Adoption Discussion |
Adoptism
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Adoptism is a prejudice against adoption. This can be the belief that adoption is not a way to build a family. This may not be in blatant forms, but by assuming that the individual's abilities come from their family's abilities and all abilities are "inherited" rather than learned. This can also be the belief that birthing children is preferable to adopting. This can extend to the idea that one should not adopt anyone that does not "look" like the parents and can hide forms of racism and sometimes sexism. Also it can be that making an adoption plan is never a preferable option for biological parents who are unable or choose not to raise their children. This also extends to the idea that it's alright to tell the adoptee should only love either their biological family or their adoptive family and they cannot love both. Usually this form is a hidden form of prejudice on the environment or biology makes the child. Sometimes adoptism is not conscious. For example, with international adoption, there is often the idea that it's not right to adopt internationally when there are kids domestically that need to be adopted. This idea isn't blatantly adoptism. This can also be subtle as telling an adoptee that they don't have an accent. With domestic adoptions it's often extended through language choice that the adoptee, adoptive parents or the biological parents can find offensive, such as "real" parents or when an adoptee plans on finding their biological parents or the idea that they can now ask many personal questions that the adoptee may not be equipped or ready to respond to. Sometimes this only is limited to certain kinds of adoption. Adoption is often used to cover other social issues in the society. For example, with adoption to gay and lesbian couples, many who are against it are also against gays and lesbians - the idea that a child needs a father and mother to function properly is an issue. This also can extend to race where the idea that whites should not adopt children of color because it's "unnatural".
Last changed: 09/24/07