Adoption: Effect of Transracial and Intercountry Adoption on Young People - Research Proposal Example

 Adoption: Effect of Transracial and Intercountry adoption on young people Introduction Children play a vital role in every family and the absence of children makes a family colourless or it can be said that children are the soul of a family and without them a family looks incomplete. But there are many couples in the world who are unable to have children naturally because of their genetic problems. Medical science may be helpless in the case of some of such couples and they have to depend only on adoption for fulfilling the dream of having children in their family. “Adoption is a legal process in which a child's legal rights and duties toward his natural parents are terminated and similar rights and duties are created toward the child's adoptive parents” (Simon & Roorda, 2000, p.3) Adoption may be beneficial for both to the adoptee and the adopter. The parents of some of the children may have died and the children may have sheltered in orphanages. Some others may be suffering from poverty and their parents may not be able to look after them properly. Such children will be benefitted by adoption procedures. The adopter also gets an aid from their adopted children at the time when their life approaches the end or it can be said that when their death is near, they are supported by their adopted children. “Adopting children from abroad began just after World War II, when large numbers of children were orphaned, abandoned or separated from their parents in the aftermath of the war” (Precious cargo, n.d) Adoption is a universal process in which couples may adopt children from different races, communities and even from different countries. Same race adoption and adoption from different races (transracial adoption) are common practices among couples who do not have children. “Informal transracial adoption (TRA) is as old as adoption itself, its origins as a public issue in Britain can be traced back to the late 1950’s” (Kirton, 2000, p.6). Same race adoption is comparatively a popular one since the childless couples like to have their adopted children with physical structures as close as theirs. But it is difficult to have same race adoption possible always because of the lacking availability of such children. Moreover, some couples like to have their adopted children from another community or culture in order to exhibit their secular thoughts. “Children from minority backgrounds are greatly overrepresented among those in foster care placement and those awaiting adoptive placement” (Rosenthal & Groza, 1992, p.127). This is because of the fact that minority parents are not much interested in transracial adoption. They think that it is better to keep their children in foster care rather than selling them through transracial adoption. Since 1972, the number of black-white adoptions has declined, because of the prejudice of the white adopters and the opposition by the black organizations (The adoption history project, 2007). Statement of problem Transracial adoption quite often creates problems in the life of the adoptee and the adopter later on. The adopted children after growing up may think that his/her adopted parents are from an entirely different community or religion than his actual parents and this may develop conflicting thoughts about his original religion and the religion in which, he was brought up by the adopter. Moreover, the adopter may also feel that they should have adopted a different child from their own community if the adopted child fails to fulfil their dreams. Some people say that children available for adoption should always be placed with a family with at least one parent of the same race or culture as the child. This is said so that the child can develop a strong racial or cultural identity (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 1994). But critiques of transracial adoption argue that the adoptees’ identity will be lost because of such interracial or country adoption. So the problem is whether same race adoption is better than transracial adoption and also, how the transracial adoption affects the adoptee and adopter later in their life. This paper is intended to present a research proposal for finding out the pros and cons of transracial adoption and its effects on the adoptee and the adopter. Research Objectives "A child wants to be like his parents... parents can more easily identify with a child who resembles them... the fact of adoption should not be accentuated by placing a child with parents who are different from him." (Simon & Altstein, 1992, p.1) The intellectual levels of the adoptee and the adopter may be different in transracial adoption because of the hereditary differences and the environment in which the adopted children have spent their lives before the adoption has taken place. The main objective of this research is to find out the problems caused by such intellectual differences in the adoptee’s and adopter’s life later. Another objective of this research is to study the effects of different religions, which the child has before and after the adoption process. The child may realize that he belongs to another religion actually though he is brought up in another one after adoption. The impact of different religious beliefs may haunt the child after he is grown up which needs to be evaluated. Background (rationale for doing the project) “Adoption changed dramatically in the 1970s and 1980s due to trends in the society at large and in child welfare practice. A healthy infant placed with an infertile, middle-class, usually white couple no longer typifies the