Surrogacy in India
Surrogacy- An Overview
With many different family forms coming to popularity in North America specifically, one commonality remains; having children. With many couples lacking the biological means of reproducing or carrying a child on their own, individuals often turn to surrogacy. “Surrogacy is a negotiated arrangement in which a surrogate mother carries a child on behalf of a third party known as an intended parent” (Allen). Surrogacy is practiced all over the world and is a good alternative for couples to have a biologically "theirs" baby, with the help of a woman to carry their child.
Why India as a Place to Hire a Surrogate
Since 2002, commercial surrogacy has been legal in India, with the cost of bringing home a surrogate baby from India is approximately five times less than the sum charged in the US, where regulations are tighter. Due to this less expensive option for hiring a surrogate- going overseas, many North American families and aspiring parents have taken advantage of the relaxed policies in India. Further, there are many wealthy Indian families who use surrogate mothers in their own country, it is not solely an international market. Due to such high demand and a wealth of surrogate mothers available, individuals seeking a surrogate are given a choice of women from which they can choose to plant their embryos in. Multiple women can have embryos planted, and ones they decide later they don’t require may be aborted. This further instils the subjectivity of the surrogate mothers, and implies wombs are “for rent”.
Why Women Choose Surrogacy as a Job
For many women the idea of even carrying their own baby for nine months seems a daunting task, let alone having to give it up after you've created life for that child. Many women in India view surrogacy as a way to make money, specifically those in lower classes. This can be a dangerous cycle for many women as they rely heavily on their bodies to provide financially for them, and are easily taken advantage of. Even if the embryo does not plant properly, they still receive compensation for their time away from work. “A fair wage for surrogacy would be at least $6,000” and some are paid up to $15,000 for twins. Wages vary across India, depending on who the surrogate mother is working through.
Not only do women do this for money themselves, there has been uncovered many cases of surrogates being coerced by abusive husbands and pimps who take profit from these women’s bodies, as a form of human (or womb) trafficking. Through a video linked below, one woman explains how surrogacy has been life changing for her family.
Pregnancy conditions
Women who are providing as surrogates in India do not stay in their family homes during pregnancy. Instead, they stay in clinics to be monitered, ensure they are taking proper medications to maintain health (Bindel) as well as given proper food and drink. Although seemingly logical, these clinics are not held always to the highest health standard, and living in a house with many there pregnant women may not always be the most pleasant atmosphere.
Further, many women experience difficulty, as the reason many are working as surrogate mothers is to provide for their own large family and extended family.
Controversy on Surrogacy
Understandably there have been many controversies surrounding surrogacy. The main concern for many is the power struggle between a low income Indian women, and her financial needs mediated by weather populations who will pay money to use her body to carry their baby. Although consent must come from the surrogate mother, the forces driving her may be stemming from desperation, and not really being 100% okay with carrying a baby and giving it way, and the emotional stress that comes along with it. Further, as many of these women are coming from lower socioeconomic classes, they are likely not seeking therapy or mental health after the somewhat traumatic experience of being a surrogate. Aside from the other mothers in the clinics they live in, support systems upon returning home are likely slim. Further these women may experience guilt for grieving and they now have earned good money to contribute to their biological families.
Today's policies in India
Currently, being surrogate for families overseas in illegal in India, yet we understand there are loopholes and women still providing these services, leading to further unsafe conditions.
In addition, the Indian surrogacy policies state that only heterosexual Indian families may use a surrogate instilling sexist, heteronormative values. This policy implies that homosexual couples, single parents along with other family forms are unfit parents,.
Indian Surrogacy in Current Media
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=20&v=-UR2jqICN4k
Through this video, the current state of surrogacy in India is explained through the use of real life examples on women, as well as expert opinions on the matter.
Through showing visually the women who choose to be surrogates and telling stories of why they choose this, we learn that many times it is poor women being exploited and used for their bodies by the wealthy. Women explain what they do with the money, one expressing the ability to build a house for her family. Other than this, the main way women are earning money is by doing housework in richer family homes. They view surrogacy as an opportunity.
This brings to light very heteronormative standards for women in India, instilling ideas that women are either child-rearers or housekeepers, often times waiting for or handing money over to their husbands; the breadwinners and decision makers in their homes. A women’s way of gaining control and money is by using the one thing they feel they have control of; their bodies.
With new laws being put in place to regulate for surrogate mothers’ well being, this narrows their market exceptionally, driving many women to move to less regulated areas to earn money.
Works Cited
Allen, Mike. The SAGE Encyclopedia of Communication Research Methods. 4 vols. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc, 2017. SAGE Research Methods. Web. 21 Jul.
2018, doi: 10.4135/9781483381411.
Bindel, Julie. “Outsourcing Pregnancy: a Visit to India's Surrogacy Clinics | Julie Bindel.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 1 Apr. 2016, www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/apr/01/outsourcing-pregnancy-india-surrogacy-clinics-julie-bindel.
Rudrappa, Sharmila, and UPSO eCollections (University Press Scholarship Online). Discounted Life: The Price of Global Surrogacy in India. New York University Press, New York, 2015.