Main Aspects of Adoption - Coursework Example

Adoption of the al Affiliation In 1974, a summit held by the World Population Plan of Action of the World Population Conference called upon all states globally to facilitate child adoption for the sake of homeless children besides allowing the couples achieve their desired number of children (Brodzinsky & Schechter, 2010). By doing so, the institution Plan for Action recognized that child adoption could arguably play a bigger role in estimating biological parenthood for couples who would otherwise be unable to give birth to children. In the prevailing years, majority of demographic trends related to demand for adoption have become more heightened. Postponed of childbearing, delayed marriages, high level of divorce and a wider approval of the adoption are among the factors that has increased the number of people opting for adoption recourse. The UN division on population estimates at least 260, 000 children was adopted annually in 2005. Some of the countries included US with over 127, 000 adoptions, England, China and Canada with over 5, 000 adoption case annually (Brodzinsky & Schechter, 2010). In this research paper, a concise analysis is done to show why adoption is necessary and the effects it has both to the child and the parent. With the same measure of degree, adoption as a legal institution has continuously evolved. Following the establishment and implementation UN Convention on Children Rights, the principle of safeguarding the interest of the child has been firmly enforced and considered as a paramount issue in adoption policies among members state (Brodzinsky & Schechter, 2010). These laws has however, been adjusted by respective countries for overall effectiveness and efficiency such as enabling parents who were previously considered not ineligible to adopt access the services. To this effect, many countries across the globe have ratified bilateral and multilateral agreements regarding adoption in order to ensure clarity of the matter of jurisdiction where it involves inter-country. Legal and literary sources show that adoption was widely practiced in many ancient societies. While adoption cases maybe old as the history itself, the motivating factors for adoption have changed markedly with passing years. Today, adoption is practiced mainly to provide home for children deprived of parental care besides satisfying the desires for couples to rear children (Brodzinsky & Schechter, 2010). The regulations and norms involved in adoption have also changed with time. In most of the past laws, for instance, an individual still in productive age, women or an individual who had children were not allowed to adopt. Additionally, the past laws did not allow the adoption of minors which illustrate that the welfare and best interest for children were never given priority. Nonetheless, the modern adoption polices trace their origin back to these traditional policies. Some of these provision that have existed include right to inherit for adopted child and termination of rights to birth parents’ guardianship. There are a number of factors that has led to increase in the adoption cases globally. Epidemic diseases such as HIV/Aids and natural disaster have left many homeless. For instance, the incidence Ebola in West Africa left many children orphans without proper parenthood. It was the same case observed when hurricane Katrina hit the US where thousands were left homeland (Brodzinsky & Schechter, 2010). These factors, coupled by other factors such as increased prostitution in major cities have raised the number of street and homeless children at an alarming rate. Consequently, the governments have put measures to ensure the number of homeless children in adoption agencies reduces as part of catering the welfare of its citizens and reducing expenditures on such programs. For instance, according to the data given by the Korean government, the cases of adoption have increased over the years. The number rose from 1, 190 in 1992 to 1, and 641 in the year 2004 (Brodzinsky & Schechter, 2010). This increase is attributed to the commitment done by the government to promote both international and domestic adoptions by giving medical allowances and tax incentives for disabled adopted child. The increasing numbers of the homeless children have evoked moral responsibility to some people. They see the need to have a family and somewhere to identify with; the need to go to school and have a productive life. These are some of the factors that motivate them to have an adoption of child to give them a life despite the fact they may be having children and satisfied. Others have children but there are obsessed with a specific sex. For instance, in African cultures, a boy child is presumed to be more important than a girl child. It is much believed that the boy holds them family together and becomes the head in absence of the father(Brodzinsky & Schechter, 2010). In such instances, one may adopt to ensure one get the desired sex or balances children depending on sex. Changing social-economics factors have played a role in adoption cases. With dwindling economic resources, the economic times have sharply increased affecting the ability of some to raise their children and opting to take them to care centers or leave them stranded for well-wishers to help. Further, couples also view adoption as less financially involving as compared to the childbearing and subsequent raising of the child (Brodzinsky & Schechter, 2010). It is important to note that this factor can work against the adoption process. Some people especially those with children may view adoption as expenses hence shy away from such activities. The rate of birth may also go down owing to economic hardship therefore, leading to a lower number of homeless children. The changing trends in lifestyle has also changed how people it. Unlike in the past, eating habits have focused on more convenient diets. Further, use of chemicals has dominated the global food production and in return these chemicals have bio-accumulated in the end products. This can be attributed to the increased demand to raise the food productions to meet the demand of the growing population. States across the globe have invested million dollars in food production technology. Unfortunately, some of these technologies end up hurting our well-being by producing either low quality o unhealthy products (Brodzinsky & Schechter, 2010). Consequently, poor quality products and chemical accumulation within the body has affected the productivity and hence reproduction. Besides, the changing lifestyle encourages sex at early stages. One often unseen trend has been cases of abortions and family planning drugs have altered reproductively of people later in life. The number of infertility cases has continued to rise with each passing decade. Lifestyle has seen the emergence of diseases such diabetes, fibroids, cancers and other life-threatening diseases. Some of these diseases have adverse effects on reproduction incapacitating an increasing number of people. Having career and financial goals without a child to many is never a complete