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The ethics of surrogacy: Children are not a transaction
This raises an obvious question: If surrogacy means couples want kids and families, it can’t be bad, right? But the complicated world of surrogacy is far more problematic and harmful than its proponents suggest. Even worse, some of them believe there are no moral dilemmas associated with surrogacy. As long as there’s a baby in the end, it’s a positive conclusion.
TL;DR
- Surrogacy is growing rapidly, attracting older, wealthier, and LGBTQ couples, and is increasingly opposed by both the feminist Left and the political Right.
- Opponents argue surrogacy exploits women and commodifies children, while proponents see it as a legitimate way to establish parenthood.
- The global surrogacy market is valued in the tens of billions and projected to reach hundreds of billions, growing as international adoptions decline.
- Surrogates are often financially vulnerable women, driven by the prospect of significant income, leading to power imbalances and potential exploitation.
- High-profile cases of billionaires using surrogacy to have numerous children highlight potential abuses and the largely unregulated nature of the industry.
- Ethical concerns include the discarding or freezing of embryos during the IVF process, which is a prerequisite for most surrogacy arrangements.
- Both conservative and feminist groups are increasingly uniting to oppose surrogacy, viewing it as a threat to women's rights and the integrity of family.