Living in the 21st Century presents plenty of challenges. Arlie Russell Hochschild’s new book explores some of the trends in our society like Love Coaches. Yes, finding the Right Person takes plenty of time and energy. However, a Love Coach (for a fee) will help with that search and find that Ms. or Mr. Right. Or maybe you don’t want a soulmate, you just want a child. Arlie Russsell Hochschild shows how to buy an egg online together with high-grade sperm of your choice (maybe from a Nobel Prize winner) and arrange for a surrogate in India to carry the child for you (of course, all of this costs mucho dinero). You just have to show up in India nine months from now to pick up the child of your dreams. I found The Outsourced Self fascinating and disturbing. GRADE: B
All times have been disturbing to be alive but this has to be the most disturbing time yet.
Technology brings plenty of problems with it, Patti. Our lives have become incredibly complicated.
It is disturbing. Just a further example of the rich getting richer (not just money-wise) and living in a different (Romneyesque) world from the rest of us.
New markets and sevices are popping up all the time, Jeff. Just watching Reality TV is disturbing.
If they don’t want the trouble of having a child, what makes them think they want the trouble of raising one? Or is it straight off to the nanny…?
Yes, Rick, even child-rearing can be out-sourced.