Course Description


P8671   The Globalization of Motherhood: Declining Birthrates and the Deconstruction of Biology & Care, 1.5 points

The convergence of dramatic declines in birth rates worldwide (aside from sub-Saharan Africa), the rise of untrammeled global movement of capital, people and information, and the rapid-fire dissemination of a host of new medical technologies has led to the "globalization of motherhood". We use this term to highlight the transnational causes and consequences of the disaggregation of the biologic and care giving components of motherhood, specifically adoption, migration of nannies, and use of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs). We focus here on the resulting transnational movements of people to perform or obtain childcare work (nannies), to relinquish or obtain babies (adoption) or to use ARTs ("reproductive tourism" for treatment, gametes or uteri). Progress towards gender equity in both employment and domestic responsibilities for women from the developed world relies, in part, on economic and gendered inequities confronting other groups of women. This interaction perpetuates gender- associated limitations for both, although neither equally, nor similarly. These transnational dynamics regarding biologic and social reproduction have consequences for public health, human rights, the construct of family, and labor.