Karen March

Open Adoption as a Family Form Community Assessments and Social Support

In this article, community assessments of support for three levels of open adoption are examined, including two types of mediated adoption, fully disclosed adoption, and confidential adoption. Combining telephone survey data from a Canada-wide random sample of 706 respondents with 82 qualitative interviews, the authors report on community assessments of these levels of openness and the relevance of these results for other survey research conducted on these issues. The authors also explore community assessments of the perceived advantages and disadvantages of open adoption and confidential adoption for adoptive parents, birthparents, and adopted children and how these may or may not reflect clinical assessments. Finally, the authors consider the implications of these results for clinical initiatives with members of the adoption triangle.

A Comparison of Biological and Adoptive Mothers and Fathers: The Relevance of Biological Kinship and Gendered Constructs of Parenthood.

Abstract Using in-depth qualitative interviews with 82 respondents, we examine the nature of beliefs and values about biological (birth) and adoptive parents. With a Canada-wide random sample of 706 respondents, we examine their prevalence in the larger population. We also consider how aspects of biological kinship, gender and actual parenting behaviour affect assessments respondents make of the emotional bonding that occurs between parents and children. Different “natures” are ascribed to women and men whether biological or adoptive parents-motherhood is instinctive and fatherhood is learned. We consider the implications of the social context and these gendered constructs of motherhood and fatherhood for family practitioners working in adoption.

Social support for changes in adoption practice: Gay adoption, open adoption, birth reunions, and the release of confidential identifying information

The authors report on a Canada-wide survey examining support for changes in adoption as a kinship form and relate their findings to relevant survey research conducted in the United States. Half of the survey respondents in Canada and the United States support same-sex adoption. There is also strong support for some form of open adoption and birth reunions for adult adoptees. In the Canadian survey, over three quarters of respondents support the unconditional release of confidential identifying information to adult adoptees. The authors discuss the disjuncture between changing social values and policy and practice in adoption.

Birth mother grief and the challenge of adoption reunion contact.

A large body of work exists on the grief expressed by birth mothers over the loss of their children to adoption. Less is known about the grief emotions that surface when these women are contacted by adopted adults who seek contact relationships. The themes of mourning, grief, and bereavement that emerged in the qualitative interview data of 33 reunited birth mothers indicate more attention be given to these social psychological processes. Suggestions for future research possibilities and implications for clinical practice are explored.

Talking About Genetics: Community Perceptions of the Importance of Biological Inheritance for Determining Child Outcome

As part of a study of community attitudes toward adoption, 82 Canadians responded to questions concerning the importance of biological inheritance for determining child outcome, whether it is important for a person to know a great deal about his or her biological background, and what particular things a person should know about his or her biological background. Substantial support existed for the need to know ones biological background, especially medical history. Reference to scientific studies, genes, and genetics were strongly associated with “very important” responses; but parenting and sociocultural family environment were viewed as mediating the influence of biological inheritance. Implications for adoption practice are considered.