Essay/Term paper: Surrogate mothers

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Humanities Essays

Surrogate Mothers


The practice of bearing a child on behalf of another woman. This is
surrogate motherhood. Is it considered immoral? By some, yes. In some
countries it is banned—and in others it is promoted or up for consideration.
In recent days, the issue of "right and wrong" has surfaced in the midst of
this argument, sharing different meanings to the opposing sides. To some, it is
right only for the woman who brings forth life to raise the child; for it is
deemed that she is the only one fit to be the child's mother. Clearly, we must
indeed recognize this side of the argument.
But to those with that viewpoint, that is the end of the argument. They do
not see any reason for the issue to be continued further; rather, to end the
debate and declare anyone who disagrees to lack morals or values.
But have those who preach this anti-surrogate moralism ever experienced what
it would be like to be those on the other side of this issue? Suppose, for a
moment, that they were the ones who were incapable of having children. Would
they condemn themselves the way that they condemn others if they were in another
predicament? It is surely easy to say what one would do in any situation, but
one can never know exactly what they would do until that situation comes.
How many of you have ever held a small child in your arms and looked into its
small eyes and felt the love that you had for it. Perhaps it was a younger
sibling, perhaps even a child of your own. You know how much that you love that
little one. And of course, you all know how much the child's mother loves it.
What must it be like, I ask you, to be a mother or a father and know that you
will never have a son or a daughter to hold and call your own? Knowing that you
will never be able to raise a child and love it must be a terrible nightmare for
any caring and decent person who wishes to have a child. What is wrong then,
with having a woman give birth to a child that she cannot care for and give it
to a wanting mother and father who cannot have a child of their own.
What difference is it between surrogate-motherhood and adoption? There is
none. Adoption is legal, and is highly respected among people from many walks
of life. Pro-choice and Pro-life supporters herald adoption as a way of taking
care of children in need. Why then, should anyone who supports adoption attack
another option for a mother that is the same?
Surrogate motherhood provides good and decent parents who cannot otherwise
have children the opportunity of loving and raising a child and giving it a kind
and loving home. Imagine being a woman who has been told that you are no
longer capable of having a child—you know that surrogate motherhood is the only
way in which you will ever have a child. I ask, What right do any of us have to
deny a woman who cannot have a child the right to receive a child to raise and
call her own. I ask, What right to any of us have to deny a man the opportunity
to be a father and to raise his son or his daughter. We have no right to deny
parents the opportunity to have children! Consider all of the children in
orphanages who are alone and feel unloved. What right do we have to deny them
of loving parents? And how is it possible that we can allow child-molesters and
abusive parents to bear and raise children and deny good unfortunate couples the
right to raise a child. Such an idea is ludicrous and insane!
All that we need to do is reason a little to understand that surrogate-
motherhood is a perfect way for men and women to raise and love children that it
is otherwise impossible for them to have. We have adoption, which is very
similar to surrogate motherhood. We have grandparents and aunts and uncles who
raise children. Why on earth can't we allow good and decent people the
opportunity to raise and love children as well? It is all perfectly legitimate
and decent to allow people to parent and love a child, and who can argue that
raising and loving a child is wrong?
Thank-you for hearing the voice of compassion and reason.