In the United States the debate concerning transracial adoption and gay and/ or lesbian adoption has been going on since the 1970s. This research used the co-cultural theory of communication to explore how the marginalized population of gay and lesbian transracial adoptive (TRA) parents communicated with the other culturally dominant members of their society. It then analyzed the communication behaviors found to see if any differences existed in their interactions. Finally, the communication behaviors were examined to see what impact they might have on the ability of parents to be effective TRA parents. This research included eight in-depth interviews with gay and lesbian TRA parents. In these interviews, these parents were asked to explain, through their own 7 personal experiences, what it was like to be part of this cultural group. Their experiences were then analyzed using the methods described in the co-cultural communication theory. Results showed that gay and lesbian TRA parents predominantly employed the assertive accommodation and the nonassertive assimilation communication orientations in their interactions with others. Of the two, the parents overwhelmingly employed assertive accommodation. Results showed three important differences regarding how the parents employed communication orientations or enacted co-cultural practices in their interactions. Results also showed that the employment of the assertive accommodation orientation was likely to have a positive effect on the parents' ability to be effective TRA parents. The employment of the nonassertive assimilation orientation was found generally to have t mixed results. I hope that insight into the communication behaviors of this population found through this study will help clarify the most effective communication methods for these parents to learn in order to raise healthy and happy children of color.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / Some digitised pages may appear illegible due to the condition of the original hard copy. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Multicultural adoption became a reality in South Africa in 1994, after the abolition of the apartheid legislation. This is therefore a relatively new and unfamiliar terrain for those social workers that specialise in adoption. A gap was identified with regard to a sufficient theoretical foundation and the absence of guidelines regarding this phenomenon in South Africa. This study was undertaken in an attempt to address this shortcoming and in order to gain more direction and clarity regarding multicultural adoption. Through a literature study an attempt was made to determine how legislation on adoption in South Africa is interpreted as well as to establish the role played by the social worker during adoption. A historical overview of adoption in South Africa is discussed as well as the current legislation that relates to multicultural adoption. With reference to the purpose of the research, the literature study also focused on a practice perspective, multicultural intervention and theories that are applicable. Furthermore the profile of parents that adopt children of another culture and the motives surrounding this, were examined during the literature study. An exploratory study was undertaken to establish the needs of parents who adopt children of another culture as well as to determine the cultural skills that social workers require in order to successfully facilitate multicultural adoptions. The ultimate purpose of the study was to formulate guidelines for social workers for multicultural adoptions. The empirical study was aimed at parents that have already adopted children of another culture and was limited to the Western Cape. The results of the empirical study confirmed the researcher's supposition that social workers should master multicultural skills in order to successfully facilitate multicultural adoptions and that a cultural awareness is imperative. Based on the study and the results, recommendations for a policy framework with regard to multicultural adoptions was formulated and guidelines and proposals for the implementation of multicultural intervention and adoption were laid down. The recommendations of this study can be used by all social workers and parents that are involved in multicultural adoptions and also by other welfare organisations and social workers. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Multikulturele aanneming het in 1994, na die afskaffing van apartheidswetgewing, 'n werklikheid in Suid-Afrika geword. Hierdie is dus 'n redelik nuwe en onbekende terrein vir maatskaplike werkers wat in aanneming spesialiseer. 'n Leemte ten opsigte van voldoende teoretiese fundering en afwesigheid van riglyne rakende hierdie verskynsel in Suid-Afrika, is geïdentifiseer. In 'n poging om hierdie leemte aan te spreek en meer rigting en duidelikheid oor multikulturele aanneming te verkry, is hierdie ondersoek onderneem. Met die literatuurstudie is gepoog om die interpretering van wetgewing oor aanneming in Suid-Afrika te bepaal en ook die rol wat die maatskaplike werker tydens aanneming speel, vas te stel. 'n Historiese oorsig van aanneming in Suid-Afrika is bespreek en ook die huidige wetgewing wat met multikulturele aanneming verband hou. In aansluiting by die doel van die navorsing is daar ook tydens die literatuurondersoek gefokus op 'n praktykperspektief, multikulturele intervensie en teorieë wat van toepassing is. Voorts is die profiel van ouers wat kinders vanuit 'n ander kultuur aanneem en ook die motiewe daarrondom, tydens die literatuurstudie ondersoek. 'n Verkennende studie is onderneem om die behoeftes van ouers wat kinders vanuit 'n ander kultuur aanneem vas te stel, asook om te bepaal watter vaardighede vir multikulturele-intervensie maatskaplike werkers nodig het om multikulturele aannemings suksesvol te fasiliteer. Die uiteindelike doel van die ondersoek was om riglyne vir maatskaplike werkers tydens multikulturele aannemings te formuleer. Die empiriese ondersoek was op ouers wat reeds kinders vanuit 'n ander kultuur aangeneem het gerig en beperk tot die Wes-Kaap. Die resultate van die empiriese ondersoek bevestig die navorser se aanname dat maatskaplike werkers vaardighede vir multikulturele-intervensie moet bemeester vir die fasilitering van suksesvolle multikulturele aannemings en dat 'n kulturele bewustheid onontbeerlik is. Op grond van die ondersoek en resultate, is aanbevelings vir 'n beleidsraamwerk ten opsigte van multikulturele aanneming geformuleer en riglyne en voorstelle vir sodanige uitvoering van multikulturele intervensie en aanneming neergelê. Die aanbevelings van hierdie ondersoek kan deur maatskaplike werkers en ouers wat betrokke is by multikulturele aannemings en deur ander welsynsorganisasies en maatskaplike werkers gebruik word.

