by Chelsea Lanai Kimball Surrogacy In Pop Culture: Over the past few years, surrogacy has started to be made more public. In pop culture, and on the news, we have started to hear more about surrogacy in a positive, and negative light. The first thing that comes to mind is movies and television. “Baby Mama” the 2008 rom/com starring Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. Hilarious, but problematic to the reality of surrogacy. When the Bough Breaks (2016), A Surrogate’s Nightmare (2017), and A Deadly Adoption (2015) are the first movies that pop up if you google “Surrogacy Movies”. All problematic and unrealistic. On the other hand, a lot of celebrities have gone public with tales of how their families came to be via surrogacy. Tyra Banks, Elizabeth Banks, Ellen Pompeo, Nicole Kidman, Elton John, Ricky Martin, and others have all been quoted, gushing about their experiences using a gestational carrier (a surrogate who is not biologically tied to the baby). Far from the images we see on television. How Surrogacy Actually Works: With so little explanation of how surrogacy actually works in the limelight, it’s no wonder the general population doesn’t fully understand how surrogacy works. First, surrogacy is not legal in all states and countries. A misunderstanding of how the process works is a large problem in seeing surrogacy being legalized everywhere. The celebrities above all used a GC (Gestational Carrier) for a multitude of reasons. Single parents, infertility (in many forms), or LGBT+ parents. Surrogacy can help anyone in any situation actualize their dreams of a family. Not everyone is qualified to be a GC. Recently in New York, where surrogacy remains to be illegal, prominent feminists including Gloria Steinem, have condemned the legalization of commercial surrogacy. Some have said it draws a parallel to “The Handmaid’s Tale” and only exploits women. What Ms. Steinem fails to understand is that there are rules, and no one is selling babies or bodies, and surrogacy is about bodily autonomy in every form. In order to qualify to be a GC, you must meet the following requirements (these vary by state): Aged between 21-39 years old BMI between 18-32 Non-smoker in a non-smoking household Must pass a drug test No history of criminal activity Surrogate and partner (if partnered) must both pass a psychological evaluation Must agree to a home check Have given birth to and be raising at least one…

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