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The article that we discussed in class was about mass-production. Throughout different eras, marketers have aimed at different class of consumers. With the shift to market segmentation in the 1960s, marketers turned class differentiation from a criteria based on income towards one that emphasized lifestyle. During the 1950s and 1960s, Americans’ standard of living increased steadily; and marketers started to focus on the working class that had the potential to become a profitable market. By the 1980s, marketers had shifted their attention to upper-class consumers who earned more money and had a greater spending power.

I found this article quite interesting. I was curious to learn which county in the world is leading in consumer spending today. I read an article in the New York Times that a professor Gerth from Oxford University, who pointed out that a large volume of Chinese consumers adopt all or some aspects of middle-class lifestyles – from owning bigger homes stocked with the latest electronic appliances to private cars to modest vacations. These Chinese have begun to lead consumer lifestyles similar to Western countries. Mr. Gerth also mentioned that China’s advertising market has grown by 40 percent every year over the last two decades. Almost all Chinese, whether they are rich or poor, have access to TV programming and the advertising that comes with it.  The rich and poor alike are exposed, and tempted to buy new products every time they watch TV. Currently, China is the largest growing consumer market in the world. Mr. Gerth pointed that fifteen years ago, very few people owned cars. By 2009, China surpassed the U.S as the world’s largest car market, which grew an additional 40% in 2010.

 The Rotunda Clinic-Center for Human Reproduction, has created a formula for childless parents and single  moms and dads who want to have a baby.  a mum plus a dad plus an egg donor plus a surrogate mother and vuala, now you have a baby.  Many childless couples all across the world, regardless of sexual oritenation, have gone and still go to India to eventually have a baby.  The clip refers to this as “reproductive tourism”.  There have been people from the US, the UK, Australia, Cananda and Frace have gone to India to have a baby throough surrogacy.

The clip I chose definitely does a great job in trying to reel in childless parents to have their baby through surrogacy in this particular clinic.  The low cost and advanced medical technologies and variety of technologies provided to have the baby are all reasons any intending parent would be happy to hear.  They try to make it sound personal when they show a gay couple holding a baby with a quote on the side that states “It’s not flesh and bloood but the heart which makes us fathers and sons.”  Unlike America, where homosexuality is not completely accepted, the Rotunda Clinic does not discriminate againt anyone looking to have a baby.

Even though the entire clip did not settle with me too well, I started to think maybe I’m just a little too traditional.  That feeling was gone by the end of the clip when the clip informed its viewers that intending parents do not even have to come to India.  all they have to do is just send their sperm, the clinic finds the egg donor and gerts the surrogate mother to get pregnant.  In the end all they have to do is go to India, pick up the baby and go back home. 

My feelings about surrogacy changed a little after seeing this clip.  I ahd to ask myself, is it really that easy?

There are many forms of family. In the decades since adoption practices have changed significantly, and adoption has become a way for increasingly various populations to form families. In a New York Time article, talks about lesbians choose to have their own babies mostly by artificial insemination. Also, lawyers are involved to make custody agreements to insure legal rights of lesbian mothers.

Some lesbians have previous marriage histories before they have become homosexuals.  The article indicates that there is not enough evidence to show whether children rise by homosexuals parents could lead to other problems. However, some clinicians predict that some children who are raised by homosexuals may have difficulty in intimate relationships with opposite sex.

Dr. Callahan, a psychologist pinpoints the concern of many lesbian parents that their children will be victims of prejudice against homosexual people. Yet, this concern did not prevent many lesbian women from having their own children.

This article is related to this class because it shows homosexual families’ parent-child relationship and kin connection. Also, it reveals the construction of implied (racial and cultural) bio-genetic links between donor-conceived children and co-mothers, and to co-mothers’ extended families. In the class we also discuss about the new reproductive technologies has raised important questions about the psychological consequences for children as well as family relationships and the social and emotional development of children. In addition, questions about whether not to share the circumstances of the child’s conception with their child.  If it is necessary for the child to know the truth about how he/she came to be part of his/her family.

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