This study investigated the communication experiences of adoptive parents of children transracially adopted from Vietnam. Though adoption has been extensively studied in communication research, transracial adoptions involving children from Vietnam has not. Thus, this study examined adoptive parent communication experiences using dialectic theory and relational dialectics. By examining adoptive parents’ communication with their adopted child and others, we can determine tensions that occur in different communication experiences. Data were collected through eight qualitative in-depth interviews conducted with adoptive parents of children from Vietnam. Openness with both strangers and the adopted child(ren) and preservation of key aspects of the adopted children’s original culture emerged as themes in adoptive parent communication. Theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.

[pt] Sendo um pai por adoção e um entusiasta do assunto (Moreira, 2020; Pires; Sales, 2020; Costa e Rosetti Ferreira, 2007; Dias et al, 2005), resolvi, nesta pesquisa, trazer à tona duas vertentes importantes a respeito dessa temática: a adoção de crianças mais velhas e de adolescentes (Vargas, 1998; Jubé, 2018; Souza, 2012) e a adoção inter-racial (Espíndola, 2020). Desde que comecei minhas leituras a respeito dos pressupostos teóricos da Linguística Aplicada Crítica e do seu interesse em se debruçar sobre os fenômenos da vida social (Moita Lopes, 2006), passei a procurar diálogos entre meu tema e essa área de pesquisa a fim de – através de experiências vividas pela minha família e por mais duas famílias amigas – começar a dar corpo a meu trabalho. Assim, esta tese tem por entender que emoções emergem em narrativas dos pais de crianças mais velhas e de adolescentes negros adotados e que significam certas experiências de vida enquanto situações de racismo. Além disso, busquei analisar as (co)construções dessas emoções como processos avaliativos (Cortazi; Jim, 2001; Nóbrega, 2009) que podem ocorrer nas narrativas para o entendimento e para a reflexão crítica acerca do racismo, investigando como esses pais lidam com os estigmas (Goffman, 2004) com que a sociedade marca seus filhos e refletindo sobre sua posição como pessoas que fazem parte de uma sociedade racista e como detentores dos privilégios advindos da branquitude (Bento, 2002; Schucman, 2012). Alinhado ao paradigma qualitativo de pesquisa (Denzin; Lincoln, 2006) e à pesquisa do praticante (Allwright, 2005), resolvi, ainda, realizar a análise a partir da metodologia de três lâminas de observação (Biar et al.2021), em que observo primeiro a estrutura narrativa; em seguida, o momento em que se narra e, por isso, a interação e a coconstrução (ou não) de sentidos realizadas entre mim e meus parceiros de pesquisa; e por último, os embates discursivos, ou seja, como nossos discursos corroboram ou não outros discursos disseminados em sociedade. Com isso, pude identificar algumas emoções negativas como de insatisfação e de incapacidade por parte dos pais que participaram desta tese acerca não só do racismo sofrido por seus filhos, mas também quando identificaram o quanto essa prática ainda existe neles. A partir de tais entendimentos construídos colaborativamente, vislumbro a possibilidade desta tese ter tido um efeito catalisador pelo qual os praticantes envolvidos e outros praticantes possam repensar seus sentimentos e práticas a respeito do antirracismo com vistas à revisão de seus comportamentos tanto em família, diante dos filhos que adotaram, quanto em sociedade. / [en] As an adoptive father and an enthusiast of this subject (Moreira, 2020; Pires; Sales, 2020; Costa and Rosetti Ferreira, 2007; Dias et al, 2005), I decided, in this research, to bring to light two important aspects regarding this context: the adoption of older children and adolescents (Vargas, 1998; Jubé, 2018; Souza, 2012) and the interracial adoption (Espíndola, 2020). Since I began reading about the theoretical assumptions of Applied Linguistics and about its interest in looking into the phenomena of social life (Moita Lopes, 2006), I started looking for conncetions between my theme and this area of research in order to – through experiences lived by my family and by two other close families – construct my work. Thus, this