成為父親的想望與實踐—男同志求子之路與生命歷程探討

Abstract

本研究運用生命歷程觀點，探究當代同志父親從個人生命經驗與社會背景交織下所帶來的求子想望與實踐，並聚焦在代理孕母求子的個人經驗再到照顧的家庭經驗。本研究主要透過立意抽樣及滾雪球抽樣招募受訪者，研究透過深度訪談進行，合計與10組同志家庭中的同志父親訪談，其中2組為伴侶共同訪談；受訪者生第一胎的年齡平均為37.8歲，受訪的同志父親分別前往美國、泰國及俄羅斯開啟代孕生殖行動。研究資料先以敘事方式呈現不同時代同志父親求子的生命脈絡，接續再以主題分析方式進行分析。 研究發現同志父親在求子動機受到華人文化的影響，其一是家庭價值觀影響了父母對傳宗接代的期待，而同志父親在孝道觀念下為家庭價值觀帶來了延續；另一方面則是社會期待下的個人求子行動，同志父親認為成家生子生命發展下自然而然的念頭，也在穩定伴侶關係看見彼此對求子的共識，進而實踐個人對家庭圖像的建構。此外，光擁有求子動機並不足以實現為人父的想望，勢必得具有良好的經濟支持才能藉由國外代孕生殖實踐父職，臺灣代孕生殖尚未合法化的前提下，持續為同志父親求子的可能性帶來了限制。研究論述了同志父親前往不同國家代孕生殖的歷程，從中更可見仲介扮演舉足輕重的角色，倘若政府在相關法規制定尚未能落實對仲介的監督功能，顯然將影響到每一個準家長的權益與福祉。 同志家庭是現在進行式的家庭型態，研究建議政府應積極落實多元友善社會環境的建置，在性別平等的進步價值中，無論是現在的海外代孕生殖抑或是未來國內代孕生殖的合法，政府有責任透過社會工作的專業維護代理孕母、準家長以及孩子的福祉；面對代孕生殖此一高度倫理議題，在政策研議上應持續廣泛討論，更不該只是單純以生殖層面切入討論，而忽略社會觀點視角的實踐，應在去脈絡化的梳理進而關注不同群體的生養需求，才能落實福利觀點下對人的基本關懷；最後，期許臺灣代孕生殖的發展，能回應每一個國人在求子議題上的想望與實踐，才是真正進步價值的展現。This study adopts a life course perspective to explore the desires for and practices of contemporary gay fathers in seeking parenthood, shaped by their personal life experiences and social backgrounds. It focuses on the individual experiences of using surrogate mothers to achieve parenthood and their subsequent family caregiving experiences. The study recruited participants through purposive and snowball sampling methods, conducting in-depth interviews. A total of 10 groups of gay fathers from same-sex families participating. Among these, 2 groups were interviewed jointly with their partners. The average age of respondents giving birth to their first child was 37.8 years old. The gay fathers interviewed pursued surrogacy and reproductive actions in the United States, Thailand, and Russia. The study data were first presented narratively to illustrate the life contexts of gay fathers seeking children in different eras, followed by thematicanalysis. Research has found that the motivation of gay fathers in seeking parenthood is influenced by Chinese culture in several ways. Firstly, family values shape parental expectations regarding continuation of the family line. Gay fathers, under the influence of filial piety, contribute to the continuation of these values within the family framework. Secondly, societal expectations influence personal desires for parenthood. Gay fathers see establishing a family and having children as a natural progression in life, particularly when they perceive mutual agreement with their stable partners regarding parenthood, thus realizing their personal image of family. Moreover, having the motivation for parenthood alone is insufficient to fulfill the desire to be a parent. It is necessary to have adequate economic support to realize fatherhood through international surrogacy. Given that surrogacy is not legalized in Taiwan, this poses limitations on the possibilities for gay fathers seeking parenthood. The study also discusses the journeys of gay fathers traveling to different countries for surrogacy, highlighting the crucial role of intermediaries. If governments do not regulate intermediaries effectively, it clearly affects the rights and well-being of every prospective parent. Same-sex families are an evolving family structure. Research suggests that the government should actively implement the creation of a diverse and friendly social environment. In the context of advancing gender equality, whether it is the current overseas surrogacy or the potential legalization of domestic surrogacy in the future, the government has a responsibility to maintain the welfare of surrogate mothers, intended parents, and children through the expertise of social work. Confronting the highly ethical issues surrounding surrogacy, policy discussions should continue to be broad and should not only address the reproductive aspect but also consider social perspectives. It is crucial to avoid decontextualizing issues and to focus on the parenting needs of different groups in order to realize basic human care from a welfare perspective. Finally, it is hoped that the development of surrogacy in Taiwan will respond to the desires and practices of individuals seeking children, thereby demonstrating true progressive values.