traditional adoption” (Rosenthal & Groza, 1992, p.1). The concept of adoption has much wider meanings than the one mentioned above. Adoptions can be from the same race or community, different race or community, different religions or from different countries as well. Each type of adoption has its own merits and demerits as well because of the differences in physical abilities, mental abilities and appearances of the adopted child. “The routine placement of black children in countries where the majority of ethnic community is white is relatively a recent phenomenon, particularly in western countries” (Howe, 1998, p.109). Most of the black community is against the adoption of black children by white parents because of their concerns about the future of the adopted children. ‘It's an unfortunate fact that it's harder to find adoptive families for non-white children. People who support transracial adoption say, what a child needs, basically, is a loving family. The adopted child probably will face some racial slurs, in the family. Moreover, people may ask the adopter intrusive questions and some people may be very positive towards the adopter while others very negative’ (Family education, 2009) Research Questions Transracial adoption often raises too many questions in the society often by the sociologists and religious people. Some of the questions intended to use for collecting primary data through interviews of the adoptees and the adopters are given below: Questions to the adopters 1. Which adoption, same race or transracial do you prefer and why? 2. Did you ever think that the decision to adopt a child was a wrong one? If so please give the reasons. 3. Did you ever feel that your adopted child feels any discomfort in your company? 4. Did the adopted child ever ask you anything about his/her origin or actual parents? 5. What are the merits of adoption in general? 6. What are the differences between same race and transracial adoption? 7. Was your adopted child able to fulfil your dreams? 8. Do you think that an adopted child behaves exactly the same way as a real child? 9. Did your other family members ever ask any irritating questions about your adoption decision? 10. If you advice another childless couple, which type of adoption will you prefer; same race or transracial? Questions to the adoptee 1. Did you ever think that your adopted parents fail to love you the same way as other parents love their real children? 2. Did you ever think that an orphanage life is better than an adopted life? 3. In your opinion, which type of adoption is better and why? 4. Do you ever receive any irritating comment from other family members? 5. What is the society’s attitude towards you as an adopted child? 6. Do you ever think about your actual parents, brothers, sisters or religion? 7. Did you ever feel that yours and your adopter’s intellectual levels are different? 8. Did you ever face any discrimination at your school or college? 9. Do you think that the adopted child must have more respect and commitments towards their adopted parents? 10. Finally do you think that an adopted child can live like other normal children in the family and the society? 11. Did you ever try to find out the details about your actual parents? 12. If your real parents are alive, would you like to go back to them leaving your adoptive father and mother? Methodology: Data Production This research work is intended to be done using both primary and secondary data. Primary data is intended to be collected from interviews, questionnaires, case studies, observations, portfolios and real life incidents of different types of adopters and adoptees. I would like to interview adopters and adoptees from different culture, community, religion and countries in order to collect a variety of primary data. I would like to visit different parts of the country to collect details from case studies and real life incidents of different people who has committed or undergone transracial adoption. I would like to utilize books, and internet for collecting the secondary data. Moreover I have decided to study the earlier researches in this field for collecting secondary data. Government reports and social organization’s reports also will help me in collecting the secondary data. Analytical and Theoretical Frameworks Nuclear family concepts have replaced the traditional large family concepts in almost all the countries and transracial adoption is a by-product of nuclear family concept. “Transracial adoption was de­veloped as a method by which non-white children who seemed destined to spend their childhood and adolescent years in nonfamily contexts could be legally adopted by white parents and thereby experience family life” (Simon & Altstein, 1977, p.185) Though transracial adoption may not be the ultimate desired solution for the homeless or parentless children, many sociologists believe that it can help the orphaned children or the children belonging to poor families in getting a better life. “An examination of the political morality of transracial adoption (TRA) must first inquire into the meaning of race” (Davis, 2002, p.14) “Instead of thinking in terms of "right" and "wrong" or "best" and "worst," the adoptive parent should think in terms of being a fact-finder” (Babb & Laws, 1997, p.23) Race is defined differently in the present society because of the differences in customs, intellectual levels, appearances, food habits and beliefs in religion. People belonging to same religion may also have different traits because of the racial differences. For example, African Christians and American Christians may be entirely different in their customs and ideals though