Blog Post #6

Kim Park Nelson, Shopping for Children in the International Marketplace

a.       The metaphors that were illustrated in this article really stood out to me. The comparison of adoption to the supply and demand equation or as Bell Hooks mentioned the “[…] spice, seasoning that can liven up the dull dish of mainstream white culture” (Nelson, 2006, pg. 93). These two explanations sound unappealing, yet it does speak some truth about adoption. Adoption has gone beyond expected as there is a high demand for it, yet the supply (babies) has steadily matched with such request. This exchange is an important one and the result of this is that “typically, everyone is compensated, either monetarily, materially, or socially […]” (Nelson, 2006, pg. 93). Also, the spice term is an example used to understand the ‘commodification of Otherness’ as it is the answer to why so many parents partake in interracial adoption. Parents do seek out children of other races because it will help them become more diverse and this can be a benefit in that both the parents and the child will learn about that particular culture and become more aware. These two metaphors may be demeaning; however they both speak out the truth in adoption, specifically interracial adoption.

b.      The notion of people kidnapping and selling babies to adoption agency is completely inhuman. I understand that money was a motive for such act; however it was surprising to find out that “lawyers are the key organizers and profiteers from these illegal adoptions” (p. 95). Lawyers are authority figures that people can easily trust on and yet to know that a lot of them are behind such act is terrible. This relates back to what we read at the beginning of the semester about doctors informing girls/women to give up their child and provided no other options.  Again, it brings up the question of who can be trusted and who cannot be trusted when one is in similar situations.

Adam Pertman, Joy and Surprises from Abroad

a.       I was intrigued with the story of Michele Greene and what she endured to finally have her child. We have read stories about agency being tricky and manipulative, but this story definitely topped all of them because Greene waited a whole year or so to get her baby and loss huge amount money. The story is different and refreshing since the child had a cleft palate, yet Greene did not give up on the child. She fought and gave in to the agency just so that she can raise a child with a disability and I think that is why the story is so heartwarming.  One would think that the agency would want to give the child with a disability away as fast as possible, however in this situation; they used that to their full advantage.

b.      A point that we mentioned briefly in class that I think is wrong is the changes of the adoption in terms of “shifting perceptions, political pressures, and even personal views” (pg. 81). These changes may be correct for some people; however I think that with more restriction, it only targets a specific group. For instance, with China the applicants have to be married, a body mass index of less than 40, etc… I think all these requirements are impractical because with this implemented; it closes the doors on other loving parents who are either single or have a body mass index of 41.

-          MAI NHIA.

Nelson, K. (2006). “Shopping for Children: In the International Marketplace” In Jane Jeong Trenka, Julia   Chinyere Oparah, and Sun Young Shin, eds. Outsiders within: Writing on Transracial Adoption.                    Cambridge: South End Press.

Pertman, A. (2011). Adoption Nation. Boston, MA: The Harvard Common Press.