Outsourcing the Womb: Race, Class and Gestational Surrogacy in a Global Market

by France Winddance Twine

Through case studies, Outsourcing the Womb, Second Edition provides a critical analysis and global tour of the international surrogacy landscape in Egypt, India, China, Japan, Israel, Ukraine, the European Union and the United States. By providing a comparative analysis of countries that have very different policies, this book disentangles the complex role that race, religion, class inequality, legal regimes, and global capitalism play in the gestational surrogacy market. This book provides an intersectional frame of analysis in which multiple forms of social inequality and power differences become institutionalized and restrict the access of some individuals and families while privileging others, and concludes with a discussion of "reproductive justice" and "reproductive liberty." It is an ideal addition to courses on social problems, race, gender, and inequality.

Genres: Nonfiction, Feminism, Sociology, Race

116 pages, Paperback

First published February 7, 2011

Reviews

[Bethany N.]

Holy hell. I am shook.

[Ren Morton]

This is a great introductory primer for the gestational surrogacy industry (though a touch more editing wouldn’t go amiss). It’s a very quick overview using a comparative analysis of state (national) regulatory regimes through case studies of the major industry hubs. I wish it had provided a map, because the flow of clientele and wealth in this industry would be a shocking look at global commodity chains and perceptions/meaning of wealth.

Highly recommend if you think you have fixed opinions on surrogacy, reproduction, or motherhood. You don’t know what you think you know.

Highly recommend if you know nothing about the surrogacy and commercial reproduction industry. It’s accessibly written and provides a glossary of terms and concepts for easy reference in the back.

[Meaghan]

Great Primer on the gestational surrogacy industry

Author definitely hammered home the agenda that surrogacy stratifies societies based on racial, economical, religious, and fActors of circumstance. Would have liked a little bit more data to support those points but it was a fair starting point.

[Gina]

See my blog post about the book on Biopolitical Times. http://www.biopoliticaltimes.org/arti...

[Michelle]

Good info, but would have loved to have something with more substance.

[Tamlynem]

A really thorough examination of surrogacy worldwide that I haven't seen anywhere else. Who knew they targeted military spouses?

[Yola]

Helpful overview but Baby M is a case involving Elizabeth Whitehead, an American surrogate. Not a reference to the Indian Baby Manji case. Also think it could use more citations.