Recently, Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas took their respective Instagram handles to announce that they have become parents via surrogacy.
While many across social media came forward to congratulate the couple, writer Taslima Nasreen, around the same time, shared her opinions about surrogacy:
How do those mothers feel when they get their readymade babies through surrogacy? Do they have the same feelings for the babies like the mothers who give birth to the babies?
— taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) January 22, 2022
It is disgusting how even in the 21st century, people don’t understand that there is no one way to become a mother. And, it’s parents’ choice to how they want to bring the new life into this world.
The act of childbirth alone does not determine motherhood or parenthood.
Calling surrogate children “ready-made” is wrong at multiple levels. It questions the parent or mother’s attachment to a child born out of surrogacy, which is utterly disgusting. If the father can develop a bond with a child that he does not carry for 9 months, so can a mother. The question of whether surrogacy exploits women from weaker sections of society, is a topic of discussion. But, does it need to be discussed when a couple is sharing the joys of becoming a parent?
Surrogacy is possible because there are poor women. Rich people always want the existence of poverty in the society for their own interests. If you badly need to raise a child, adopt a homeless one. Children must inherit your traits—it is just a selfish narcissistic ego.
— taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) January 22, 2022
Many people took to Twitter to slam Nasreen’s views:
As a child adopted out of the system as a toddler, I say this with the utmost disrespect: shhhhutthefuckup
— Imani E. McElroy, MD, MPH (she/her/hers) (@IEMcElroy) January 23, 2022
Beyond trying to shame people who can’t have children think about all the children you are trying to make question their parents. https://t.co/cNmUiPxbbg
since when does the quality of ‘motherhood’ depend on how much discomfort one has borne? equating one’s tolerance of pain with their worth is a very toxic trait to possess. https://t.co/UkI1SybCWz
— sivvy (@jungbareumx) January 23, 2022
Fun fact: Many biological mothers struggle to love their own babies initially due to sheer exhaustion, poor health, lacking support & untreated postpartum depression. You don’t hear about it because it’s a taboo topic. Just Google postpartum stories & you’ll know. https://t.co/jynrBFpOnB
— Fariha (@fariha1a) January 23, 2022
this kind of ignorance coming from a physician, a south asian woman at that, is appalling. who the fuck are you to define motherhood for another woman? put your ass away taslima. https://t.co/mnuwf5HqzU
— pro_glock_vice (@trill_samosa) January 22, 2022
Why don’t you ask the same question for fathers? https://t.co/NSHDePc1dF
— Caraxes (@davosinskagos) January 22, 2022
Do you ask the fathers the same question? Are fathers any less connected to their borns? https://t.co/SoQ7jasXEz
— Dhoom Tananana🌈 (@dhoomtananana37) January 24, 2022
So vile https://t.co/w2SRlRBgXn
— Exhausted(Taylor’s Version) (@Nahopayega09) January 23, 2022
There’s no difference between the love for a baby you gave birth and a baby or a child you adopt, and loving your kid you had via surrogacy. Also, how do father’s feel abt kids since they don’t give birth? https://t.co/0bpmtH6Mps
— DystopianMagic (@DystopianMagic) January 23, 2022
How do those fathers feel when they get their readymade babies through every pregnancy? Do they have the same feelings for the babies like the mothers who give birth to the babies? https://t.co/YnBmh149Uu
— 𝐚𝐬𝐡 | 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐭𝐰𝐭 (@SaddBibliophile) January 23, 2022
Later, writer mentioned that her tweet was not aimed at Priyanka and Nick. Infact, she really loved the couple. She mentioned her tweet targeted the practice of surrogacy, which she believes exploits poor women.
Do let us know what you think!