thesis has the general objective of understanding, through the promotion of exploratory conversations (Moraes Bezerra, 2007; Nunes, 2017), the emotions (Barcelos, 2013; Maturana, 2001; Zembylas, 2014) that emerge in the narratives of white parents of black older children and adolescents about situations of racism that their children go through or have been through. Furthermore, I chose to analyze the (co)constructions of these emotions as evaluative processes (Cortazi; Jim, 2001; Nóbrega, 2009) that can appear in narratives to generate understandings and critical reflections about racism, investigating how these parents deal with the stigmas (Goffman, 2004) their children suffer and reflecting about their position as people who are part of a racist society and as holders of privileges from whiteness (Bento, 2002; Schucman, 2012). Aligned with the qualitative research paradigm (Denzin; Lincoln, 2006) and with practitioner research (Allwright, 2005), I also decided to carry out the analysis using the three-layer observation methodology (Biar et al.,2021), in which I first observe the narrative structure; then, the moment of narration, the interaction and the co-construction (or not) of meanings produced by me and my research collaborators; and finally the discursive clashes, that is, how our discourses corroborate or not other discourses disseminated in society. In doing so, I was able to identify some negative emotions such as dissatisfaction and incapacity by the parents who participated in this thesis regarding not only the racism suffered by their children but also the moments when they identified the extent to which this practice still exists in them. Based on such collaboratively constructed understandings, I envisage the possibility of this thesis having had a catalytic effect through which the practitioners involved and other practitioners come to rethink their feelings and practices regarding anti-racism to review their behavior both within the family and towards their adopted children, as well as in society at large.

Using the theory of the dialogical self, this study aimed to understand the identities of a sample of transracially adopted South African adolescents. Particular attention was paid to the identity domains of race and adoption, as well as the impact of relationships on the formation of individual identity. In-depth interviews were conducted with four transracially adopted adolescents and their parents. The voice centred relational method (Brown and Gilligan, 1992) was used as the method of analysis. Results of this research support many assumptions of the theory of the dialogical self and suggest that there is a dynamic relationship between internal and external positions within the self. In addition, the results show that the participants have developed racial and adoptive identities characterized by conflicting positions within the self, which may be mediated by relationships with significant others. Issues specific to the South African context, including language and poverty, also appear to bear significant influence on the identities of the participants. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006

The thesis is devoted to the issue of interracial adoption, when Ugandan child lives in the Czech adoptive family. The aim is to focus on the ethical aspect of interracial adoptions. Attempts to find out whether this type of adoption is really in the best interests of the child. The first part of the thesis provides general background information about Uganda as a country of origin of children. Describes historical development and socio-economic situation of the country, the issue of HIV/AIDS and information about orphan and abandoned children. The second part describes the process of international adoption, both generally and on the part of both participating countries, namely Uganda and the Czech Republic. The third part deals with the ethical side of the adoption. Aim is to find out how the circumstances of the interracial adoption can affect the adoptive family and the future development of the child, how they cope with the racism and discrimination and questions about childs identity. This part is based on surveys, studies and interviews with adoptive parents and their adopted children.

