The Confederation of Indian Industry has predicted that surrogacy will be a gigantic US$2.3 billion industry by 2012. This is becoming an increasingly familiar statistic. But what is life like for a surrogate mother? An article in the University of Chicago feminist journal Signs is an in-depth investigation of the recruitment and life of surrogates. Author Amrita Pande did fieldwork in the town of Anand, in Gujarat, between 2006 and 2008. She interviewed 42 surrogates, their husbands and in-laws, 8 intending parents, 2 doctors, and 2 surrogacy brokers.

One quote from a broker named Nirmala sticks with you:

“To convince the women I often explain to them that it’s like renting a house for a year. We want to rent your womb for a year, and Doctor Madam will get you money in return. I tell them surrogacy is not immoral. It is much better than a woman going from one man’s bed to the next to make money. Prostitution will not pay her much and can also lead to diseases.”

Read the full story in Signs. ~ Biopolitical Times, Dec 6