A few days ago, while I was making yet another change to my hairstyle (don't worry, I didn't dye it green - just had a cut), I came upon this article about surrogate mothers in India. I managed to finish the whole article, had a reflection about it and also had a little nap in the chair. Because my hair is a b***h to handle as it's so thick.
It was in the Marie Claire UK version. October issue, I think. (God knows why the Singapore magazines don't carry such articles), and it was interesting.
Surrogate parenthood offered childless couples in the UK a glimpse of light where it was dark. Some of the couples had been trying for years for a kid, but failed because of health reasons (the lady had a health issue which made her automatically miscarry in the 1st trimester) or because they were too old to conceive. Either way, a child in their families would be dearly beloved.
On the other hand, Indian families had problems sending their kids to school or feeding them. The Indian women who agree to be surrogate parents are there out of their own free will - they are interviewed by the clinic before they are accepted into the clinic. Women who were deemed to be forced by their family members were sent home. Women there wanted the best for their children. It was like a job to them. However, surrogate mothers faced a social problem if they were seen outside with a big stomach. Some of their neighbours did not believe that a child could be placed inside a womb if it's not by the usual way. *ahem*
There are two types of surrogate parenthood - full surrogate parenthood and partial parenthood. Full parenthood is when the egg and sperm is from the UK couple. Partial parenthood is when the egg is provided by the surrogate mother.
It looked like a win-win situation to me: the childless couple gets a child to love, hold and adore, and the surrogate mother gets the money to continue sending her kids to school. I'm talking about full surrogate parenthood here. I think partial surrogate parenthood will create problems in all aspects of life.
But of course, playing with biotechnology always reminds people of playing God.
What about adoption?
I used to work with a anti-child trafficking Cambodian NGO based in Singapore (actually, I still go over if she screams for help). I know the founder personally and she's like an elder sister to me. She used to tell me (oh wait, she's still saying this) that it was difficult to adopt children from outside the US or Europe. I know of an American woman who still lives in Phnom Penh today because the US would not give her adopted Cambodian boy citizenship status. She has been living in Phnom Penh for 5 years, and she speaks Khmer(!!!) relatively well. She has been separated from her husband for 5 years.
And there are the child trafficking people in Cambodia and Vietnam. These people buy children from drug addict parents. In other words, they tear families apart because some idiot wants to feed his own drug habit by selling his own children. These children then become 'orphans' ready for adoption by foreign couples. Foreign couples who adopt these 'orphans' pay a hefty sum (in US dollars) to the middlemen. Some girls sold by their parents become prostitutes (I met one who is my age - 23 - and she seems so much older than I am and she has been in business for 5 or 6 years, I think) after being purchased by pimps.
Then it makes sense for parents to go through surrogate parenthood clinics in order to get their much wanted child. Wanting to adopt children may lead to the disintegration of families, if the wrong people are approached. Many potential adoptive parents go through much pain and distress for many years before finally getting the right to adopt their children, only to find out that their adoptive children were sold by their original family.
Only some adoption cases are genuine.
What scars do children have to go through?
Which is better - renting the womb, or selling children?
The jury in my head is still out on this matter. Email me at indigoslash (at) gmail (dot) com if you got any viewpoints.
Now, I'm going back to reading biotechnology.
%^@$@$*&!!! Blast the exams!
-Therese (2nd year, SEAsian Studies major)
P.S: Year 1s, if you are confused about majors and are interested in SEAsia Studies as a major, also feel free to email me. =)
Labels: thoughts
