See The Life of Von at wordpress.

*This is a heavy duty blog which confronts some of the realities of adoption for adoptees.
The blog has been 'deactivated' and although posts are still available there will be no new ones except at the new wordpress blog...hope to see you there!

January 30, 2012

User friendly Adoption

Amanda writes Is This Really Ethical? : I honestly couldn't make this stuff up if I tried. As the saying goes, truth is stranger than fiction, isn't it? No truer is that than the tale of American adoption history.
Ethical issues with amending and sealing I've discussed so far:
hiding illegal adoptions by changing an adoptee's identity.
bastard-shaming.
infertility-shaming.
sexism and paternalism.
perpetuation of the biological nuclear family as the superior family form by hiding "deviant" origins and creating fictitious "amended" documents to promote this notion.
lying.
classism (illegal and unethical adoptions typically target impoverished mothers and fathers).

Not looking good so far is it? Add to all the above, child trafficking, illegal adoption, the greed of the adoption industry and it's lack of ethics, the lack of uderstanding of what adoption really means in a country in relative poverty, the commodification of adoptees, the religiousisation of adoption, and the unsafe place that is adoption for many adoptees who are abused, sexually victimized or murdered.
In order for adoption to be user friendly, there would need to be major changes to the climate and practices of adoption. By user friendly, I mean fair to adoptees, not punitive or unnecessarily damaging and not profiting from their damage, exploiting that damage or promoting it in ways that commodify, bastardise or allow discrimination and inequality.
Those who profess to care about children would in all conscience be promoting: -
  • humane solutions for children in institutions which do not involve them having to lose their country, language, culture as well as their name and identity
  • the making of changes in children's names and identities illegal
  • the banning of profit making from adoption in any form
  • ethical screening of prospective adopters for children who are genuinely unable to be parented by their biological families
  • the introduction of much more extensive home studies and supervision of placements
  • reputable, effective training for prospective adopters
  • closer examination of the motivation of adopters, their understanding of the effects of adoption on adoptees
  • more discussion on the reality of transnational; adoption and what it means to the country and families involved
  • the disbanding of systems which allow a small number of children in institutions to become adoptees while others are abandonned, overlooked and doomed and a serious study made of the motivation and ethics of those who participate in such selection
  • extensive studies into the effects of adoption on adoptees at all ages including those areas previously not examined seriously such as the effects of adoption on adoptees when they become parents
  • honesty in adoption practices, transparency of arrangements between governments, institutions, agencies and ministries
  • effective programs for keeping families together
  • changes in legislation which reflect the importance of keeping families intact where possible
  • genine commitment by all to keeping families together using effective planning, financial assistance, real support in all areas and any viable means available as a top priority
  • non-acceptance of adoptism, adultism, racism, sexism. disablism and extremism in adoption
  • the elimination of transnational adoption and the promotion of an understanding of the extensive damage it creates
  • proactive planning and committment to creating better lives for those children who are not able and should never be adopted, because it is an unsuitable option
  • reversal of the thinking in current adoption to ensure it is about what is best for children
  • ensuring the very best for all children - how is it possible to care so deeply for 1% of children in institutions and allow others to suffer?
  • ensure suitable arrangements for all children not living with their families in the home country
  • the opening of all records for all adoptees and equality of rights
  • zero tolerance of discrimination against adoptees and commitment by all to recognising and supporting change
  • provision of suitable and effective support for adoptees of all ages, to assist them in dealing with the effects of adoption - trauma, loss, abuse, discrimination, racism, adoptism, bullying and so on 
  • full knowledge of the history and implications of adoption
  • changes in the culture of adoption to reflect what is real for adoptees
When do we start?  How about now, before any more damage is done and the hypocrisy of those involved in adoption becomes even more rampant and entitlement, greed and lack of ethics spread their suffocating shroud over yet more families and children.......

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