Wombs in Labor : Transactional Commercial Surrogacy in India /
Amrita Pandey
- First edition
- Delhi : Primus Books, 2018.
- xi, 252 p.
Includes Bibliographical References and Index
Amrita Pande's book is the first detailed ethnography of India's surrogacy industry. Pande examines the surrogacy industry's labor system and how it intersects with reproduction and production in India. She interviews surrogates, clients, doctors, brokers, and hostel matrons to understand their experiences within the industry. While some women are coerced into surrogacy by their families, others negotiate with clients and clinics to gain access to advanced medical technologies and networks otherwise closed to them. Pande's research also highlights the strategies surrogates deploy to retain control over their bodies and reproductive futures.
Pande's advocacy for fair-trade surrogacy is grounded in a better understanding of this complex labor market. She envisions an international model founded on openness and transparency in all business, medical, and emotional exchanges. While some critics believe that surrogacy should be either banned or strictly regulated due to its inherent inequalities, Pande's research highlights the agency of surrogates and the potential benefits of a more ethical and transparent system.