After
reading Pertman’s chapter three, Joy and
Surprises from Abroad, I was most intrigued learn about how the adopted
transracial child is shaped by intense assimilation to the American culture. It
was saddening to read how many adoptees feel disconnected from their birth
country, and as a result have a distorted sense of self perception. For
instance, a Korean adoptee explains how she was so absorbed by the adoptions
process that “I really thought I was white” (Pertman, 66). The adoption process
can also “play an important role in how they perceive themselves at various
stages of their lives” as an internationally adopted child. This was compelling
because heritage and tradition are woven into many aspects of identity and
culture. Without having a clear sense of where you’ve come from would make it
difficult for anyone to become fully engaged socially and emotionally; lack of
understanding of sense of self prevents being able to relate well with others. Therefore,
the idea of having interracial adoptees become fully assimilated to American culture
can have long lasting negative effects that could harm the child later in adult
life.
The issues
of economic and political power regarding interracial adoption were a topic I
am glad was addressed in Kim Park Nelson’s Shopping for Children in the International
Marketplace. I was uncomfortable after reading how some adoptive parents or
prospective parents view international adoption as a cultural commodity in
which they can experience “cultural enrichment they feel will result from the
adoption” (Nelson, 93). While ethnic diversity has many positive outcomes,
using ethnic differences as a means to “live up the dull dish of mainstream white
culture” is ethically unjust (Nelson, 93).
Objectifying an interracial adopted child as a
means to become more culturally diverse is an ethical issue that was reoccurring
while I was reading today’s articles. Placing a child in a caring and loving
home is desirable, but the intention needs to be putting the child’s best
interest at the forefront. The economic power struggle and relations between American
adoptive parents and foreign birth parents also needs to be taken into
consideration. Lastly, the issue of through assimilation of the adoptive child
into American culture needs to be handled with sensitivity and respect. The
child’s sense of identity is important for healthy self perception and personal
social and emotional development.
-Gretchen Mach
Blog Post Reply 8
ReplyDeleteI could not agree with you more Gretchen!! Park Nelsons article gave a refreshing view on international adoption, and a side that is clearly not seen by Pertman. A lot of the information given by Pertman is in past tense, as though yes it had been a problem but the whole adoption revolution has changed all the problems from the past. Sounded a little bit too good to be true.
When it comes to adoption I think even the adoptive parents as we have seen in many case studies they say as Pertman quoted the family feels like they are "shopping" for their child when they look through the multiple photos of children and say this is the one we want. The baby selling gets to be more shady when you find out that the mothers were paid to give up their children. At the time the mothers may see this as their only way to be able to afford to feed the rest of the family or other situations like those, but the authorities need to get involved more and regulate the adoption market worldwide.
On that same note I was wondering, because you seem to have the same idea about adoption as I do if you see a double standard when it comes to American children being adopted out to other countries? The reason why this concerns me because Pertman stated that the children that were adopted out of the States were mixed race, physical or mental impairments but were still being "sold/bought" for 50,000 to 100,000. A question I have is why are these children beind adopted for such high numbers. Is it someone putting a higher value on white American babies? I think that is something that could be researched more in depth, because that seems to be a huge ethical dilemma.
Melissa N.