life. The individuals are, therefore, in endeavors to have children of their own finds adoption as recourse (Brodzinsky & Schechter, 2010). Lifestyle has affected different facets of childbearing. Woman whose major role was child rearing has been engaged partly by the economic affairs. Unlike in the past, where the role of a woman was limited to giving birth and child rearing, the modern woman is in pursuit of career growth and economic prosperity. This has been changing life’s goal for majority of the women worldwide. The results is that majority of them will opt to have adoption as a recourse to giving birth. There are some other reasons that can also explain the situation. Companies are also in pursuant of their financial success. Productivity of the employees is particularly over-emphasized in this regard. Not every company will give the necessary maternity leave to its employee. The women are often faced with hard choices to retain their jobs and pursue their career dreams and giving birth to children. Eventually, with the growing demands in daily life, majority of them opt to pursue their career goals and adopt children. Impacts of Adoption For majority of the adopting parents, completing the adoption matching and placement process signify the end of the most difficult phase. Research shows most of the adopted children settle in the new family and the parents are satisfied with the decision to adopt. But coping with pose-adoption or parenthood can presents a fair share of challenges. In some observed case, adoption-related issue appear long after the adoption process has been settled (Brodzinsky & Schechter, 2010). Some parents are unprepared for the life-long processes of adoption. There may be common stressors such as biological and adaptive issues that these parents go through. However, there may be other potential stressors that are unique to adoption and is imperative the adopting parents learn to familiarize with them. Depression After a few years or months of anticipating parenthood, the excitement of having a child may fade away and there might be some constant feeling of being let down or sadness if the situation does not now work as earlier expected. Research refers to this feeling as post-adoption depression (Brodzinsky & Schechter, 2010). The realities of parenthood settles in and dawns on the parent. For instance, a parent with a young adopted child may spend sleepless nights; the weight of parental responsibilities also may lead to stress. In some cases, parents may have difficulties having attachment to the new child and may once in a while question the parenting capability. There might also be self-denial, whereby, parents may be reluctant to accept existence of such problems after their long wait to be parents. Adoption is a lifetime occasion that changes completely the identity of the parties involved. In some case, some parents are slow to adjust to the new family identity set up and sometime broad over the new expectations that follows them after the adoption. The parents may feel like they are not parents even after completing the adoption process. They wonder whether they have any right to parent over their newly acquired siblings. Sometimes after years of keeping their parenting desires in control, either as a foster parent or legal outcome which one is unsure of, they might be reluctant to totally embrace parenthood or believe they are in fact parents just like others parents(Brodzinsky & Schechter, 2010). It’s normal for parents even to question why they love the new children or why they do not love them adequately. For the new parents, bringing up a child may seem like a tentative task at first. Furthermore, continued lack of role model in the adoption issues may make them feel isolated. Identifying as a parent of a given child may be gradual process. In cases where adoption is made from foster centers, the parents may have prior contact with the child through visits within those agencies (Brodzinsky & Schechter, 2010). Even though these prior contacts was there, finalization of adoption process creates a permanent family situation and both the child and the parent may takes some time before they develop the requisite family bond to evolve into their new identity just as couples adjust to marriage after dating for a long time. If a newly parent have adopted an infant, perhaps adopted through an inter-country adoption, the sadness attributed to child arrival may deny the new parents the time necessary to develop a bond and get accustomed. Additionally, they may also be much engaged with the practical tasks of meeting the needs of the children may leave little time for them to work on their new status. The feeling of becoming and being a parent may take time to develop and may be the result of meeting the needs of the children and developing mutual attachment (Brodzinsky & Schechter, 2010). Later in life, the child may come to learn that the parents may not be the biological parents and this can affect their social life especially in front of their peers. They may tend to feel like they were abandoned by the biological parents and develop a deep-seated hatred for them. If the foster parents happen to mistreat them, this, may aggravate the situation leading to lower self-esteem and feeling of unworthiness. Nevertheless, a majority of research done have indicated that most of adoption cases eventually become successful. The parent experiences a profound change in the parental status. For example, the first visit to school or to see a doctor makes them acquire parental titles. They feel parenting roles and responsibility under them. It dawns to them, they are the one to help the child navigate the world and gradually lead to self-identification as a parent (Brodzinsky & Schechter, 2010). Identifying as a parent normally lead to sense of entitlement and responsibility; parents move beyond point of feeling not capable or worthy and become comfortable in the new role accepting responsibility and identifying the feeling of being totally entitled to the child. Conclusion With adoption becoming a trending amongst couples, there have been many adoption centers that have been opened across the globe either as private projects or by UN agencies (Brodzinsky & Schechter, 2010). These centers helps the couples who wish to adopt the children fulfill their dreams. These agencies, however, have their adoption processes that may differ depending on respective country. It is usually a legal procedure and before adoption is done, certain rules and conditions have to be fulfilled. But most importantly, adoption has brought joy to the homeless child and the distressed couples who could not give birth. They have a reason to be together just like other families. However, it is important to note that they are challenges associated with adoption. What is important is for the parents and all stakeholders involved learning and familiarizing themselves with such issues. If this happens, eventually, the world will have brought joys to all. Reference Brodzinsky, D. M., & Schechter, M. D. (2010). The psychology of adoption. Oxford University Press. Read More