A Tale of Two Surrogates w/ Zsuzsa Berend

About the book:

A Tale of Two Surrogates explores the complicated emotional, medical, legal, and ethical issues surrounding assisted reproduction.

Based on more than a decade of ethnographic research conducted by a sociologist and an anthropologist, this book presents, in an accessible graphic novel format, the intertwined stories of two fictional women who decide to become gestational surrogates. It immerses the reader in the worlds of Jenn, from California, and Dana, from Tel Aviv, as they decide to become surrogates and make sense of the process, involve their families, and manage their relationships with the intended parents.

The experiences of these composite characters highlight various paths, interpretations, and experiences that are common in surrogacy. Interspersed throughout the narrative are short interludes that depict surrogacy in other countries, putting the stories of Dana and Jenn in a more global context.

With a substantial scholarly apparatus, including a discussion guide and suggestions for further reading, this entertaining graphic narrative is an excellent tool for classes in graphic medicine, medical ethics, gender and family studies, and medical anthropology. It also offers valuable perspective to anyone involved in the surrogacy process—not only surrogates and intended parents but also medical providers, lawyers, legislators, and family members.

About the participants:

Zsuzsa Berend lives in Los Angeles and teaches sociology at UCLA. She has published several articles and a book, The Online World of Surrogacy, based on her decade-long ethnographic research.

Stefan Timmermans is professor at the UCLA Department of Sociology as well as a professor at ISG. His research draws from medical sociology and science studies and uses ethnographic and historical methods to address key issues in the for-profit U.S. health care system. He has conducted research on medical technologies, health professions, death and dying, and population health.

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