There are some studies conducted in countries like Greece, the UK, Australia, Sweden that evaluated the public opinion about surrogacy.
But this does not provide sufficient global data, as such studies are not yet conducted in countries like India.
Resultant of this, many surrogates have reported that they are often stigmatized because surrogacy is widely believed to involve sexual intercourse.
This type of public approach indicates that many of the general population is unaware of the global conversions related to surrogacy.
Insufficient public understanding about the surrogacy process not only affects locally but also becomes a social issue.
One of the reasons for conflict arising on surrogacy is because of participation of women belongs to a poor, uneducated, or insufficient educational background.
Continuation of such a trend perceived surrogacy as exploitative.
International and domestic organizations create pressure on the government for banning commercial surrogacy practices in many countries.
However, there is no law to prohibit this practice.
A divergent opinion demonstrated that surrogacy is an opportunity for the empowerment of poor women.
Opting for commercial surrogacy gives a chance to earn a significant financial benefit to support their family and also to control male domination.
Surrogacy is a noble invention of assisted reproductive technology (ART).
Many involuntarily childless couples from all over the globe want to opt for surrogacy.
However, the restriction of cross-border service, the banning of commercial surrogacy are barriers for such prospective intended parents.
Many general populations believe surrogacy involves sexual intercourse between the surrogate mother and the intended father.
This is one of the main reasons for disapproval.
Whereas some people still believe in a traditional conservative culture and are unable to accept that a child-bearing woman is not married to the biological father of the child.
To reduce the conflict, it is necessary to change the point of view of the general population about surrogacy.
Proper education to the local people requires to clarify all the misconceptions related to surrogacy such as involvement of sexual intercourse or stigmatizes the surrogate motherhood, etc.
Giving an understanding of the process of surrogacy and IVF to the local people is necessary.
The future policy should be designed in such a way that it is approachable to the general population.
Although, educational promotion is not easy for a country like India, where a huge population, a diverse culture may become a barrier.
But this is the only way to provide the understanding of surrogacy is valuable and surrogate mothers are doing a price-worthy job.
Social policymakers should promote the view that the surrogate mother is someone attempting a noble endeavor.
This notion of surrogacy should be considered as ‘care work’.
Read Also: Surrogate Mother Eligibility
Consideration of surrogacy as ‘care work,’ could be incorporated as the rights of surrogate mothers into existing labor rights legislation.
Such regulations may increase the possibility to avoid stigma and other social discrimination towards surrogate mothers by involving local norms.
Besides, a surrogate mother would ideally be someone who is valued and respected during the interaction between the surrogate mother and the intended parents, as well as financial compensation required to allow for her services.
These overall changes may also break down the divergent global opinion about surrogacy.
Read Also: Surrogate mother Screening Process
Ravi Sharma is a self-motivated, successful entrepreneur and has a solid experience in the fertility segment. and he is the director at ARTbaby Global (ARThealthcare). He is a pharmacy graduate with post-graduation in business administration and has 14 years of rich experience in the field of infertility segment. He loves to write about IVF, Surrogacy, and other ART (assisted reproductive technology) news, issues, and updates. He is a Pharmacy graduate (B. Pharm) and M.B.A (marketing).
His most recent success includes the successful launch of the medical tourism company, ARTbaby, which offers treatment options for infertility, egg donation, and surrogacy. He likes spending time with his family and writing about various aspects of IVF surrogacy and donating eggs.