Abstract

This article argues that debates surrounding surrogacy can be organized around three notions: autonomy, exploitation, and the objectification of women. These are three topics that are frequently present in feminist debates about the forms and expressions of women’s subordination and inequality in relation to men, particularly in the areas of sexuality and reproduction. It argues that the analysis of each of these concepts allows for two questions: first, to identify and recognize the various conceptions that each of these notions has, and second, how, from each understanding, it is possible to construct arguments that support a position taken in the debate over the legality and morality of surrogacy. The paper emphasizes the importance of moral discussion on the topic, especially because advocating for a particular understanding of these notions reveals a particular way of conceiving the power relations that impact the legal regulation of this practice.

Keywords

Feminism Autonomy Exploitation Objectification Surrogacy Motherhood