they belong to the same religion. In the similar manner, their intellectual levels also may also differ. Therefore, an American couple who adopts an African orphan should consider all such differences between races before going for the transracial adoption. “A child reared in a home with parents of a different race will be apt to meet and want to marry a person of his or her parents' background, not its own” (Simon & Altstein, 1987, p.12) Another problem in transracial adoption may arise at the time of the marriage of the adoptee. The white parents of the black adoptee may want their son to marry a girl of white origin while the black adoptee may be more comfortable with a black girl because of their ethnic similarities. Such confusing situation can create problems both for the adopter and the adoptee at the time of marriage. “Among the children at the precollege level, 83 percent of the TRAs, 82 percent of those born into the family, and 80 percent of the white adoptees were attending public institutions.” (Simon & Altstein, 1987, p.57) The above statistics indicate that the adopters are keen in giving education to their adopted children irrespective of their race. “Psychological studies have found that transracially adopted children appear to handle the identity issues better than others” (Interracial Families, 1995). This is because of their miserable life experiences before adoption. They are conditioned to face any difficult situations in their future life because of their pathetic conditions before the adoption process. Moreover, they may believe that they can fit into any of the societies either black or white because of their relation between these societies; genetically and socially. “Race also plays a role in decisions regarding the largest pool of adoptable children, the 100,000 children in foster care in the United States who need new parents” (TAMAR LEWIN, 1998). The adopters normally like to adopt younger children (infants) in order to experience the pleasure of dealing with infants. Most of them deny the opportunity to look after an infant because of their physiological problems and they want to experience the pleasure by adopting the youngest infant as far as possible. When a couple adopts a child from a different race, the entire family becomes a different one because of the new member (Prepare for Transracial Adoption, 2009). Pros and Cons of transracial adoption Proponents of transracial adoption believe that better family experience must be given preference than to grow up in a miserable same-race environment. They argue that family life in a better environment will be better for the child considering the long term objectives of his/her future. Moreover, they believe that transracial adoption can considerably reduce the discrimination gap between the whites and blacks. “Transracial adoption is a perfect solution for a racially divided world and will go a long way towards true integration” (Transracial Adoption, 2009) “In 1971, the National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW) issued a public statement denouncing the practice of whites adopting black children as a form of genocide” (Davis, 2002, p.52). ‘Critiques of transracial adoption argue that the child has denied the moral right to grow up with his religion and community because of transracial adoption. They believe that the adopted child will lose his identity in an ethnically different family setup. Moreover, they think that the white parents will never consider such adopted children as their own children in true sense. Some families may adopt children from different races only because of the low cost and ease in the legal procedures of adoption. Such parents will never treat the adopted child in a positive manner’ (Transracial Adoption, 2009). Timetable overview (Data and research activity) I would like to complete this research work in three months. I will utilize the first month for collecting the primary data. I need to travel different parts of the country in order to collect the primary data which I think can be completed within 30 days. The second month will be utilized for collecting the secondary data. I would like to refer to at least 10 relevant books and a minimum of 25 websites to collect secondary data. Next 20 days will be utilized for writing the drafts and the last 10 days will be utilized for writing the final paper. Ethical Considerations Issues of injustice, abuse, trafficking, and sale of children are some of the ethical problems associated with adoption in general. In international adoptions, some agencies or governments capitalize on injustices related to adoption of children and they force or persuade the real parents to place their children for adoptions (Fox & Johnston, n.d, p.2). While conducting this research, I have planned, not to interfere in detail about the manner in which, the adoption has been executed since that may hurt the feelings of the adoptee and the adopter. The world of adoption tends to feel sugar coated, honey-covered and dipped in chocolate with sprinkles for the adopters after few years from the adoption because of so many reasons (Ethics in domestic infant adoption, 2009). The adopted child may not grow the same way as the adopters like or they may have complaints about the intellectual levels, beauty or character of the adopted children. So, I will avoid asking irritating questions from the adopters and the adoptees. Proponents of transracial adoption believe that a loving permanent home is preferable to foster care while opponents of transracial adoption believe that transracial adoptions rob the children of their racial identity (Adamec & Pierce, Ph.D. 