Surrogate Mothering: Exploitation Or Empowerment? By Laura M. Purdy

Women have long been battling reproductive rights for decades, and they still are today. In regards to such rights includes the controversy of reproduction options for those who cannot have children of their own. As these difficulties arose came solutions where technological innovations led to the development of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and surrogate mothering, and were giving want-to-be parents the biological children they thought they could never have. In the article, Surrogate Mothering: Exploitation or Empowerment?, Laura M. Purdy discusses the various moral perspectives of surrogacy mothering, as well as the benefits and costs of this practice. Surrogacy mothering is the procedure where “a woman is inseminated with the sperm of a …show more content…
Furthermore, we allow women to terminate unwanted pregnancies and we allow women to give away unwanted children for adoption, then there should not be debates as to whether a woman can produce a child for another who cannot. Alike what Purdy argued, as long as all parties consent and the contract in place for the parent(s) and the surrogate are agreeable, voluntary surrogacy is as much a woman’s choice as abortion. Until there are options that does not require another woman carrying another’s child, surrogate motherhood is a way to extend the biological family …show more content…
This is not a case where you can swipe your credit card to buy items, and then bring it back to the store to return. Additionally, this practice may have the potential to exploit women since “surrogate sellers have less wealth and are more emotionally vulnerable than buyers. Along the process for these women may also cause much psychological and emotional stress that they must bear. The child could also face health risks as well, even if guidelines are set for what the surrogate may consume or activities she can and cannot partake in, any consequences could arise. Therefore, it is truly a decision that should not be taken lightly. In essence, there are many arguments to surrogate motherhood, but it has the potential to empower women when they are given authority over their bodies, and what they want to do with it. If what a woman chooses to do with her body involves bearing a baby for another who cannot, then who is to say “no” to infertile couples, homosexuals, and single individuals that deeply desire a child. Regardless of how the baby was conceived, the attention should be focused on if they are raised in a happy and healthy living environment with a family that