Surrogate Motherhood: The Challenge for Feminists

Abstract

Surrogate motherhood presents an enormous challenge for feminists. During the course of the Baby M trial, the New Jersey chapter of the National Organization of Women met and could not reach consensus on the issue. The feelings ranged the gamut, the head of the chapter, Linda Bowker, told the New York Time. We did feel that it should not be made illegal, because we don't want to turn women into criminals. But other than that, what you may feel about the Baby M case may not be what you feel about another.We do believe that women ought to control their own bodies, and we don't want to play big brother or big sister and tell them what to do, Ms. Bowker continued. But on the other hand, we don't want to see the day when women are turned into breeding machines.