Transracial Adoptions

Transracial Adoptions

Transracial Adoptions

Additional issues arise when adopted children come from a different culture than their adoptive parents. Adoptions in which the adoptive parents and their adopted child are of different races, known as transracial adoptions, pose special difficulties. When children belong to a different race than either of their parents, others in the community very quickly become aware that the children are adopted. Transracial adoptive families often face everything from innocent curiosity to outright hostility and prejudice. Many adoptive parents educate themselves about their child’s birth culture so that they can offer their child support and help build self-esteem.

Some people believe transracial adoptions should be allowed only as a last resort or banned altogether. Other groups feel just as strongly that race should not be a consideration in the placement of children. In 1994 Congress passed the Multiethnic Placement Act, which forbids adoption agencies from establishing separate waiting lists to match children with adoptive families of similar ethnic or racial heritage. However, the act permits agencies to consider ethnicity and race as one factor in determining the best home for a child. (1)

In this Section: Adoption, Adoption and Foster Care, Adoption Contents (including Adoptions by Relatives or Stepparents, Agency and Private-Placement Adoptions, Adoptions: Intermediaries and Materially Assisting Persons and Open and Closed Adoptions), Adoption Legal Issues, International Adoption, Psychological Stress and Adoption Support Groups, Telling Adopted Children About Their Adoption, Searching for Biological Parents and Transracial Adoptions.

Resources

Notes and References

  1. Encarta Online Encyclopedia

See Also


Posted

in

, , ,

by

Tags:

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *