Check out 16 Return-To-Work Programs In India For Ambitious Women Like You!
While surrogacy laws in India ostensibly protects the rights of surrogates, moral policing seems to be the real concern, than women's health.
While surrogacy laws in India ostensibly protects the rights of surrogates, moral policing seems to be the real concern, than women’s health.
The desire to procreate is a very fundamental attribute of the human race. Unfortunately, many are deprived of the joy of parenthood due to several reasons, biological or otherwise. Developments in reproductive sciences and technologies have helped transcend the barriers to parenthood.
Surrogacy has evolved as a plausible mode of bringing a child into this world, for couples who cannot have children biologically. Surrogacy has also been a means of earning large sums of money in a relatively short span, for women who would otherwise earn their livelihood from cooking or cleaning in others’ homes, from selling vegetables or other random, unstable, odd jobs.
A draft bill which aims to safeguard the rights of surrogate mothers recently attained clearance from the Union Cabinet. In an affidavit to the Supreme Court last year, the Government had said that it does not support commercial surrogacy. If approved by Parliament, the law will ban people who do not hold an Indian passport, as well as Indian single parents and gay people, from having children through surrogacy.
I understand that there are legal, ethical, and emotional implications. And there have been instances of abandonment of the baby, health risks for the surrogate mother, citizenship issues of the child and underpayment of compensation, amongst others.
But should the government not try to regulate the industry instead and address proper implementation of surrogacy laws? The fact that foreign couples and Indian homosexual couples / single parents would be denied surrogacy is even more discriminatory and confusing. If the purpose is to protect a woman from exploitation, what difference does it make to her whether the womb is being rented by an Indian or a foreigner?
Speaking of exploitation, how many women in the country, poor or rich alike are married with the sole purpose of bearing a child? Everybody tells a man to find a ‘nice girl’, and settle down to start a family. At times, the same wife goes through multiple childbirths in an attempt to bear a male child, her consent being nobody’s concern.
In that process, she may have undergone abortions as well, much to the destruction of her physical and mental health. And these women get paid nothing for the use of their womb! Isn’t that exploitation of a woman? However, nobody raises an objection because it is all under the acceptable social realms of holy matrimony.
How is it an exploitation when an adult woman consents to carry a child for a couple in return for a monetary compensation? Should a woman not reserve the right of choice when it comes to her body?
Can the lawmakers understand the plight of a woman who is struggling financially to raise her child? Is it fair that she is being denied the opportunity to make her life better? Would people still care for their definition of ‘ethics’ if they had to worry about survival?
Image Source: Pixabay
I like to write about the problems that have plagued the Indian society. I feel that the concept of gender equality is still alien , and that has been the focus of my articles and posts. read more...
Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
People say that women are the greatest enemies of women. I vehemently disagree. It is the patriarchal mindset that makes women believe in the wrong ideology.
The entire world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024. It should be a joyful day, but unfortunately, not all women are entitled to this privilege, as violence against women is at its peak. The experience of oppression pushes many women to choose freedom. As far as patriotism is concerned, feminism is not a cup of tea in this society.
What happens when a woman decides to stand up for herself? Does this world easily accept the decisions of women in this society? What inspires them to be free of the clutches of the oppression that women have faced for ages? Most of the time, women do not get the chance to decide for themselves. Their lives are always at the mercy of someone, which can be their parents, siblings, husband, or children.
In some cases, women do not feel the need to make any decisions. They are taught to obey the patriarchal system, which makes them believe that they are right. In my family, I was never taught to make decisions on my own. It was always my parents who bought dresses and all that I needed.
14 years after her last feature film Dhobi Ghat, storyteller extraordinaire comes up with her new film, Laapataa Ladies, a must watch.
*Some spoilers alert*
Every religion around the world dictates terms to women. The onus is always on women to be ‘modest’ and cover their faces and bodies so men can’t be “tempted”, rather than on men to keep their eyes where they belong and behave like civilized beings. So much so that even rape has been excused on the grounds of women eating chowmein or ‘men will be men’. I think the best Hindi movie retort to this unwanted advice on ‘akeli ladki khuli tijori ki tarah hoti hai’ (an alone woman is like an open jewellery box) came from Geet in Jab We Met – Kya aap gyan dene ke paise lete hain kyonki chillar nahin hain mere paas.
The premise of Laapataa Ladies is beautifully simple – two brides clad in the ghunghat that covers their identity get mixed up on a train. Within this Russian Doll, you get a comedy of errors, a story of getting lost, a commentary on patriarchy’s attitude towards women, a mystery, and a tale of finding oneself, all in one. Done with a mostly light touch that has you laughing and nodding along.
Please enter your email address