Exploring how society views transracial adoption SOCIOLOGY Free

Exploring how society views transracial adoption SOCIOLOGY Free Powerpoint Templates Page 1

Introduction • Transracial adoption is the adoption of children by racially or ethnically different parents • It has become an international issue where children are removed from their country of origin and implanted into a foreign country with different cultural perspectives • 84% of African American women and 72% of Caucasiam men were unlikely to approve transracial adoption ( CBC News Opinion Poll) • The Primary goal should be to provide foster children with loving caring families in order to help their growth and development Free Powerpoint Templates Page 2

Peer Review Studies • White social workers more in favor of TRA than black social workers • With black respondents attitudes veered towards income levels and ethnic identification • Could create dangerous precedents with social workers – Increased power of social workers over poor people – Control over the adoption and child rearing process Free Powerpoint Templates Page 3

Transracial Adoption • See a child’s perspective on transracial adoption • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=LTZw. Uks_w. FE&feature=emshare_video_user • White parents prefer white children over black children • White people dominate as the main adoption group • There remains a persistent demand for healthy white infants • White people will adopt black children where the pool of white children is in decline Free Powerpoint Templates Page 4

Implications • Lack of common understanding between adoption agencies and families • Parents not required skills to deal with racial stigma, hence preference for white children • The factor of ignoring race in an adoption potentially creates a harmful environment for the child • The family needs to recognise racial heritage and create a caring and comfortable environment for the child Free Powerpoint Templates Page 5

Conclusions • Understand the sociological climate of the time and what this will mean in the upbringing of adopted children • Consider the racial norms and how these will impact the raising of the adopted child in the USA • Listen to Laura’s story : http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=b 1 a 2 Fe 47 n. Z 8 Free Powerpoint Templates Page 6

References Adoption Media, L. (n. d. ). Transracial adoption. Retrieved from http: //www. adoption. org/adopt/transracial-adoption. php Fenster, J. (2002). Transracial adoption in black and white: A survey of social worker attitudes. Adoption Quarterly, 5(4), 33 -58. Griffith, E. , & Bergeron, R. (2006). Cultural stereotypes die hard: the case of transracial adoption. J. Am Acad. Psychiatry Law, 34(3), 303 -14. Hopkinson, A. (2011). Black parents who adopt white children confront myths. The Grio, Retrieved from http: //thegrio. com/2011/10/24/black-parents-adopting-white-children/ Interracial adoption is not good for kids [Web]. (2010). Retrieved from http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=h. L-z. Fa. ZPt. D 0 Jessie. (2010, September 9). Transracial adoption documentary: "off and running. Retrieved from http: //www. racismreview. com/blog/2010/09/09/transracial-adoption-documentary-off-and-running/ Lee, R. M. (2003). The transracial adoption paradox. NIHPA Author Manuscripts, 31(6), 711 -744. doi: 10. 1177/0011000003258087 Samuels, G. M. (2009). ‘‘being raised by white people’’: Navigating racial difference among adopted multiracial adults. Journal of Marriage and Family, 71, 80 -4. Free Powerpoint Templates Page 7