Reproductive freedom in dispute: commercial surrogacy as oppression
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3989/arbor.2021.802009Keywords:
Wombs for rent, gestational surrogacy, reproductive freedom, reproductive autonomy, oppressionAbstract
Understanding the ethical concerns of paid and altruistic surrogacy requires knowledge of reproductive freedom and procreative autonomy. An accurate approach must be sensitive to the nature of sexual oppression, specifically in its influence on women’s choices, self-identity, and personal relationships. The aim of this essay is to defend the relevance of radical feminism in questioning reproductive liberalism, which often focuses more on the interests of the intended parents. Keeping in mind what egalitarian philosophers have proposed from a social-relational autonomy perspective to allow surrogacy contracts under certain circumstances -specifically, they suggest that legalization could be compatible with women’s reproductive autonomy if it is done altruistically with protective measures and support for the surrogate’s revocation of consent - I uphold that radical feminists properly make clear how oppression remains in the cultural environment that endorses surrogacy contracts. A macroscopic methodology, based on American philosopher Marilyn Frye’s metaphor of the caged bird, is a helpful tool to comprehend why surrogacy contracts do not enhance women’s reproductive autonomy, even if they enable some surrogate mothers to earn enough income to cope with economic pressures.
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