The first
article that I read was Kim Park Nelson’s article. This article discussed how international
adoption became popular here within the states and the pitfalls of
international adoptions. The second
reading that I read was Adam Pertman’s Adoption Nation, Chapter 3. He discussed international adoption, but in a
different light. When I started to read
Nelson’s article, I thought it was interesting though how dark she was about
international adoption and how she believes it is yet another way for white
society to display their dominance over other races. This is completely opposite to the views of
Pertman. He portrays that international
adoption is “making America a better place”.
Though those were not his own words, he included them within his book
for a reason. It was sending the message
that he want to send, international adoption helps reduce judgment and racism
in this country. This was an intriguing
concept to me as well.
I think it
is hard to determine who is right in the two points of view listed above. I personally can side with both parties. I see each point of view as valid, but
Pertman brings up a good point in saying change is constant in regards to
adoption. Nelson was adopted
internationally in the year of 1971. She
grew up with white parents in a time that adoptive parents were told to immerse
their children in their white societies.
This is very different from today.
Pertman points out that parent's today immerse themselves in their
children’s culture. Nelson I believe
wrote this article as a way to deter against international adoptions because
her experience as an international adoptee was a disappointing one. We have talked in class how many adoptees of
the 70’s and 80’s feel the same way she does.
But things have changed in ways of international adoption. I do think that parents adopting internationally
and from different races do so for the right reasons and the education provided
to these parents in recent years has and will improve international adoptee’s
views on adoption. Unfortunately, I
think if international adoption continues there will be no way of controlling
some of the bad consequences that occur as a result. “Baby selling” is an example of this and no
matter how many laws or regulations that are put in place for international adoption,
people will always find ways to make a quick dollar. Parents are desperate at times to have a
child at any cost and may be willing to overlook some of ethical dilemma’s
facing them and international governments/agencies/criminals/organizations etc.
may need or want to use that to their advantage to help improve their economic
status.
Lisa R.
Similar to what you expressed above, I too found Pertman's article to be more positive for the fact that he talked about international adoption as being helpful still to these children. Yet he was very realistic and pointed out the harm that can also happen such as abuse, baby selling and other actions that face ethical parameters. From Pertman, the stories about how people were suing for wrongful adoption was very surprising. They claimed that if they had been notified of the health of their child there would be no way that they would have adopted that child. This is very controversial and can lead parents to blaming the doctors for misdiagnosis. To me, this is outrageous as I am very familiar with handicapped children; it is sad to see this tragic example Pertman gives. We haven't discussed this topic much in class, but I find this to be a heated topic. Everyone wants this "perfect child" and it get the feeling that as soon as something goes wrong, people start the blame game and don't love them unconditionally as they otherwise would. In comparison to Nelson's article, I though Pertman focused minimum on "baby selling". From Nelson, I did find the topic of culture enrichment as being a reason for adoption to really stick out as well. Like she pointed out, I too think that most of the children "will grow up totally assimilated in American culture, without the ability to bring the cultural enrichment from their birth countries that these parents say they will so appreciate” (94).
ReplyDeleteJena stommes graded reply 8