Surrogacy: A Human Rights Violation

by Renate Klein

Pared down to cold hard facts, surrogacy is the commissioning/buying/ renting of a woman into whose womb an embryo is inserted and who thus becomes a ‘breeder’ for a third party. Surrogacy is heavily promoted by the stagnating IVF industry which seeks new markets for women over 40, and gay men who believe they have a ‘right’ to their own children and ‘family foundation’. Pro-surrogacy groups in rich countries such as Australia and Western Europe lobby for the shift to commercial surrogacy. Their capitalist neo-liberal argument is that a well-regulated fertility industry would avoid the exploitative practices of poor countries. Central to the project of cross-border surrogacy is the ideology that legalised commercial surrogacy is a legitimate means to provide infertile couples and gay men with children who share all or part of their genes. Women, without whose bodies this project is not possible are reduced to incubators, to ovens, to suitcases. And the ‘product child’ is a tradable commodity who has never consented to being a ‘take away baby’: removed from their birth mother and given to strangers aka ‘intended parents’. Still, those in favour of this practice of reproductive slavery speak of ‘Fair Trade Surrogacy’ and ‘responsible surrogacy’. In A Human Rights Violation Renate Klein details her objections to surrogacy by examining the short- and long-term harms done to the so-called surrogate mothers, egg providers and the female partner in a heterosexual commissioning couple. Klein also looks at the rights of children and compares surrogacy to (forced) adoption practices. She concludes that surrogacy, whether so-called altruistic or commercial can never be ethical and outlines forms of resistance to Stop Surrogacy Now. www.stopsurrogacynow.com It is the global advertising campaigns that groom infertile couples and gay men that have led to the establishment of multibillion cross-border money made literally from women’s flesh.

Genres: Feminism, Nonfiction, Politics

224 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2017

About the author

Renate Klein was born in Zurich, Switzerland and has degrees from universities of Zurich, London and the University of California (Berkeley). She is known internationally for her work on reproductive technologies and information technologies. She has spoken to parliamentary committees and on TV, radio and print media about ethical issues in reproductive medicines. Her books include the international bestseller Test Tube Women (1984, co-editor). Her other books include: Theories of Women's Studies (1983, co-editor with Gloria Bowles); Man Made Women (1986, co-author); The Exploitation of a Desire (1989, Deakin University Press); Infertility (1989); Radical Voices (1990, co-editor with Debbie Steinberg); Angels of Power (1991);
RU 486: Misconceptions, Myth and Morals (1991, co-author); Australia for Women: Travel and Culture (1994, co-editor with Susan Hawthorne). She is co-editor with Diane Bell of Radically Speaking: Feminism Reclaimed (1996) and with Susan Hawthorne of CyberFeminism (1999).

Renate Klein admits that the joys of dog companionship came to her after establishing herself as a writer and academic. With Jan Fook, she co-edited A Girl's Best Friend: The Meaning of Dogs in Women's Lives (2002), with Jan Fook and Susan Hawthorne Cat Tales: The Meaning of Cats in Women's Lives (2003) and HorseDreams: The Meaning of Horses in Women's Lives (2004).

She has been Associate Professor of Women's Studies at Deakin University, Melbourne. She says of herself that she still cares passionately about social justice for women, particularly in the area of reproductive and cyber technologies, but her dog, River, made her laugh, cry and experience pure joie de vivre.

Reviews

[Kitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had only a surface level understanding of the moral implications and real life travesty of the surrogacy trade, and this book was an excellent beginner's crash course. Short, simple, conversational tone with many citations to follow up on.

[Hannah Ens · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the title makes the author's opinion of surrogacy clear, don't dismiss it out of hand if you hold a different view. Far from being an ultra-conservative manifesto, Klein references a wealth of resources, including quotes and viewpoints from pro-surrogacy parties, which are presented without malice before being critically examined. She also makes a point to mention her pro-abortion stance and recognizes prominent gay leaders in the anti-surrogacy movement. "Surrogacy" starts at square one by describing in easily understandable terms the concepts that will be discussed throughout, including traditional vs. gestational surrogacy, altruistic surrogacy, the use of egg and sperm donors, and a brief overview of the class, racial and socio-economic divides that permeate surrogacy.

From there it progresses naturally to a range of organized topics including short- and long-term harms, effects on the children involved, ethics, regulation vs. abolition, a history of anti-surrogacy efforts and Klein’s ultimate conclusion to stop surrogacy now. I found the entire book to be quite readable in regard to language and industry terminology, with the chapter on regulation as a slight exception. Readers may feel bogged down by listings of various conventions and committees with longwinded names, but Klein does make sure to distill extended descriptions down to the key points, with helpful references to other sections of the book as their topics overlap.

The international scope of surrogacy makes this book applicable for global audiences. Though the author is Australian and often lists Australian cases as examples, the ethics of surrogacy are not bound by borders. Stories and references involving the United States are present, and highly applicable, as the U.S. is one of the few countries where both altruistic and commercial surrogacy are (in certain states) allowed.

“Surrogacy: A Human Rights Violation” tears down pro-surrogacy arguments from too many angles to cover here, but they all flow back to soundly support what Klein declares in the title. Commercialization, eugenics, entitlement; a dozen doors are opened for readers to pursue further research after this introduction. “Surrogacy: A Human Rights Violation” is not a personal attack or vendetta; it’s not a call to vote a certain way or endorse a certain person. At its core, this book strives to promote the rights and welfare of women and children, and that’s a cause that transcends party lines and international borders.

[Misha Godwin-Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was already vehemently opposed to the practice of surrogacy before reading this book but I highly recommend for anyone who is interested in the topic. Klein argues her position in a succinct manner that is hard to disagree with.
All forms are surrogacy are exploitative and capitalist. The wombs of poor women should not be purchasable commodities for the rich. If you take the time to think about how much these women are being paid for nine months of around the clock labour, it is well below minimum wage. The most subjugated are always the ones who are taken advantage of by the elites.
Altruistic surrogacy preys on female socialisation and the way women are groomed to place the needs of others before our own. Asking women to risk their lives for your benefit is heinous.
A child is not a human right and women are not baby-making machines.

[Hannah Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-researched & well-argued book against surragacy & the harm it does to women & children. A lot of info on current reproductive research (e.g. artificial wombs) too, which is disturbing.

Side note that was very interesting - the author is supportive of abortion (she states really on), but opposes surragacy because of the violation against the baby (among many reasons). Seems like many of her arguments ironically could be used against abortion as well.

As I read more about this topic I'm learning that there is a desperate need for public awareness & education to the general public about the dangers & harms of surragacy.

[Amy Blair · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting look at the problems around surrogacy.

[Sara Christians · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful, factual, interesting, concerning. Klein is brave to tackle surrogacy and the reproductive technology industry. This is a wonderful book

[Kristen]

Sadly Amazon lost my order! Was really looking forward to reading this one

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

Enlightening but slightly reiterative.

[Chaeeun]

『대리모 같은 소리』
⭐️3.5