A day without adoption?

Question

so, i was on google news and came across this article. I think it's very interesting to read. here's the link: http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/285991.html

"ASK (Adoptee Solidarity Korea), which aims to raise awareness to issues related to intercountry adoption and advocate for change in South Korea¡¯s social welfare system, celebrated Children¡¯s Day by calling for A Day Without Adoption, a day on which no children are sent abroad for adoption. Instead, the group advocates for providing single mothers and underprivileged families with the opportunity to stay together. "

Anyone's thoughts, i personally thought it was pretty interesting. i mean some mothers probably would of kept their children if they were provided help.

Answer 1

I agree whole heartedly! Too many families are separated because of financial reasons. If adoption "incentives" were instead given to help preserve families then fewer of these sad situations would occur. Very distressing when you think that approximately 2% of the world's population has falsfied or no genetic history available to them. No wonder we are seeing more and more accidental incest and mental health issues for adoptees. Adoption is supposed to be about finding families for truly needy children rather than the current practice of finding children for "needy" families. Another major issure in taking children from other places is our high infertility rates - often caused by waiting too long to have a family. Very sad.

Answer 2

i didn't read the article, i just wanted to concur and thank you for offering the concept that often mothers are forced to give up their babies out of a financial crisis...  it occurred to me that this is not acceptable!   all people should have a viable route to care for their child.  while adoption is the right choice for some women,  no one should feel forced to make that excruciating decision based on fear of an inability to afford it monetarily.  Yet, i am sure, all to often, this is certainly the case.

thank you so much for bringing this understanding into my world today.  it makes so much sense, i'd just never thought it through.

Answer 3

Fantastic, it's about time mothers were helped instead of taking their babies.  Bravo Korea

Answer 4

I saw this, and I think it's a wonderful idea.  Thanks for calling attention to it!

Answer 5

It won't work because there are to many couples out there that want new born at all cost. A child in foster care are damage goods. It's like going to the store and seeing a apple a brand new apple and one that has been there a couple of days- which one would you chose? One day these countrys are going to wake up and get more woman on birth control and the some of the US children might have a chance but right now the money is to good.

Answer 6

Sure.. I think it's great to help more single and lower-class mothers to be able to keep and provide for their babies..

If Korea wants to do away with international adoption, that's fine and understandable..

Of course, adoption will always be necessary until the day that nobody ever dies anymore, or abuses their children, or does drugs.. every child deserves a permanent, stable, loving home..

Answer 7

Interesting - but the major reason that Korea is a "baby exporting" nation is due to the fact that single mothers are not accepted - just as babies born without a father's name aren't accepted.  Very rarely does it have anything to do with financial support.  So while it's all well and good to say let's have a "day without adoption" you'd have to undo several centuries of customs and attitudes - which is probably not going to happen for a couple of centuries itself!  Furthermore, I would bet that the article is written by a Korean adoptee who feels that they were stolen from their birth country against their will.  In my experience, there are only two types of adoptees - especially Korean adoptees - those who are angry and feel like they don't fit in their adopted country, because they look Korean and don't fit in in Korea because while they look Korean, they don't act it.  The second type of adoptees are those who are welll adjusted and understand the sacrifices birth and adoptive parents made to provide a more comfortable, accepting life for them.  

Neither is right or wrong in their feelings, it's just that the angry group is usually louder than those that are happy with their lives, and we generally hear more of their stories.

Answer 8

I think the idea behind it was symbolic and beautiful too!! The coins and the airplane representing all of the children who had to be adopted overseas. What a wonderful way to promote single parenthood and help rid the stigmas that have separated so many families already.

I think its a great group!!! They are also working with a group of Korean mothers forced to surrender their children who are advocating for the end of international adoption. Korea was long known as the baby exporting nation, I think its a great grassroots method of spreading the word on the corruption of their industry and how their people aren't okay with whats happening to their children.

They have a great "babies not for export" video on youtube.

ETA: i think its interesting that people can "get" that poverty isn't a reason to surrender your child, or that women shouldnt be forced to do so, but those are the NUMBER ONE and TWO reasons for surrenders and separations in countries outside of the United States where international adoption is so "trendy."

and I downloaded the petition too :)

ETA: I just read an article on KADNexus: http://kadnexus.wordpress.com that said for the first time EVER domestic adoption has exceeded international adoption in Korea. Thats GREAT imo.

"But more orphans were adopted by local families than by foreign ones last year for the first time. Local households adopted 1,388 orphans, accounting for 52.3 percent of the total, while 1,264 orphans, or 47.7 percent, found a new home in foreign countries."

eta: SO insulting to read the answer below me. The angry ones aren't the well adjusted ones who understand sacrifices on their behalf? That couldn't be more ignorant.