Is it right to inter-racially/culturally adopt?

Question

All of your answers have been fantastic so far, thanks. Please keep it up!

Answer 1

Its more about bringing the child away from their culture.. that usually isn't the first thing on their mind. They arent looking at is as a status symbol. Foreign adoption usually means final which is why most people go that route. Alot of people that adopt have battled with the uncertaintly of infertility and miscarrage. In the US most states somehow  have a law that doesn't make adoptions 100% final for weeks and years down the line. With foreign adoption once you leave that country that child is yours forever. its permandent.. there is no chance of that birth mother coming back after you. Also most parents do what they can do keep that culture alive. America is such a huge blend of cultures you can't possibly get lost in it or feel as if you don't fit it. Most children are much better off here than living in whatever slums they were in before. I think a child can be just as secure or well adjusted as any other child as long as their parents bring them up right. Security really has nothing to do with your type of family as much as it does the relationship and bonds you create within that family

Answer 2

I'm not the type that will adopt a child of a different race.  Don't get me wrong, if I couldn't pull off adopting an American child (which after my studying, not as bad as adopting in a lot of foreign countries) and adopted a Russian child...he/she would know their heritage and their language.  As long as the parent provides the knowledge and ability for their adopted children to learn about their culture, I don't see a problem with it.  It's the parents that don't want to teach them that bother me.

Answer 3

I see no problem with it. Culture has less to do with a child's 'well-adjusted-ness' and happiness than the fact that they grow up in a loving home by parents who care about them. Some adoptive parents are very adept at educating their child on their native culture. What if the child were blind? He/ she wouldn't know the difference what race they were...It's not what we see that makes a difference in our lives, but what we experience on the inside.

Answer 4

I have thought almost the same thing you have. I always wondered why people adopt outside of their country. I don't kow for sure but I have heard that it is easier to adopt outside of the US than to adopt within. Which is really sad. I don't know how true that is but I know a lot of people that have adopted children from other countries.

Answer 5

Hmm i have struggled with this myself.  I really think it depends on the person.  If you are one hundred% comfortable with it then good for you!  I admire people who are able to do it.  I personally don't know if I could, not because I am racist, I just don't know how fair it would be to the child.  Already you have the issue of being adopted, so it would be hard to explain that on top of why they look different from Mom and Dad. I also think it depends on where you live.  I live in Wyoming where 99% of the people are white so the child wouldn't even have other people of his own race to identify with.  So having said that I don't think it is wrong to adopt a different race, it just takes a special person to be able to it.  I applaud them all who do!

Answer 6

A child is a child no matter the race or gender. Love is color blind. It doesn't matter where people adopt and what color the child is. As long as the child adopted is being raised in a loving environment. Adoptive parents learn the child's cultures and teach it to him/her.

Answer 7

I think that you couldn't be more wrong - that's exactly the  type of separatist thinking that keeps all in little boxes - keep to your own kind and all that.

think about how we can enrich each others lives by learning more about each others cultures - things like multi cultural adoption  give  people some incentive to go out of their way to find out about the child's culture and the child to be able to break out and learn about the new parent's culture.

what I'm saying simply is that just because a child is being adopted outside of their culture/race why should you assume that the adoptive parents are  going to deny the child a chance to learn about their own culture -  I just wouldn't be so narrow minded about the concept, and since it is a free country and you feel so strongly about it, then don't participate and judge others who do.

if you ain't part of the solution you're part of the d**n problem.

thanx for reading

Answer 8

As long as it's a man and a woman, hapilly married, financially and mentally stable, I see nothing wrong with it. But it may be wiser if the child remains with his own culture.

Answer 9

There is nothing wrong with inter-racial. In fact, if we look at the evolution of our planet hardly few races of us could really boast of being the sons of the soil. What we see today is the outcome of migrations that took place not 2 or 3 thousands years ago, but since the time immemorial. Those who really think that they are superior to another race are fooling themselves. So go ahead. Believe me some couple of centuries from now and our planet earth will go such a drastic changes that only human race would matter more !

Answer 10

My husband and I are white and we adopted a black baby from Texas.  We believe in adopting childre from the USA that need a loving home, but that doesn't limit us to only adopting white.  There are people lined up to adopt white babies and there are many minority children that need homes.  Why wait for a "healthy white child" when there are many many children that needs homes.

By the way, we also have adopted a white special needs baby.  We don't see the color of skin, we just see the need for love!

Answer 11

I see no problem with it. A lot of the times, when a family does adopt out of their race - they are very good about bringing that child's cultural traditions into the home, so that the child can know their culture. It is the year 2007 - there is interracial marriage, blended families, etc.

