buy a human as a consumer good it is something that has happened for centuries on our planet, and that had a disastrous chapter in recent history with the transatlantic trade. In E. Williams’ book, “Capitalism and Slavery,” as the title suggests, he correlates cause and effect.
Now, although in a different way, people (babies) are also bought. Of course, everything seems much “more civilized”. Human beings are bought, babies on request, using women as incubators. Of course, those who are used as procreators are women in a situation of vulnerability and/or with economic needs, when not poor. This is not an accidental fact, patriarchal and macho capitalism has fostered surrogate bellies; yet another obstacle to the emancipation of women. A fact that is classified as violence and that violates the dignity and human rights of women. “The Handmaid’s Tale”, by Margaret Atwood, gives us a good reflection based on social criticism and respect for women’s rights.
But beyond the literature and theoretical reflections, the truth is that after the pandemic in the world there has been a regression in the levels of development and those of poverty have increased. This is fertile land for exploitation. Exploitation of all kinds, labor, but, or only, also sexual, with prostitution and pornography hand in hand with the trafficking of women and girls through forced migration. And reproductive exploitation.
The surrogates are a way to buy Babies born by women in a socioeconomically vulnerable situation by rich couples. It has an obvious discrimination bias and a power gradient rooted in the economic factor. And I say no. The bodies of women and their children cannot be bought as merchandise.
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