Media representations of surrogacy in Britain

What is it about?

One hundred and ninety-seven British newspaper articles were analysed to understand social changes in relation to surrogacy and how surrogacy was depicted in the media. There were three main foci; buying babies – affordable only to those wealthy enough to pay for it; the legal complications of transnational surrogacy – reporting a sense of the legal system lagging behind this practice; and gay families – repeatedly questioning their suitability as parents – demonstrating a prevailing heterosexual stereotype about reproduction and parenting. Stereotyping was prevalent and the welfare of children and medical aspects of transnational surrogacy were minimally addressed, indicating the media selectively influences its readership.

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Why is it important?

Understanding how things are represented in the media is important because because public perception can be shaped and contribute to societal change - what becomes acceptable and what does not.

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