2000). Adoption has many advantages as well as disadvantages. At the same time it raises a lot of ethical questions as well. Both the adoptee and the adopter have no other way and they are forced by the circumstances. In other words, nobody wants to stay in another home as an adopted child in case his/her parents are alive. In the similar manner, adopters are forced to adopt others’ children because of their lack of ability in order to give birth to a child. These ethical issues must be kept in my mind while conducting the research. Anticipated Outcomes This research anticipates some positive outcomes as far as transracial adoption is concerned. I strongly believe that there are many ways in which the prejudices and illusions about transracial adoption processes can be rectified. I think that the concerns of the black organizations in this regard should be rectified first. Moreover, the white adopter’s objectives for transracial adoption must be carefully evaluated. The adoptees’ attitudes and future emotional problems are also needed to be addressed and I think after the completion of this research, I will be able to put forward some critical points to improve the transracial adoption process, morally, legally and socially. References Simon Rita J.& Roorda Rhonda M. (2000), In Their Own Voices: Transracial Adoptees Tell Their Stories Columbia University Press, Retrieved on 26 June 2009 from http://www.questia.com/read/99851966?title=In%20Their%20Own%20Voices%3a%20Transracial%20Adoptees%20Tell%20Their%20Stories Kirton Derek, (2000), ‘Race’, Ethnicity and Adoption, Open University Press, 2000. Retrieved on 26 June 2009 from http://www.questia.com/read/114590429?title='Race'%2c%20Ethnicity%20and%20Adoption Simon Rita J., Altstein Howard, (1992) Adoption, Race, and Identity: From Infancy through Adolescence, Praeger Publishers, Retrieved on 26 June 2009 from http://www.questia.com/read/27598321?title=Adoption%2c%20Race%2c%20and%20Identity%3a%20From%20Infancy%20through%20Adolescence%20(Chap.%201%20%22Transracial%20Adoption%3a%20An%20Overview%22%20and%20Chap.%202%20%22Court%20Decisions%20Involving%20Transracial%20Adoptions%22) Babb L. Anne & Laws Rita, (1997), Adopting and Advocating for the Special Needs Child: A Guide for Parents and Professionals Bergin & Garvey, Retrieved on 26 June 2009 from http://www.questia.com/read/23358228?title=Adopting%20and%20Advocating%20for%20the%20Special%20Needs%20Child%3a%20A%20Guide%20for%20Parents%20and%20Professionals%20(Chap.%2010%20%22Transracial%20Adoption%22) Rosenthal James A.& Groza Victor K. (1992), Special-Needs Adoption: A Study of Intact Families, Praeger Publishers, Retrieved on 26 June 2009 from http://www.questia.com/read/29303948?title=Special-Needs%20Adoption%3a%20A%20Study%20of%20Intact%20Families%20(%22Transracial%20Adoption%22%20begins%20on%20p.%20130) Simon Rita James & Altstein Howard, (1977) , Transracial Adoption John Wiley & Sons, Retrieved on 26 June 2009 from http://www.questia.com/read/3119919?title=Transracial%20Adoption%20(1977) Simon Rita James & Altstein Howard(1987), Transracial Adoptees and Their Families: A Study of Identity and Commitment, Praeger, Retrieved on 26 June 2009 from http://www.questia.com/read/24656886?title=Transracial%20Adoptees%20and%20Their%20Families%3a%20A%20Study%20of%20Identity%20and%20Commitment Davis Hawley Fogg, (2002) The Ethics of Transracial Adoption, Cornell University Press, Retrieved on 26 June 2009 from http://www.questia.com/read/106471835?title=The%20Ethics%20of%20Transracial%20Adoption Transracial Adoption, (2009) Retrieved on 26 June 2009 from http://racerelations.about.com/od/parentingrace/i/transracialadop_2.htm The adoption history project, (2007), Transracial adoption, Retrieved on 26 June 2009 from http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~adoption/topics/transracialadoption.htm Precious cargo, (n.d) Transracial adoption , Retrieved on 26 June 2009 http://www.pbs.org/itvs/preciouscargo/babylift1.html Child Welfare Information Gateway, (1994) Transracial and Transcultural Adoption, Retrieved on 26 June 2009 http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f_trans.cfm Prepare for Transracial Adoption, (2009), Retrieved on 26 June 2009 http://transracial.adoption.com/interracial/prepare-for-transracial-adoption.html Interracial Families - Transracial, Transcultural Adoption, (1995), Retrieved on 26 June 2009, http://www.adopting.org/inter.html TAMAR LEWIN, (1998) New Families Redraw Racial Boundaries Retrieved on 26 June 2009 from http://www.nytimes.com/library/national/102798adoption.html Family education -Transracial Adoption, (2009) Retrieved on 26 June 2009 from http://life.familyeducation.com/adoption/transracial-adoptions/45768.html Howe David, (1998) Patterns of adoption, Willey Blackwell, Retrieved on 26 June 2009 http://books.google.com/books?id=B3vjrC8mtRoC&pg=PA110&lpg=PA110&dq=transrace+adoption+problems&source=bl&ots=hbqa9imkiQ&sig=xkg1TYrFeeb_5ptua8u0Em8LRA8&hl=en&ei=KvNESq2CCo6dkAW9kMilDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10 Fox Rachel and Johnston Carrie, (n.d), Ethical Issues in Adoption Practice Retrieved on 26 June 2009 from http://74.125.153.132/search?q=cache:dyjHPh4O-oYJ:msass.case.edu/downloads/vgroza/fall2004/ethicalissues.pdf+Ethical+Considerations+in+adoption&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk Ethics in domestic infant adoption, (2009), Retrieved on 26 June 2009 from http://infant.adoption.com/newborn/ethics-in-domestic-infant-adoption.html Adamec Christine and Pierce William, Ph.D. (2000), encyclopedia of adoption, Retrieved on 26 June 2009 from http://encyclopedia.adoption.com/entry/ethical- issues/127/1.html Read More