The adoption of children in care who are legally referred to as “looked after”, (Children Act 1989, s22, HMSO, 1989) usually by local authorities is a key national Government objective (DfE, 2016a) where rehabilitation with the birth family is not viable. The desire to place more "looked after" children for adoption with greater speed is not new. It became increasingly apparent after the election of the New Labour Government in 1997 due to concerns about drift and delay in planning for children in care (DoH, 2000a) leading to poorer outcomes. This led to a series of measures aimed at increasing the use and speed of adoption. Eventually this resulted in the introduction of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 (HMSO, 2002) that also for the first time in English law recognised that the welfare of the child is of paramount concern when considering adoption. There is an abundance of published literature that considers the topic of adoption. However, there is a dearth of studies that have comprehensively considered the journey that adopters undertake to become parents. This practice based study was conducted by a researcher who is a senior academic manager and an active social work practitioner with extensive professional experience of adoption. A unique aspect of the study is the longitudinal mixed methods approach used to gather data in real time from a sample of adopters. The three part study tracks the journeys of the sample of adopters from when their application to adopt had been accepted by an adoption agency until after children were placed. The study was supported by five adoption agencies based in England. The data was collected over a period of two years from the adopters who described their experiences and perceptions of their journeys in real time. The information from the adopters is triangulated with data from adoption professionals from the agencies that supported the study. The professionals discussed their approaches to the adoption process, as well as their own experiences of working with adopters. The longitudinal nature of the study enables an analysis of how and why adopters’ experiences and perceptions changed over time. The research considered the changing power dynamics between adopters and professionals during the different stages of the journey to adopt. Furthermore, the long-term impact of professional interactions with adopters during the adoption process are discussed.

A adoção por casais homoafetivos é tema emergente na contemporaneidade. No Brasil, tais experiências se multiplicam, obrigando diversos segmentos, principalmente os sistemas de justiça, a compreenderem esse modelo de família. Em geral, os operadores do Direito preocupam-se com riscos para o desenvolvimento da criança em um lar homoafetivo. Além disso, os segmentos mais conservadores da sociedade pressupõem que, se houver o reconhecimento legal da família homoafetiva, desordens enfraquecerão os valores que dão sustentação à família tradicional, tais como proteção, reconhecimento da diferença sexual e socialização de seus membros. Este estudo analisa os processos subjetivos em uma família homoafetiva composta por dois homens que vivem em união estável há mais de doze anos em uma Comarca do estado de São Paulo. O casal acolheu, com fins de adoção, dois meninos, irmãos biológicos com um ano e meio, e três anos de idade, respectivamente, à época do pedido de adoção. A abordagem da família ocorreu após um ano do acolhimento das crianças. Para o levantamento e a análise dos dados, empregou-se a estratégia metodológica de estudo de caso e o aporte teórico da psicanálise vincular, que se mostraram necessários para dimensionar os processos subjetivos na adoção. Foram estudados os procedimentos dos adotantes no exercício da parentalidade, e ainda se esses promoveriam rupturas e instalariam outros modos de criação e socialização das crianças; portanto se inaugurariam estilos parentais diferentes dos já incorporados socialmente. As análises levantaram as relações entre a prática de parentalidade associada aos cuidados de uma criança e a vivência de parentalidade que remete aos conteúdos fantasmáticos que agem no desejo de filho e no de formar família. Em relação ao processo vincular, foi destacada a transmissão psíquica, tomando-se por eixo a história de vida individual e a do casal, bem como a experiência de adoção. Os dados levantados demonstram que a família composta por casal homoafetivo, apesar de singular, retoma valores da família tradicional. Assim, observou-se convergência entre prática e vivência de parentalidade, pois esta família homoafetiva não se diferencia significativamente dos modelos tradicionais de família. As crianças se inserem na genealogia familiar adotiva incorporando novas denominações de parentesco, pelo fato de terem dois pais. A ampliação do debate é indispensável, porque, se a família homoafetiva não necessariamente desconstrói valores socialmente aceitos, não cabe pensá-la como ameaça social. Ademais, o grupo em estudo não deixa de ser atravessado pelos fatores que geram sofrimento às famílias tradicionais, como rigidificação de suas estruturas e perpetuação do heterossexismo. A constituição de um