Answer 12

There are many stumbling blocks to adopting within the US.  It is expensive, time consuming and does not guarantee the "racial" or "cultural identity" that you mention.  There are many children through out the world who need love and parents.  I think that the more of these children who can be placed with loving families the better.

I know of people who had gone through the whole process, adopted a child and then about 2 years later, the biological father came out of the wood work, and decided that he wanted to take custody of his child.

I am not saying that he should not be allowed to do this, but it was emotionally crushing for the couple that I know.  I am also not saying that he should be allowed to do this.  I don't know where I stand.

Answer 13

I questioned this many times myself but after the much education and thought I have given this subject I have to say I disagree with you.  First, race and culture are two very different things, even if the adopted child and parents are the same race they may come from very different cultures.  I do agree that any adoption that is for the purpose of status is cruel and demeaning to the child.  And I do also agree that if the parents do not accept the child's culture that they will grow up missing out on many things.  I think as long as the parents are willing to accept and celebrate a range of cultures everyone involved will be just fine.  When my husband and I became foster parents we wanted to be open to any child that need a home but we also did not want them to loose anything from their own culture that we could not offer.  We have always been accepting of other cultures so we figured it would not be too difficult to ensure that any children we may ultimately adopt are brought up with a good understanding of many cultures including and especially their own.  We have taken many training classes on this subject and I feel that if this situation is handled correctly it can be a wonderful time of exploration into many cultures for everyone that is involved.

Answer 14

its actually easier to adopt children from other countries, the whole process still takes time, but there is so much red tape in the American process. i also understand where your coming from about the whole cultural identity, but using your example the white parents wouldn't or shouldn't try to hide their culture and pretend they are white. the parents should have some knowledge of their native background and should be willing to share that with the child and be able to answer any questions. i don't see a problem because these parents are going to give that child an opportunity they probably wouldn't have otherwise, and while there are tons of children in America that need parents too, they still have it better than children in 3rd world nations. I think that adoption is a great thing regardless of where the child comes from!

http://www.child-adoption.org/process.ht...

http://www.jcics.org/International_Adopt...

Answer 15

i certainly don't think interracial adoption is wrong. i have 5 biological kids and 3 adopted. two are not the same race as me. in a perfect world, no child would need adoption. in an almost perfect world, a child would be adopted by parents of the same race and culture. there is quite a bit to be said for preserving the uniqueness of each culture- i celebrate the diversity! but in the world we really live in, a child being adopted by anyone who will love, protect and care for them is in a good place. does cross-adoption bring its own set of issues? you bet it does! but with determination and committment those issues can be dealt with in a positive manner.

Answer 16

Who says that the parents who adopt these children will not educate them of there culture.  Think of it like this if they will have a better chance to be more diverse and cultured then if they were in and out of different orphanages. I think its great that there are people willing to adopt babies out of there own culture it shows there is no color,race or religion when it comes to love

Answer 17

In my opinion, the ends justify the means.  Adopting babies from other countries can be easier, quicker and less cost-prohibitive than adopting in country.

Plus, consider this-if caucasian couples can ONLY adopt caucasian babies, there would not be enough babies to go around.  Meanwhile, children of other races are languishing in orphanages and foster homes.  

The best case scenario is the one in which the most children get homes, case closed.

Answer 18

Why does it matter?  If a child is adopted they will grow up with that culture of the adopted parents.  They don't have the first culture anymore.  Why do people get so caught up on silly details that don't matter?

Answer 19

As a caucasian mother who recently trans-racially adopted an african-american child, I have read quite a bit on this subject. There is actually a book out that was written by adult adoptees regarding their feelings and experiences. Their opinions were split right down the middle. Some found it really hard to be the only black in a family of white. Others found it didn't matter; that they were loved was what mattered. I do think that especially when a child is adopted from another country it is the resposibility of the parents to learn and teach their children about their cultural heritage.

In answer to the "culture group of their own" question; adoptees in general are a cultural group all their own. They have support groups and annual gatherings to share their experiences with one another. I do believe they will grow up just as secure and well adjusted as any other child who has been adopted. Many have issues that stem from being adopted, regardless of their heritage. Then again, many don't. It all depends on the person themselves and the efforts of their adoptive parents.

Answer 20

Most people adopt children from out of this country because it is alot easier to get a child and more cost effective. When people stop looking at Race we will all be better.

Answer 21

It's for the welfare of the child, it's all for the better good.

As long as it betters the child's life, I have no objections. They can learn and do research on their culture and heritage. My great grandparents first came over to the States, and I'm still having fun learning about the countries and nationalities that make up my family's history.

Answer 22

I agree with your sister.. The people who complain that children should only be adopted by their own race,aren't the ones stepping up to do the adopting....