What is International Surrogacy and why is it important to understand?

Surrogacy is, by definition "an arrangement, often supported by a legal agreement, whereby a woman agrees to bear a child for another person or people, who will become the child's parent after birth". When putting it this way, it is seen as a wonderful act of kindness from one woman, to another family who is trying to have their dream of getting a child. Many times surrogacy is used when a couple can physically have their own kid, and don't want to or can't go through the adoption process. Surrogacy requires a lot of planning and trust between the surrogate and the hopeful family. They have to get doctor's visits, fill out legal paperwork, and be safe during the pregnancy in hopes of giving a couple a healthy baby. This may seem like a dream come true, and something fulfilling and rewarding, however ethical issues in  surrogacy are on the rise, and therefore conversations have been started about how ethical sourcing surrogates from poorer countries so you can pay less for a child, really is. Many times, surrogates will have their medical bills paid by the family, but not be compensated as this is not viewed as a "job", however, this is changing. In developing countries, surrogacy has become a form of income and employment, where women are getting paid to be a surrogate, outside of just compensation for medical bills. This is called commercial surrogacy, and it is turning into an exploitive business around the world. While, as of 2021 it is banned in India and other countries, agencies still exploit women to be surrogates and give them unfair conditions. Surrogacy is not an equally enjoyable experience for all, due to the exploitativeness of the agencies and the overall desperation for money in many developing countries, it can be a rough process, with minimal fiscal benefit to the surrogate in the end. Surrogates in the United States, are doing the same job as surrogates in countries such as India, but are getting paid exponentially less, and don't always get the same care and respect that surrogates in the United States do. While surrogacy in itself is positive, the inequalities in this business are what is giving it such a negative rapport. By looking at these inequalities in pay and treatment, we can better understand why this commercial business was banned in India, and how surrogacy works in general!

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Explore this webpage to find out more about what makes up this booming industry of surrogacy, and what inequalities come from it, and also, what positives come from it!