The feminism argument against surrogacy?

[XXVaginaAndAUterus]

There's a program on radio 4 about surrogacy at the moment (trigger warning it talks about termination, miscarriage and ethics of testing procedures).

It reminded me that I've seen people on this board say quite strongly that surrogacy is wrong from a feminism point of view. Could you break it down for me and help me to understand?

I can see the argument that women's bodies aren't for rent on the surface of it. What troubles me is that isn't it just a different form of the same thing as many jobs? Lots of work involves effectively exchanging use of your body for money - builders for example, or waiting on staff. Lots of work involves the "rent" of a body in conjunction with a mind. So what makes a womb different? The danger? In which case are you against working on oil rigs or in war zones, and the military?

I'm genuinely seeking to understand this a bit better, I'm not looking for an argument.

I've made a career out of "waiting on", I've also been pregnant, only once, by choice, my son is 9yo.
I would have died giving birth to my son if it wasn't for emergency c section, which leaves its scars, physically and emotionally.
My mental health took a serious downward turn during my otherwise perfect pregnancy, to the point that I seriously contemplated suicide.
Ive had some seriously shitty and stressful days "waiting on" non of them have left with me with physical and mental scars or on the verge of killing myself.
Buying and selling of human beings and their parts is wrong.

And I agree with pp, my son knew me, my voice, even the place I worked waiting on until I was nearly 9 months pregnant, the sounds were familiar to him and he still loves the place.
I can't imagine growing a baby and then giving it away for any amount of money.
I loved my son the moment I knew he was there, to the point of refusing having the blood test for downs syndrome, it didn't matter, to me, no judgement on others who took it and I was probably massively nieve.
I was going to say unless my son needed expensive life saving drugs, but even then I don't think I could do it.
So what does that tell you about how desperate most of these women are?

By all means start a thread on it if you find it such a compelling topic. Though preferably not on the 'Feminism' board.

I understood her to be making a point about women by comparing them to a situation she saw as analogous in men. I don't know that I agree with her, but that's a valid form of argument, even about feminism.

I'm really amazed that people can compare being pregnant and giving birth as being the same as working in a job you dislike.

It's just astounding to me.

If it's so normal and easy to do, then why doesn't every woman just do it instead of working, then? Because you know damn well that it is NOTHING like working.

It is. One doesn't even have to frame it as a feminist argument.

This is my real objection. We don't buy or give away people. This is trade in people, but a little like buying the various legal parts separately and then putting together an illegal gun in your basement.

The feminist argument is also strong but not quite the same kind of argument. In a perfect world, people choosing this kind of service might be fine, I don't have a problem with people doing work that is important that could potentially include catastrophic injury or death. They can be astronauts or forest firefighters or soldiers in they want to.

But the social effects and potential for exploitation are just very high, so much so that it is worth controlling or banning the practice. There are all kinds of things like that.

But the real problem is that surrogacy makes people mothers, and children have rights with regard to their parentage. It's not an opt out sort of role.

We don't buy or give away people. This is trade in people, but a little like buying the various legal parts separately and then putting together an illegal gun in your basement.

Perfectly put Goosefoot

Also I rarely see any consideration to the egg donor (albeit they are often sellers).
It is not a pleasant process and can be harmful to health. Only last week I had dealings with a woman who ended up in ICU due to complications associated with the egg collection (for her own uses).

In surrogacy you are choosing to create a child to love and then the very very very first thing you do to them is hugely damage them.

Bang on. You don't have to be a feminist to be against treating babies like commodities.