{"title":"Ectogenesis, gestational preferences and the social coercion argument.","authors":"Jolie Zhou","doi":"10.1007/s40592-025-00253-2","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This article challenges a subtle critique of ectogenesis-what I call the \"social coercion argument\" (SCA). The SCA holds that if ectogenesis becomes a standard gestational option, those who prefer pregnancy might be pressured into adopting it, thereby infringing on their autonomy and reinforcing inequality. On this view, ectogenesis might not be a morally sound solution to gender inequality. I first analyze the SCA within the liberal framework that underpins it. While its descriptive claim-that future women who prefer pregnancy may face pressure-may be valid, it cannot justify discounting the emancipatory potential of ectogenesis. I then examine some women's preference for pregnancy over ectogenesis through feminist insights into adaptive preferences (APs). I argue that such preferences may be harmful and shaped by injustice, suggesting that gestational preferences are dynamic, and that addressing gender inequality requires strategies beyond cultural and social inclusivity. I conclude that the SCA's core concern should be separated from the ethical evaluation of ectogenesis and addressed by continually \"levelling up\" choices.</p>","PeriodicalId":43628,"journal":{"name":"Monash Bioethics Review","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6000,"publicationDate":"2025-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Monash Bioethics Review","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40592-025-00253-2","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"ETHICS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
This article challenges a subtle critique of ectogenesis-what I call the "social coercion argument" (SCA). The SCA holds that if ectogenesis becomes a standard gestational option, those who prefer pregnancy might be pressured into adopting it, thereby infringing on their autonomy and reinforcing inequality. On this view, ectogenesis might not be a morally sound solution to gender inequality. I first analyze the SCA within the liberal framework that underpins it. While its descriptive claim-that future women who prefer pregnancy may face pressure-may be valid, it cannot justify discounting the emancipatory potential of ectogenesis. I then examine some women's preference for pregnancy over ectogenesis through feminist insights into adaptive preferences (APs). I argue that such preferences may be harmful and shaped by injustice, suggesting that gestational preferences are dynamic, and that addressing gender inequality requires strategies beyond cultural and social inclusivity. I conclude that the SCA's core concern should be separated from the ethical evaluation of ectogenesis and addressed by continually "levelling up" choices.
期刊介绍:
Monash Bioethics Review provides comprehensive coverage of traditional topics and emerging issues in bioethics. The Journal is especially concerned with empirically-informed philosophical bioethical analysis with policy relevance. Monash Bioethics Review also regularly publishes empirical studies providing explicit ethical analysis and/or with significant ethical or policy implications. Produced by the Monash University Centre for Human Bioethics since 1981 (originally as Bioethics News), Monash Bioethics Review is the oldest peer reviewed bioethics journal based in Australia–and one of the oldest bioethics journals in the world.
An international forum for empirically-informed philosophical bioethical analysis with policy relevance.
Includes empirical studies providing explicit ethical analysis and/or with significant ethical or policy implications.
One of the oldest bioethics journals, produced by a world-leading bioethics centre.
Publishes papers up to 13,000 words in length.
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