This volume contains the results of studies done in 1972, 1979, 1984 and 1991 on a consistent group of families with transracially adopted children. The authors hope to show the range of experiences of transracial adoptive families by comparing the same families over time.
The formal study was conducted in 1972, 1979 and 1984 with families who had at least one transracially adopted child, with that child being between the ages of three and eight at the beginning of the study in 1972. Therefore the children were between ages twelve and nineteen at the study’s formal conclusion with the 1984 interviews, in which ninety-six families participated.
Most of the studies consisted of detailed interviews and questionnaires with parents and with their transracially-adopted children. Sometimes the researchers also interviewed children born into the adoptive family and children adopted into that family in a same-race placement. The authors also referred to other studies and asked questions similar to those of the well-known “Doll Study” which addressed children’s self-image through their comments about dolls of different ethnicities.
Eighty families agreed to do a follow-up interview with the authors in 1991, when the adopted young people were all in their twenties. A chapter on this “Fourth Phase” was added to the paperback edition of this book (available by clicking here).
The book begins with two introductory chapters, one an overview and history of transracial adoption and one on court decisions regarding transracial adoption. The first chapter includes differing perspectives on the National Association of Black Social Workers’ opposition to transracial adoption and also the reactions regarding Native American children being adopted by non-Natives. I found these perspectives very interesting.
The remaining chapters cover the demographics of the study families, the parents’ and children’s interview responses and a comparison of how those differed, and chapters analyzing the experiences of “ordinary” families with a relatively positive experience versus the collective experience of the smaller group of families with very negative experiences.
Much of the book is dry and academic in tone, with plenty of charts, which are interesting to compare responses to each question, but which sometimes made my eyes glaze over. However, there are many quotes from the interviews. I found myself hungrily skimming the text for these nuggets of experience from other adoptive families.
It’s important to note that another generation’s experience of transracial adoption and family life may be quite different from our own. Nevertheless there is some validity in listening to parents, who often had experiences as their children grew that they had not anticipated when the children were younger.
Although the families included Korean, Native American, Alaska Native (referred to at the time as “Eskimo”), and Vietnamese children, the overwhelming majority of the children were American-born Black children and the study authors at times seemed to focus exclusively on them.
Most families remained very enthusiastic about transracial adoption and would recommend other prospective parents to go ahead with it.
Please see these related blogs:
“I Don’t Like My Skin”—Part Two
Media Review: Opposing Viewpoints: Adoption
Choosing Whether and How to Adopt Transracially–Our Decision