Breeders: A Subclass of Women

[JoanOfQuarks]

With the proposed Rumplestiltskin law being consulted on, this documentary looks like a very worthwhile watch.

vimeo.com/ondemand/breeders/145587366

The UK Rumplestiltskin consultation doesn’t reference the rights or the experiences of mothers at all. The only references to the mothers that rich people will pay to grow babies for them relate to terms of service and restrictions on her rights to her child.

What this documentary seems to be pointing out is that the whole point of surrogacy is that you create a subclass of woman who it is deemed acceptable to burden with the reproductive role but strip her of the ownership of her own child.

This isn’t a progressive thing to do. It’s inhumane, misogynistic, classist and in many cases racist.

Some text from the description:

“Surrogacy is fast becoming one of the major issues of the 21st century—celebrities and everyday people are increasingly using surrogates to build their families. But the practice is fraught with complex implications for women, children, and families. What is the impact on the women who serve as surrogates and on the children who are born from surrogacy? In what ways might money complicate things? What about altruistic surrogacy done for a family member or close friend? Is surrogacy a beautiful, loving act or does it simply degrade pregnancy to a service and a baby to a product? Can we find a middle ground? Should we even look for one?
From The Center for Bioethics and Culture, producers of the award-winning Eggsploitation (2010, 2013), and Anonymous Father’s Day (2011), Breeders: A Subclass of Women? explores this important issue, talking with surrogates, physicians, psychologists, and activists across the political and ideological spectrum.”

[JessicaWakefieldSV]

This isn’t a progressive thing to do. It’s inhumane, misogynistic, classist and in many cases racist.

This ^

[Erythronium]

This sounds like a painful watch.

Surrogacy is disgusting - taking a child from its mother and a mother from a child.

[MenuPlant]

Thanks for posting.

Feels women's rights are under attack from so many angles at the moment.

[habobobo]

Not directly related to your post, but have you noticed the term 'breeder' is actually being used to describe mothers. Horrible.

[RubberTreePlant]

Just watching the 'Director's Statement' video, what's striking is how much of surrogacy is now apparently FOR (the benefit of) MEN, and how much is commercial. Not women altruistically helping women.

I'll look for stats later, but it wouldn't take much for men to overtake women as the majority of IPs, given that gay-led and single male parent families are on the rise, and that no male can gestate a foetus.

[JoanOfQuarks]

Would be very interesting to see those statistics. The bottom line is that women generally don’t need surrogacy as we as a class can create life.
I think this whole drive to control women’s reproductive powers stems back to some men fearing, envying and ultimately hating women.

[JoanOfQuarks]

A link to the director’s statement on the documentary. She gives a description of the different women affected by surrogacy shown in her film. Each experience comes from an entirely different aspect of surrogacy and yet each of them are damaging and heartbreaking to the women and children involved.

//Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdsGum5FzN8

[RubberTreePlant]

Turns out that surrogacy statistics are not readily available.

[JoanOfQuarks]

Thanks for looking though Rubberplant.

I think they’re probably not available because it’s a private business industry which is very poorly regulated.

I have heard that the IVF industry is very poor at record keeping and providing cohesive statistics. I imagine surrogacy is even worse.

[LassOfFyvie]

The bottom line is that women generally don’t need surrogacy as we as a class can create life.I think this whole drive to control women’s reproductive powers stems back to some men fearing, envying and ultimately hating women

Oh come off it. Surrogacy is absolutely vile and should be banned but your conspiracy theory frankly sounds demented. Surrogacy came about because of IVF and no- one thinking it through. Women were and are just as complicit in that. I can't find it now but I previously posted a link to a website listing female celebrities, some of whom had even had children from their own pregnancies, who used surrogates.