commodification

Nowadays, moralists constantly question the validity or integrity of actions taken by people. The most publicized debate to date still revolves around the abortion issue. However, hovering in the background has been the matter relating to commodification in women. In the process, women sell of their eggs to infertile women. To many, this process is a form of degradation and humiliation, almost like prostitution. Others believe that the process in which women sell their eggs is the same as the process where men sell their sperm, which has conjured little protest. Women should not be deemed unworthy if they wish to sell their eggs. There may be many different factors that contribute to their decision.
First of all, the process of women who sell their eggs is the same as men who sell their sperm. Both are “selling” part of their body. Granted, men can reproduce sperm, but the principle is still there. It would not make sense if only women were degraded and men weren’t.
Ms. Ruth Macklin argues that commodification in general is morally wrong. However, it brings no unwarranted results. Sure, a female may lose an egg, but she still has three more. There would be no reason to keep all four eggs if she did not want more children. If she wanted more children, she would not have sold her egg in the first place. The woman receiving the egg can then have a child of her own. The outcome is beneficial for both parties: one receives money, the other receives the opportunity of giving birth. Commodification should draw no protest because there is no coercion nor harm caused.