Ethical Issues and International Adoption

In her book Babies Without Borders: Adoption and Migration Across the Americas, Karen Dubinsky delves into how international and interracial adoption may negatively affect children as they sometimes bear the weight of adult political conflicts. Reviewer Judith Gibbons highlights some examples from the book, such as the 1960s' Operation Peter Pan in which 14,000 Cuban children were sent to the United States by their parents as a result of anti-Castro propaganda suggesting the communist government would terminate parental rights and force children to become wards of the state. This is but one of many intercountry adoption scandals addressed in Dubinsky's book, raising many important questions about the circumstances surrounding international adoption.

Are American parents adequately informed about the social and political implications of adopting a child from another country? What constitutes an ethical adoption?

Read the Review

Do Symbols of Children as Innocent, Orphaned, and Vulnerable Serve Children’s Best Interests?
      By Judith L. Gibbons
      PsycCRITIQUES, 2011 Vol 56(25)

Comments

[Elsa Morse]

Although I have not read the book that is being reviewed, I thought I would share some of my opinions on the issue of adoptions that I have gathered as a result of clinical work with adopted children and their families. If the focus is on the wellbeing of the child, the first effort should be to reinforce and support the birth parents whether they are American or from another country. When that is not possible, the next issue, from my perspective, would be to confront the phenominon of "other"." Whether physical or psychological differences, children are often alienated by their perception and often their adoptive parents' perception of "otherness" or "not really belonging." To address these issues parents who wish to adopt children who are not like them should commit to an environment that includes those with the other's characteristics. Thus to bring a black child into an all white environment sets up barriers that are difficult for both adoptive parents and adoptive children. This concept applies to importing children from other countries as well. In order to create a sense of family, children must feel that people who look like them and share some of their history and family culture are well integrated into their adoptive family's environment and culture. THe role of an adoptive parent should not be to save the child from his roots but to nurture and support and normalizes these critical issues.

[divorce attorney long island]

I find the couples who are adopting children from Africa and other developing countries noble. However, I have to agree with Elsa. These adoptive parents should provide a healthy and safe environment for these kids. And if they are facing a serious issue like divorce, both parties should explain the situation to the child without causing serious emotional pain.