The enormous amount of African American children in the foster care system is a concern for many professional social workers, and others who are interested in this issue.

Life story methods were used to explore the contextual factors that influenced the experiences and identity formation of seven Native American adults who were transracially adopted prior to the passage of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978. These methods provided a deeper understanding of how these individuals have integrated their adoption experiences into their evolving sense of self. The life story methodology offered a way to acknowledge and validate participants' life experiences and allowed for the collection of rich information from the perspectives of the adoptees. The life story interviews were structured to gather information on the influence of one's adoptive family and cultural, social, and educational experiences on participants' developing sense of self. Even though an interview guide was developed for use in the study, each story uniquely unfolded in a manner the participant was comfortable sharing. The study examined the life stories for patterns or emerging themes related to identity development at different points in the narrators' life cycles in order to develop an aggregate account of the contextual factors influencing identity formation as well as a collective understanding of sense of self. The study identified 12 contextual factors that have both positively and negatively influenced identity development among the participants throughout their lifespan. These factors are: (1) adoptive family; (2) community; (3) educational experiences; (4) religion/spirituality; (5) travel; (6) exposure to cultural experiences; (7) employment; (8) friendships; (9) peer groups; (10) military; (11) societal messages, and (12) reconnection to tribal heritage. Overall, findings from this study suggest that the majority of participants have developed strong Native American, multi-cultural, and/or bi-cultural identities that incorporate their various experiences as transracial adoptees. Practice considerations for transracial adoptees as well as adoptive parents are suggested. Policy implications relating to granting access to original birth and/or adoption related records are presented. Finally, future research recommendations are offered specific to Native American transracial adoptees, their biological families, and tribal communities from which they adopted. While the practice, policy, and research recommendations are specific to Native American transracial adoptees, the recommendations may have broader implications to a wider population of adoptees in general.

The best interests of the child are paramount in every matter concerning the child. This applies in the case of adoption of a child as well. When an adoption is intercultural, culture is an issue to be taken into account. This study is undertaken to consider the role that culture should play in a decision whether an adoption is in the best interests of the child. In order to determine whether intercultural adoption is a viable option that serves the best interests of the child, interracial adoption also needs to be focused on, as intercultural adoption is often also interracial. The research for this thesis is done from a South African legal perspective, although some interdisciplinary and international research is necessary as well. A brief historical overview of adoption in South Africa is undertaken, as it is important to have some background knowledge about adoption in South Africa in order to understand why race and culture are relevant in the South African adoptive system. The role of the family in the life of the child is investigated. The difference between family care, parental care and alternative care is researched. Thereafter the role of emotional bonding for a child, also known as attachment, is focused on. An important question is whether race and culture is the same thing. This is researched, whereafter the role of race and culture in the adoption process is investigated. The relevant provisions of the Child Care Act 74 of 1983,which regulates adoption in South Africa, are compared to the relevant provisions of the Children’s Act 38 of 2005, which will regulate adoption in South Africa soon. Finally, some conclusions are drawn, shortcomings are highlighted and possible solutions are suggested. The outcome of this thesis should provide some guidance to those involved in the adoption process with regard to the factors that are important in determining the best interests of the child in an intercultural adoption. / Law / LL.D.

Although a child's right to parental care and family life is constitutionally entrenched, many South African children are deprived of this right. Transcultural adoption could serve their need but historically this has been prohibited or discouraged by racist policies. Whether this is in keeping with the now non-racial South African society is questionable. In adoption the best interests of the child is paramount and in determining this, courts should balance children's constitutional rights to their culture of origin against their constitutional rights to non-discrimination. After considering arguments for and against transcultural adoption and the position in the United States and the United Kingdom, the writer suggests that further interdisciplinary research into the question is necessary in South Africa; inter-country adoption should be considered and law reform and governmental policy should facilitate these. / Private Law / LL. M. (Law)