The ethnic identity of transracially placed foster children with an ethnic minority background: A systematic literature review

Degener, Clementine J.; Bergen, Diana van; Grietens, Hans

doi:10.1111/chso.12444

Cited by 16 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 75 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In addition, studies focusing on families beyond a binary classification of privilege (“privileged” and “marginalized”) might help us identify the role of families in racism and xenophobia during childhood and adolescence. First, family members might hold varying levels of privilege in a society (e.g., mixed-race parents, adoptive and foster parents), thus white parents of adoptive and foster children might struggle in helping marginalized children resist the detrimental effects of racism and xenophobia if they are not equipped to recognize structural inequalities in society (e.g., Degener et al, 2021; Simon, 2021). Second, research on ethnic–racial socialization and intergroup relations can focus on implicit and explicit ethnic–racial socialization in families experiencing multiple forms of oppression.…”

Section: Limitations To What We Know and Directions For Future Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of the Family for Racism and Xenophobia in Childhood and Adolescence

Aral

Juang

Schwarzenthal

et al. 2021

Review of General Psychology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Racism and xenophobia are not just the problems of the adult world; As systems of beliefs, practices, and policies, racism and xenophobia influence children’s perceptions and experiences at early ages. Because families can be significant sources of information regarding race and ethnicity, we focus on the family to understand the broader context of racism and xenophobia in childhood and adolescence. In this paper, we first provide an overview of research conducted among BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) and ethnic/religious minority families that has focused on family ethnic–racial socialization to support children and adolescents’ capabilities for resisting racism and xenophobia. We then review research conducted among white and ethnic/religious majority families that has mainly taken an intergroup relations perspective and has examined associations between parents’ and children’s ethnic–racial attitudes, biases, and prejudice. Finally, we discuss the role of family for racism and xenophobia through the lens of family ethnic–racial socialization and intergroup relations perspectives, highlight areas that are currently understudied, and offer recommendations concerning future research directions.

show abstract

Section: Limitations To What We Know and Directions For Future Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of the Family for Racism and Xenophobia in Childhood and Adolescence

Aral

Juang

Schwarzenthal

et al. 2021

Review of General Psychology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In looking at the literature regarding this, there appears to be a strong argument that children seek out and need their cultural place, as it is essential to knowing who they are as a person. In a systematic review, Degener, van Bergen, and Grietens [ 80 ] determined that children transracially placed can expect to struggle with their racial/ethnic identity over time. Quite relevant for this paper, they also noted that these children are prone to disconnection with their birth network, although there are exceptions.…”

Section: Case Examplesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Attachment Theory: A Barrier for Indigenous Children Involved with Child Protection

Choate

Tortorelli

2022

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Attachment theory is an established theoretical understanding of the intimate relationships between parental figures and children. The theory frames the ways in which a child can be supported to develop within a secure base that prepares them for adulthood, including entering into and sustaining intimate relationships. The theory, built on the work of John Bowlby following World War II, has extensive literature supporting its application across multiple cultures and nations, although its roots are heavily tied to Eurocentric familial understandings. However, the theory has also been heavily criticized as not being appropriate for child intervention decision-making. Further, its application to Indigenous caregiving systems is also under question. Yet courts rely heavily on applying the theory to questions of sustaining Indigenous children in non-Indigenous care when return to biological parents is deemed impossible. Methods: This article draws upon the consistent arguments used in leading Canadian child welfare legal decisions and case examples to show how Attachment Theory is applied relative to Indigenous children and families. Results: Attachment Theory drawing upon Eurocentric framing, and as applied in Canadian child protection systems, as seen in precedent court decisions, is given priority over living in culture. This occurs even though the research reviewed has shown that the traditional dyadic version of the theory is not valid for Indigenous peoples. Conclusions: While all children will attach to a caregiver or caregiving system, such as kinship or community, leading legal decisions in Canada tend to rely on Eurocentric versions of the theory, which is contrary to the best interests of Indigenous children. Child protection needs to reconsider how attachment can be used from appropriate cultural lenses that involve the communal or extended caregiving systems common to many Canadian Indigenous communities. Child protection should also recognize that there is not a pan-Indigenous definition of attachment and child-rearing, so efforts to build working relationships with various Indigenous communities will be needed to accomplish culturally informed caregiving plans. In addition, continued advocacy in Canada is needed to have child protection decision-making conducted by the Indigenous communities, as opposed to Eurocentric provincial or territorial agencies.

show abstract

“…However, the included studies show that foster youth may for instance struggle with being disconnected from their ethnic backgrounds, which may lead to ethnicity losses. Foster parents who pay efforts towards participating and engaging their foster youth in activities that promote children's cultural development, and teach their foster youth in dealing with discrimination are perceived as important in the process of ethnic identity development of ethnic minority foster children (Degener et al, 2021). In order to provide more insight into ethnic socialization in transcultural foster families, we conducted a dyadic comparative analysis to investigate what ethnic socialization messages foster parents give, what ethnic socialization messages their foster youth receive and how these messages interact.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Being one, but not being the same”: A dyadic comparative analysis on ethnic socialization in transcultural foster families in the Netherlands

Degener

Bergen

Grietens

2021

Child & Family Social Work

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

To gain insight into ethnic socialization by ethnic majority foster parents who take care of ethnic minority foster youth, we conducted a comparative dyadic analysis, based on 16 foster parent-foster youth dyads. Outcomes show that foster parents' first concern was providing a safe environment for their foster youth, and not ethnic minority socialization. Foster parents seem to strive to belong together as one family with their foster youth. As part of those efforts, they would incorporate ethnicity differences, and/or struggles with how to address them. This occurred in a reciprocal socialization process with their foster youth. Next, although foster youth could experience discrimination, there seems to exist a relative silence about this issue in foster families. Results furthermore show that birth parents may play a role as connectors with the ethnic backgrounds of the foster youth. Foster parents may need guidance by foster care agencies in learning how to address ethnicity issues openly, teaching their foster youth how to survive in a society where ethnic minority discrimination occurs, and involving birth parents in the ethnic socialization of the youth.

show abstract

The ethnic identity of transracially placed foster children with an ethnic minority background: A systematic literature review

Cited by 16 publications

References 75 publications

The Role of the Family for Racism and Xenophobia in Childhood and Adolescence

The Role of the Family for Racism and Xenophobia in Childhood and Adolescence

Attachment Theory: A Barrier for Indigenous Children Involved with Child Protection

“Being one, but not being the same”: A dyadic comparative analysis on ethnic socialization in transcultural foster families in the Netherlands

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About