Reproductive Tourism: Exploitation, Agency, and Public Health

Reproductive tourism intertwines medical, commercial, and socio-economic practices and systems. The practices directly impact the women whose ova and wombs are subject to contract for others' use. Criticisms of these practices consistently and rightly flag “exploitation” as a serious concern. This presentation will examine the ways in which the exploitation claim is made, and how the various ways affect our ability to address the public health and human rights consequences of reproductive tourism. For example, critics of reproductive tourism often position “agency” as “exploitation's” opposite. Yet, that can have the effect of narrowing understanding of exploitation and its public health effects. The presentation will also address concerns about commodification and its practical effects.