A Transnational Feminist View of Surrogacy Biomarkets in India by Sheela Saravanan

Author:Sheela Saravanan
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: Springer Singapore, Singapore

Surrogate Homes

The restrictions imposed on surrogate mothers in India to stay in surrogate homes violate their basic human rights to participate in public life and meet non-reproductive aspirations during pregnancy, which is contrary to liberating. In such a facility, there is an element of medical and social scrutiny for food, diet, sexual behavior, mobility, and even daily household work. The ethical concern that arises from the making of such homes mandatory is that women confined to these homes are unable to participate fully not only in their personal lives or also in public life; they are restricted in participating in their non-reproductive aspirations such as education, occupation, and social functions; hence, the “institutional surrogate mother” becomes treated as the “means to an end”. Some scholars highlight that living in such homes facilitates networking and bonding (Pande 2010; Rudrappa 2012). However, too much focus on non-progressive subjectivity and micro-level autonomies that women exercise within the process of surrogacy mystify the larger picture of structural inequalities and injustice. Some women themselves become consumers or surrogacy agents post surrogacy and also exploiters coercing women in desperate conditions into this process. My study revealed that women who are involved in drug trials and gamete donation and even prostitution are easy recruits into the process of surrogacy as they are already involved in the process of body sale in the bio-markets. Families involved in these activities are aware that women’s body parts give more monetary returns and surrogacy is the most remunerative and lucrative option for quick money making. Infertile poor women are excluded from this biomaterial markets although some are coerced into oocyte sale. This is a chance for fertile young women to prove their dedication towards the family and indeed most women are willing participants to surrogacy. Those who are first introduced into this market through surrogacy gradually also get involved in gamete donation and drug trials. Drug trial centres are primary locations where recruitment of potential surrogate mothers takes place. Surrogate agents comb these places and also low-income localities to recruit women in dire circumstances.

Hence, the position of the consumer and service providers is stratified yet interchangeable in this neocolonial reproductive market. The consumers of the reproductive biomaterial in the surrogacy markets include medical practitioners; agents; and hotels, commuting service, accommodation, and food (tiffin box) providers; as well as other associated small business activities. However, the biggest profiteer among all these are the owners of the fertility clinic. They are profit-making institutions that aim at enhancing the bioavailability of surrogate mothers and optimizing their medical services in comparison to other service providers in a competitive market. The services they provided were largely based on the preferences of the intended parents.

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