BRICS Dialogue on Fertility Markets: New Reproduction and (Old) Stratifications (Cape Town)

BRICS Dialogue on Fertility Markets: New Reproduction and (Old) Stratifications will take place at the University of Cape Town on August 16-17, 2018.

Cross-border reproductive flows (or transnational reproduction) involve clients traveling across the world to fulfill their dreams of having a genetic baby or a baby tailormade to their expectations. Reproductive gametes and actors, sperms, eggs, egg providers and gestational mothers (or surrogates), follow the flow to assist in this dream-making. In the past decade, the growing scholarship on transnational reproduction has queried the multiple forms of power embedded in the flows of reproductive bodies and substances across borders. This symposium brings this dialogue to the BRICS context by bringing together key scholars asking similar question: what does the industry of reproduction reproduce (apart from babies?)? How does it challenge/reaffirm old structures of inequalities based on race, gender, sexuality and nationality? How do these new technologies that assist reproduction fit within the context of BRICS nations, which have historically been anti-natal states?

This workshop will bring together five experts from the BRICS member states who are currently working on reproductive markets to take part in a multi-disciplinary conversation.

The goal of the workshop will be to generate a dialogue, compile the findings into a timely and original volume or special issue.