This book investigates how the global gestational surrogacy market functions as a site where race, class, and religious law intersect to commodify reproductive labor. France Winddance Twine, a professor of sociology, utilizes a comparative framework to analyze the industry across four distinct national contexts. By examining the socio-economic pressures that drive surrogacy, the author argues that the market challenges traditional definitions of parenthood and necessitates a shift toward a reproductive justice framework.

Experts identify this work as a significant contribution to the sociology of reproduction, noting its clear articulation of how global inequality shapes personal family-building choices. Readers frequently highlight the author's ability to synthesize complex legal and economic data into an accessible academic critique.