Constructing Interracial Families Through Intercountry Adoption^*

Abstract

This article analyzes the role of race and ethnicity in constructing American families through intercountry adoption. We argue that such adoptions illustrate the fluidity and tenacity of specific racial boundaries in American families. Copyright (c) 2006 Southwestern Social Science Association.

Beyond Color‐Blind and Color‐Conscious: Approaches to Racial Socialization Among Parents of Transracially Adopted Children

“…Nearly all parents interviewed and their partners were White, with the exception of one Asian American mother who had adopted a Black child and one partner who was White but of Hispanic ancestry (see Table for participant and adoptee characteristics). Participant's racial profiles were consistent with patterns in the United States in that White parents are more likely than non‐White parents to formally adopt children, whether domestically or abroad (Ishizawa, Kenney, Kubo, & Stevens, ). In terms of age, 31 of the parents were in their 40s or 50s; only two were in their 30s, and one was 67 years of age.…”

Predicting Non‐African American Lesbian and Heterosexual Preadoptive Couples' Openness to Adopting an African American Child

“…In 2000, 13% of adopted children in the United States were foreign‐born; of these, 48% were from Asia (Kreider, 2003). Individuals who adopt from Asia may do so because they feel that Asian children are more assimilable to mainstream (White) culture than other minority race children (Ishizawa, Kenney, Kubo, & Stevens, 2006). Shiao et al (2004) studied White adoptive parents of Korean children and found that parents often chose to adopt from Korea because of their perception that Korean children were “exotic yet assimilable” and “baggage free … and saveable” in contrast to African American children, who were viewed by some parents as unadoptable owing to perceived “damage, irredeemability, and marginalization” (pp.…”

“…Or, non‐African American racial minorities may prefer children of their own race because they feel responsible for these children or are simply more comfortable adopting inracially. Indeed, most African Americans adopt African American children (Smith‐McKeever, 2006) and Hispanic persons who adopt internationally typically do so from Latin America (Ishizawa et al, 2006).…”

Researching the Role of Race in Young Biracial Adults’ Identity Construction; Exploring Implications for Trans-Racial Adoptions

“…Transracial adoption, adoption of children of one racial background by families of another racial background, has been met with much controversy in both South Africa and abroad (McRoy, Zurcher, Lauderdale & Anderson, 1982;Miller, 1999;Ledderboge, 1996;Ishizawa, Kenney, Kubo & Stevens, 2006). Miller (1999:66), for example, asks:…”