Shared and contested meanings and practices of surrogacy in Australia

This project examines altruistic surrogacy through Australian experiences. I view surrogacy as a complex practice that combines technology, social relations, economics and cultural understandings. Surrogacy is a contested, yet, internationally growing method of family formation. Therefore there is a need to increase our understanding of what surrogacy currently means to surrogates and intended parents in diverse positions within the global surrogacy landscape. 

The project utilizes two types of research data: 1) non-journalistic media produced by the stakeholders such as podcasts and blogs 2) interviews of Australian surrogates, intended parents and professionals. The first type of data provides material already out there without researcher's influence but carries with it implicit and explicit motives and objectives scrutinized in the research. The interview data provides anonymous accounts of lived experience and sheds light on multiple aspects of surrogacy such as articulations of motives, emotions, ambivalences and narratives. 

The project tackles questions such as 

• The meaning of reproductive technologies and medicalization of pregnancy and birth for surrogates and intended parents.
• The interpersonal affective dimensions of building relationships in altruistic surrogacy.
• The role of peer support and organizations in the surrogacy process and practices. 

This project aims to diversify the understanding of surrogacy in academic discussion particularly in Finland where academic and public discourse seems to be dominated by medical and legal viewpoints. The resulting insights may be relevant for planning and implementing new policies regarding surrogacy regulation in many jurisdictions.   

Despite being a contested phenomenon, international surrogacy continues to flourish globally. No international regulation exists that could safeguard the best interest of children or intended parents and surrogates. Many jurisdictions that do not allow surrogacy must come to terms with the fact that it is happening regardless of local laws. Reproductive travel to access surrogacy abroad happens also from jurisdictions that allow altruistic surrogacy as is the case in Australia. It is paramount to understand how altruistic surrogacy works and doesn’t work to understand why it is not the answer to ending commercial surrogacy and traveling to access it.

As Australian Law Reform Commission is currently reviewing the Australian surrogacy laws, the issue of surrogacy is under public debate. Divergent discourses compete in the battle of defining proper forms of surrogacy in regards to payment and commercialization. The debate on whether surrogacy should or should not be normalized and naturalized as a method in family formation still exists. Affective orientations toward family, reproduction and money are central in defining people's attitudes and opinions. 

It is important for researchers interested in global trends in reproductive technologies and third party reproduction to follow and make sense of the debates and developments within Australia. This is not irrelevant in Finland either since the question of making altruistic surrogacy possible in Finland does occasionally resurface. 

The goal of the project is to chart current developments in altruistic surrogacy in Australia to gain a deep understanding of its meaning for people involved in it. This is done by combining two different types of data: authentic, stake-holder produced material and researcher led interviews. 

Produced through careful, theoretically informed analysis, the resulting insights will help lawmakers in many jurisdictions to chart best practices and policies. Australian altruistic surrogacy experience has also unique qualities that enrich the conversation about surrogacy in general. 

The project aims to add nuance to the academic, social scientific discussion on surrogacy. Surrogacy is often only examined from ethical and legal aspects which are important. However, this project aims to shift the focus toward thinking of surrogacy as an assemblage of multiple, intertwining factors such as technology, social relations, economics and cultural understandings. 

Tampere University

Kaisa Naskali Buddle

kaisa.naskalibuddle [at] tuni.fi