CAFR Seminar: When Research Challenges Conviction: Surrogacy Families in the Political Crossfire.

Abstract

Since the birth of the UK’s first surrogacy baby, “Baby Cotton”, in 1985, surrogacy has provoked controversy. In addition to arguments about the exploitation of surrogate mothers, concerns have been raised about the impact on parents and children. 

This seminar will present a summary of studies conducted at the Centre for Child Adolescent and Family Research on parent-child relationships and the psychological wellbeing of children in families formed through surrogacy, and on the psychological wellbeing of surrogate mothers.  

The findings of this body of research will be discussed in the context of a changing social and political climate.    

The talk will end with an audience Q&A. 

Speaker bio

Susan Golombok is Professor Emerita of Family Research and former Director of the Centre for Family Research. She has pioneered research on families created by assisted reproductive technologies including IVF, donor insemination, egg donation and surrogacy, as well as lesbian mother families, gay father families, and families formed by single parents by choice.  

Susan’s research has challenged commonly held assumptions about these families as well as widely held theories of child development, and has contributed to policy and legislation on the family both nationally and internationally. Her most recent book is We Are Family: What Really Matters for Parents and Children.   

How to attend

University may attend in-person at the Old Cavendish Lab, Free School Lane (enter opposite Student Services).

The talk will also be streamed online for those unable to be there in person and for those external to the University. Please sign up to receive the Teams link.