Cultural Tourism in Transnational Adoption

Abstract

The discursive practices of adoptive parents in two online transnational adoption forums (2006-2008) and observations of five international adoption workshops suggest that what Heather Jacobson described as culture keeping, the cultural socialization of children that retains a sense of native group identity, is more aptly characterized as cultural tourism, the selective appropriation and consumption of renovated cultural symbols, artifacts, and events that serve as the source of identity construction for adopted children. A feature of consumer capitalism, cultural tourism in transnational adoption helps shape the contours of cultural and racial identity. It also provides a partial understanding of how adopted children often fail to develop hybrid identities and how adult adoptees exist on the margins of two cultures.

Depth in Cultural Socialization in Families with Children Adopted from China

“…Families with children adopted from China belong to a cohort that is generally wellinformed about the importance of maintaining a cultural connection (Jacobson, 2008). However, Quiroz (2012) argued that some activities such as attending cultural events create a superficial connection to the adoptee's birth culture. Jacobson (2008) called all culture-connecting activities culture keeping.…”

“…Some cultural experiences might be more "authentic," creating a deeper connection to adoptees' ethnic background than do other cultural experiences (Quiroz, 2012). Adoptive parents provide a variety of cultural experiences; however, little is known about the various dimensions of CS in transracial adoptive families.…”

Family Influences on Ethnic Identity Development among Transracial Adoptees

“…Though not always as explicit or intentional as this description, critics question whether transracial adoption continues to be used as a form of cultural assimilation, domestically and internationally, and there is no consensus as to what point the child's well-being outweighs the preservation of the child's birth culture (Lee, 2003;Zamostny et al, 2003). Even when transracial adoption is used as an effective way to place legitimate orphans into loving and accepting families, it's unclear how much adoptive families should be expected to adjust their own lifestyle and culture to better nurture the birth culture and identity of TRAs (Vonk, Lee, & Crolley-Simic, 2010;Quiroz, 2012).…”

“…Research suggests that many TRA families opt to participate in socialization strategies that are superficial in nature and require the least amount of integration; for example, reading cultural books as opposed to building culturally diverse friendships (Quiroz, 2012;Vonk, Lee, & Crolly-Simic, 2010;Westhues & Cohen, 1998). Some experts fear that this type of superficial socialization, which requires little adjustment in lifestyle or identity, only gives TRAs a commercialized, inauthentic version of their culture of origin (Quiroz, 2012).…”

“…Some experts fear that this type of superficial socialization, which requires little adjustment in lifestyle or identity, only gives TRAs a commercialized, inauthentic version of their culture of origin (Quiroz, 2012). This concern also revisits past controversies about whether or not TRAs are given adequate opportunities to have deep connections with their culture of origin, and questions if the main goal of adoptive families remains more about assimilation than integration.…”