Quote:Pornography. Prostitution. Surrogacy. These colossal, rapacious industries are based on using women as commodities. This is often justified as a woman’s right to choose what she does with her body and that it is a private matter of no concern to anyone else. But is this really true?

If she’s been groomed by the culture from childhood to always put men’s needs before her own, or is homeless, or a student or single mum struggling in poverty, how much of a free choice does she really have? And isn’t it of public concern now we know that porn and buying sex are associated with men believing they’re superior and entitled to sexual access to women – the very attitudes that underpin male violence against women and children – especially now we are in the midst of an epidemic of such male violence?

And what about surrogacy? Does paying someone to carry a child not suggest that a child is private property and not a unique member of the community to whom we all bear a responsibility? How is that affecting society? Is it really a private matter? Who are the winners and losers in such a system?

These are some of the issues that this conference will be addressing. Come along to:

Hear women with lived experience of the sex and surrogacy industries and other experts discussing how these industries work and their personal and social impacts.
Participate in interactive workshops on a range of related themes.
Be inspired to resist and be part of a movement for change.