"We want to offer you peace of mind": Marketing of transnational commercial surrogacy services to intended parents.

The purpose of this research study was to conduct a content analysis of commercial surrogacy websites to explore how surrogacy is marketed to intended parents. The researchers developed a template to code website data, and a total of 345 website pages were reviewed. Websites depicted surrogacy as a solution to a problem, privileged genetic parenthood, ignored the potential for exploitation, dismissed surrogates' capacity to bond with the fetuses they carry, emphasized that surrogacy arrangements are mutually beneficial, ignored structural inequalities, and depicted surrogates as conforming to strict gender roles. These framings introduce vulnerabilities to both intended parents and surrogate mothers.

'Total girlfriend experience': examining marketplace mythologies on sex tourism websites.

The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic content analysis of sex tour websites to understand how sex tours are marketed to potential clients. A total of 380 web pages from 21 sex tour websites were reviewed. The sex tour websites sought to promote privacy and hassle-free travel with a local 'escort' and the opportunity for 'hooks-ups' with no strings attached. Three themes emerged around the description of sex workers: (1) enjoyment and complete acceptance, (2) a 'total girlfriend experience' and (3) exoticisation of the 'Third World' woman. The majority of the sex tourism websites used marketplace mythologies concerning racism, sexism and imperialism to appeal to sex tourists' desires for fantasy experiences, power and domination, and a renewed sense of identity. Legal and STI-related information was largely missing from the websites, and when it was included it was aimed at protecting sex tourists, not sex workers. It is of importance for researchers, social workers and others engaging with sex workers and sexscapes to recognise the power of language, cultural myths and framings and their ability to generate real-world social and health implications.

Commissioning Parents' Experiences with International Surrogacy: A Qualitative Study.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of commissioning parents (CPs) who travel abroad for surrogacy, paying attention to motivations, processes, and sources of social support. The authors recruited 10 CPs and used semistructured, in-depth interviews to illicit storytelling. Data analysis revealed primary themes around CPs' experiences pre-surrogacy, during surrogacy, and post-surrogacy. International surrogacy was described as a long and arduous journey only undertaken after multiple failed attempts at "natural" conception. Prior to traveling abroad, CPs engaged in trade-off decision making, weighing their reproductive assistance options. CPs were primarily motivated to undertake international surrogacy by health complications and legal restrictions in their home country. CPs emphasized strenuous relationships in both the destination country and at home, and they worried about disclosure to family, friends, and children. The mental health and social needs of CPs were neglected throughout and should be incorporated in future interventions to address stigmatization.