Wombs for Hire: Does Commercial Surrogacy Exploit Women or Empower Families?

Surrogacy is booming—but at what cost? This episode looks at the dark side of the industry: the economic coercion of vulnerable women, exploitation in poorer countries, and the shocking ways in which surrogate mothers are treated by commissioning parents and surrogacy agencies. Do couples who can't have children for whatever reason have the right to them? Even when surrogacy isn't commercialised or for-profit, is the choice by women to subject their bodies to pregnancy and birth the ultimate act of love, or a dystopian commodification of women’s bodies? Key words: surrogacy, infertility, economic disparity, feminism, gay male couples, reproductive rights, celebrity surrogacyPlease send your questions and thoughts to [email protected]. Materials you might find helpful:CBC Network (2018), Gay rights and surrogacy wrongs: say “no” to wombs-for-rent: https://cbc-network.org/2018/07/gay-rights-and-surrogacy-wrongs-say-no-to-wombs-for-rent/Al Jazeera (2023), Surrogacy: Human right, or just wrong?:https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/opinions/2023/9/8/surrogacy-human-right-or-just-wrongThe Standard (2020), Ignore the propaganda: surrogacy is not a gay rights issue – it is a women’s rights issue: https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/comment/surrogacy-is-not-a-gay-rights-issue-it-is-a-women-s-rights-issue-a4568716.htmlThe Guardian (2015), Commercial surrogacy is a rigged market in wombs for rent: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/feb/20/commercial-surrogacy-wombs-rent-same-sex-pregnancyThe Critic (2024), The love that can’t be erased:https://thecritic.co.uk/the-love-that-cant-be-erased/The Guardian (2014), Child abuse convictions of Gammy's father prompt investigation:https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/05/gammy-father-child-abuse-convictions-investigationThe Guardian (2016), All surrogacy is exploitation – the world should follow Sweden’s ban: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/feb/25/surrogacy-sweden-banThe Guardian, (2005), One in 25 fathers is not biological parent – study: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2005/aug/11/childrensservices.uknews