Background and Objectives: Surrogacy, defined as an arrangement in which a woman carries and delivers a child for intended parents, is increasingly used worldwide as a reproductive solution for infertile couples. Despite its medical and social significance, surrogacy remains controversial, often entangled in cultural, ethical, and psychological debates. In many societies, including Iran, the practice is surrounded by taboos, secrecy, and judgment, creating complex challenges for both surrogate mothers and commissioning families. These complexities underline the crucial role of the media in shaping public understanding. According to the Information Agenda-Setting Theory, media may not dictate people’s opinions directly but strongly influence which issues audiences consider important and how they prioritize them. By repeatedly emphasizing certain aspects of a topic, the media construct collective frames of meaning that shape social discourse. When applied to sensitive issues such as surrogacy, this theoretical perspective highlights the responsibility of media in either reinforcing stigma or facilitating acceptance. The Iranian Films Motherless (2020) and Titi (2021) offer compelling examples of how surrogacy is represented in popular culture. Both films portray surrogate motherhood in emotionally charged contexts, often emphasizing hardship, stigma, and moral ambiguity. This study therefore investigates how such cinematic portrayals highlight specific themes and how audiences internalize these messages in their attitudes toward surrogacy.
Methodology: This research adopted a qualitative phenomenological approach, appropriate for exploring under-researched, emotionally complex phenomena. Seventeen participants, aged between 18 and 60 and representing varied educational backgrounds from high school diploma to PhD, were selected using purposive and theoretical sampling. Both men and women were included to capture diverse perspectives. As a prerequisite, all participants viewed Motherless and Titi. In-depth semi-structured interviews were then conducted, enabling participants to share reflections on the films and on surrogacy more broadly. Interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis informed by grounded theory principles, involving open, axial, and selective coding. Through iterative comparison, recurring categories were identified and refined. To ensure rigor, Lincoln and Guba’s trustworthiness criteria—credibility, transferability, and dependability—were applied. This included prolonged engagement with the data, systematic coding, and peer debriefing. The methodological framework thus allowed for rich, nuanced exploration of how media portrayals shaped participants’ attitudes.
Findings: Analysis revealed six central themes emphasized by the films and echoed in participants’ responses:
Poverty and Economic Pressures: Surrogacy was predominantly framed as a response to financial hardship. Both films depicted women undertaking surrogacy to escape poverty or fund urgent needs, such as medical expenses or housing. Participants frequently described the practice as a desperate act rather than a voluntary reproductive choice.
Control by Commissioning Parents: The intended parents were portrayed as exerting excessive control over the surrogate’s lifestyle, movements, and decisions. This dynamic reinforced perceptions of surrogacy as a process that diminishes women’s autonomy, casting surrogate mothers as subordinate to clients’ authority.
Portrayal of Surrogates as Abnormal: The films suggested that women willing to rent their wombs were eccentric, naïve, or psychologically unstable. In Titi, for instance, the surrogate was associated with mystical beliefs, contributing to the perception that surrogacy is inherently deviant or unnatural.
Temptation of Betrayal: Both films dramatized risks of infidelity and jealousy between surrogates and intended fathers. While fictionalized, these portrayals fueled participants’ suspicions about hidden dangers in surrogacy, reinforcing negative moral judgments.
Emotional Dependence and Escape: Participants noted the recurring theme of surrogates developing strong emotional bonds with the fetus, sometimes imagining keeping the child or fleeing with it. Although rare in real-life surrogacy, such narratives resonated strongly, raising questions about whether maternal instincts could ever allow relinquishment.
Social Stigma: Finally, stigma emerged as a dominant theme. Surrogates were shown as objects of gossip and moral disapproval, perceived by society as women who transgress norms of motherhood. Participants, especially from older or less-educated groups, emphasized secrecy, shame, and the fear of judgment. Taken together, these categories indicate that media depictions focused heavily on conflict, stigma, and risk. Positive dimensions such as altruism, compassion, and the joy of helping infertile couples were rarely emphasized, producing a largely negative framing of surrogacy.
Discussion: This study demonstrates how media representations, through agenda-setting mechanisms, profoundly shape public perceptions of surrogacy. By prioritizing themes of poverty, abnormality, and stigma, Iranian films contributed to reinforcing social anxieties and taboos, rather than fostering open discussion. Such portrayals risk narrowing the public’s understanding of surrogacy to a set of negative stereotypes, thereby limiting acceptance of the practice as a legitimate reproductive option. The findings affirm the relevance of Information Agenda-Setting Theory: when media repeatedly highlight selected aspects of an issue, these become central in audience cognition, influencing both personal attitudes and broader cultural narratives. In the case of surrogacy, audiences were led to associate the practice with exploitation, secrecy, and moral ambiguity, while overlooking more positive or balanced perspectives. The study thus calls for more responsible and diverse media coverage. Narratives of altruism, supportive legislation, and successful surrogacy experiences could counterbalance negative portrayals, reducing stigma and fostering informed decision-making. Balanced framing would also empower surrogate mothers by affirming their dignity and acknowledging their contributions to family creation. In conclusion, media hold a dual capacity: they can reinforce prejudices or serve as agents of social understanding. By adopting the latter role, media could play a transformative part in normalizing surrogacy, addressing misconceptions, and supporting the rights and well-being of all parties involved.