Abolishing or regulating surrogacy. The meanings of freedom according to Italian feminism

Surrogacy is a divisive emerging topic in Italian feminism: while some groups mobilize for a universal ban, other criticize the abolitionist request for neglecting women's freedom. This article identifies and discusses the principal themes of this debate. Abolitionists build their arguments on the theme of the commodification of woman and child on the theme of the unity of motherhood as a natural feminine trait; the other front argues that surrogacy can be an opportunity for empowerment and for liberating motherhood and parenthood from gender fixity. While the feminist discourse on surrogacy revolves around a woman-centric vision of freedom/agency, the authors believe that surrogacy, as a reproductive practice that might be normalized in future generations, should be discussed in light of the freedom of the "surrogate children". Inspired by J. Habermas' critique of liberal genetics and H. Arendt's notion of "new beginning", it is argued that surrogacy deprives the child of the awareness of being generated in a space free from any human intervention; this awareness is essential condition for enabling individuals to perceive themselves as the authentic authors of their social actions. This publication is part of the Marie-Sklodowska Curie project WoMoGeS funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 792464