Surrogacy Board

[TinkerTiger]

What is the purpose of this board? I’ve just seen this thread and comment after comment is berating the OP.

FWIW, I don’t support surrogacy but I understand that there are people who do and so I don’t get involved. Not every space is for me. It feels like people purposely go into the surrogacy board to preach at women who are exploring it.

Why is that allowed? What is the point of having a board if people can’t post and get their questions answered in peace?

I'd like to know why we have a surrogacy board too? The practice is morally repugnant and harmful to both women and children.

Surrogacy really goes beyond “oh it’s just not for me”, for the same reasons we wouldn’t give and protect a space for other hugely exploitative practices and accept it because “it’s not for me”. Anyone who see’s surrogacy as “oh it’s just one of those things” quite clearly hasn’t read even a fraction of enough about it and the impact it has on women, educate yourself OP.

It should be removed. A message board allowing people to pass on details about how to buy a baby and rent a woman is incomprehensible.

A board that promotes the exploitation of women often from very impoverished communities has no place on a site like Mumsnet.

Its sickening that posters try to normalise this practice by saying why are posters seeking advice attacked. Of course they are attacked because they are actively engaging in a practice that is illegal in many countries across the globe and is under investigation by the UN.

The #bekind brigade are definitely on the wrong side of history and will likely be ashamed in the future.

I also suspect there will be a wave of legal actions by trafficked children in the future who were sold through this inhumane practice.

These conversations come up on Active - most people browse Mumsnet that way and a lot of people have strong opinions about surrogacy.

When you see someone planning to do something that you believe could have a seriously detrimental affect on another woman and possibly a child then it's human to want to make sure they've really thought this through surely?

That goes double imo when they're planning to go abroad as in some countries there are definitely human rights abuses going on in terms of the removal of rights from both the birth mother and the infant.

This is a very fair question. I think Mumsnet needs to take a stance and either remove the board, or keep it and protect the space.

I agree that there should not be a board for surrogacy. I didn't realise there was one.

Agree with all of you. That board should be removed.

I didn’t realise there was one. But I agree with others, surrogacy is inherently wrong and a board on it should not be on MN.

Agreed.

Nobody is banned from specific boards. It's an open forum, so people can post their opinions wherever they like (as long as they don't break the Talk Guidelines).

posted on wrong thread .

It feels like people purposely go into the surrogacy board to preach at women who are exploring it

I doubt that is the case. I saw that thread precisely because it came up in Active threads. Maybe if it is to remain it should be removed from Active.
Though I agree with most, why have it at all.

It feels like people purposely go into the surrogacy board to preach at women who are exploring it.

If people are doing this, good for them. It’s a bit like standing with a placard. People should be called out on it as it’s completely unethical.

Came here to see if anyone had mentioned this.

The board says "Join to connect with others in similar situations and discuss legal processes, costs, well-being, and types of surrogacy." I believe it sets itself up as being a supportive place for those considering surrogacy when it is not as most replies are anti-surrogacy. Not getting into the rights and wrongs here but I do feel a little sorry for people seeking help and advice to be met with post after post telling them they are wrong as they won't have any inkling that is what will happen.

Perhaps that’s true about it being in Active. I go on to boards that don’t always align with me because I like to get different perspectives. But I know it’s not my space, I’ve joined in on surrogacy threads in AIBU before.

I’d just like mumsnet’s take on why the board exists, as it’s not serving a purpose to those who it was intended for.

Your last point is key here. It's not serving the intended purpose.

Thank you for highlighting that.

It definitely should be removed. That wording is completely inappropriate and offensive given that it involves facilitating the exploitation of human beings.

Can't believe that the board has actually been allowed to stand for as long as it had.

I agree. I am anti surrogacy. It's definitely not a place for info about going through the surrogacy process.

If it is a board for people to discuss and campaign on ethical advice issues around surrogacy then move it to FWR or somewhere else.

Actually, we’re going to have a surrogacy discussion board, why don’t we have a prostitution one? Both involve the purchase and exploitation of women’s bodies.

Surrogacy is legal.

I think if having the board MN should let it be a supportive place, and discussion on ethics should be elsewhere such as feminism or ethics.

Possible cross signpost to the discussion board.

I'm not convinced MN should start banning boards on legal activities. Where would that end? Would the trans debate also have been banned as on so many other parts of social media?

@TinyRebel I agree - some people feel that prostitution should be promoted as a viable 'sex work' profession.

Surrogacy is child trafficking as well as the exploitation of women.

@TeenToTwenties Commercial surrogacy is not legal in the UK.

Instead what happens is that people go to poorer countries where women have fewer choices and 'adopt' the child there after they've bought and paid for it and the woman who will incubate it.

I agree with having a surrogacy board (I know against the grain). If people want to learn about a topic in a safe space shouldn’t it be allowed? Someone might be in the depth of infertility and looking at options which have been suggested. For them to understand the process, what’s involved from people who don’t work for these agencies is a positive thing right? Otherwise the only information they gather is from agencies which make it sound more positive, a more balanced less bias view point is only a good thing in my head