Open AccessThe impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on surrogacy in India: The role of social work
Author(s) -
Lopamudra Goswami,
Stephen Anthony Larmar,
Jennifer Boddy
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
qualitative social work
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.554
H-Index - 42
eISSN - 1741-3117
pISSN - 1473-3250
DOI - 10.1177/1473325020981082
Subject(s) - pandemic , covid-19 , work (physics) , project commissioning , liminality , political science , economic growth , sociology , public relations , criminology , development economics , law , publishing , medicine , outbreak , economics , virology , mechanical engineering , disease , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , anthropology , engineering
The impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic have been catastrophic internationally, with alarming rates of cases and deaths, as well as travel bans and countrywide lockdowns. While many industries are experiencing the deleterious effects of Covid-19, international surrogacy is facing enormous ethical challenges resulting from the pandemic. Drawing on the first author's reflections on research with Indian surrogate mothers, coupled with contemporary literature, this paper highlights the impacts of Covid-19 on surrogacy in India, particularly regarding the strict lockdown laws intended to protect civil society. This paper discusses the serious issues facing key actors involved in surrogacy, including surrogate mothers and commissioning parents. Focus is given to the psychological impacts on newborn babies caught in a liminal space as a result of lockdown laws. The authors conclude with reflections on the role of social work in protecting women and children in international surrogacy, particularly during a pandemic.