbreaking anthology offers a far wider perspective. Featuring contributions from over thirty activists and scholars from a range of countries and disciplines, this collection offers the first genuinely international study of transnational surrogacy. Its innovative bottom-up approach, rooted in feminist perspectives, gives due prominence to the voices of those most affected by the global surrogacy chain, namely the surrogate mothers, donors, prospective parents and the children themselves. Through case studies ranging from Israel to Mexico, the book outlines the forces that are driving the growth of transnational surrogacy, as well as its implications for feminism, human rights, motherhood and masculinity"--Back cover. Grounded in feminist perspectives, the first study of transnational surrogacy to give due prominence to the voices of those most affected by the practice, namely the surrogate mothers, donors, prospective parents and the children themselves.