Harder Than It Seems

(Picking up from yesterday, so start here.)

It’s harder than I thought to pick substitutes for “altruistic surrogacy” and “commercial surrogacy.”   “Bound surrogacy” is really a bad choice for a number of reasons, not least of which it’s pretty clearly negative connotation.   “Free surrogacy” won’t do as an alternative, because it isn’t without cost.

This actually leads me to think back on some other terminology issues around surrogacy.  In particular, some people prefer not to use “surrogate mother” because it includes “mother” and they would contend that the surrogate is not a mother at all.   For this reason, you see “carrier” used.    And some, of course, object to that.   Carrier sounds a bit like luggage, after all.

I do think the language matters, in this as in many contexts.  Insisting that a sperm donor is not a father makes perfect sense to me.

Which is why I’m stuck here just now.  Because I think it matters.   Because the terms need to capture the difference I’m seeking to highlight.   “Revocable” versus “irrevocable” surrogacy?   Or perhaps, now that I think of it, “surrogate mother” (for the woman who is a mother and can change her mind) versus “carrier” (for the woman who is simply providing a residence for the developing embryo?

I don’t really think these terms will do.   And I am stuck.  I’ll try again tomorrow.