vínculo de rede entre os adotantes, e entre estes e os profissionais envolvidos na adoção poderá diminuir isolamentos e romper o silêncio, permitindo o enfrentamento dessas questões nos âmbitos político, social, jurídico e psíquico / The adoption of children by homosexual couples is an emerging subject in contemporary times. In Brazil, such cases are becoming increasingly common, forcing many segments, especially the juridical system, to understand this family model. In general, law enforcers are concerned about risks to the development of the child in a same sex couple environment. Moreover, the most conservative segments of society assume that if there is legal recognition of a same-sex families, disorders may weaken family values, such as protection, recognition of sexual difference and socialization of its members. This study examines the subjective processes of a same sex family consisting of two men living in a stable union for over twelve years in a countryside town in the state of Sao Paulo. The couple sheltered, aiming to adoption, two biological brothers, one year and a half and three years old, respectively, at the time of the adoption petition. The family was approached one year after the children had arrived. To carry out survey and data analysis, we used the methodological strategy of case study and a theoretical psychoanalysis link, which have proven necessary to scale up the subjective processes in adoption. We studied the procedures of adopting parents in the exercise of parenting, and if they would promote disruptions and would install unconventional modes of child-rearing and socialization of children, thus inaugurating different parenting styles from those socially embedded. The analysis looked into relations between parenting practices - associated with the care of a child - and parenthood experimenting - which refers to phantasmatic contents that act over the childs desire to form a family. Regarding the binding process, psychic transmission was highlighted, taking into consideration personal history of adoptees as well as that of the couple in an adoption experience. Data collected show that the family consisting of a same-sex couple, though novel, takes on traditional family values. Thus, there was convergence between practice and experience of parenting, because this same-sex family does not differ significantly when it comes to traditional family models. Children fall into the adoptive family lineage incorporating new designations of relationship, because they have two fathers. The broadening of the debate is essential, because if a same-sex family does not necessarily deconstructs socially accepted values, it does not seem reasonable to think of it as a social threat. Moreover, the study group also displays factors that cause distress in traditional families, such as stiffening of their structures and perpetuation of heterosexism. The establishment of a network link between adopting parents and between these and professionals involved in adoption may reduce isolation and break the silence, allowing the confrontation of these issues in the political, social, legal and psychological scopes

A adoção por casais homoafetivos é tema emergente na contemporaneidade. No Brasil, tais experiências se multiplicam, obrigando diversos segmentos, principalmente os sistemas de justiça, a compreenderem esse modelo de família. Em geral, os operadores do Direito preocupam-se com riscos para o desenvolvimento da criança em um lar homoafetivo. Além disso, os segmentos mais conservadores da sociedade pressupõem que, se houver o reconhecimento legal da família homoafetiva, desordens enfraquecerão os valores que dão sustentação à família tradicional, tais como proteção, reconhecimento da diferença sexual e socialização de seus membros. Este estudo analisa os processos subjetivos em uma família homoafetiva composta por dois homens que vivem em união estável há mais de doze anos em uma Comarca do estado de São Paulo. O casal acolheu, com fins de adoção, dois meninos, irmãos biológicos com um ano e meio, e três anos de idade, respectivamente, à época do pedido de adoção. A abordagem da família ocorreu após um ano do acolhimento das crianças. Para o levantamento e a análise dos dados, empregou-se a estratégia metodológica de estudo de caso e o aporte teórico da psicanálise vincular, que se mostraram necessários para dimensionar os processos subjetivos na adoção. Foram estudados os procedimentos dos adotantes no exercício da parentalidade, e ainda se esses promoveriam rupturas e instalariam outros modos de criação e socialização das crianças; portanto se inaugurariam estilos parentais diferentes dos já incorporados socialmente. As análises levantaram as relações entre a prática de parentalidade associada aos cuidados de uma criança e a vivência de parentalidade que remete aos conteúdos fantasmáticos que agem no desejo de filho e no de formar família. Em relação ao processo vincular, foi destacada a transmissão psíquica, tomando-se por eixo a história de vida individual e a do casal, bem como a experiência de adoção. Os dados levantados demonstram que a família composta por casal homoafetivo, apesar de singular, retoma valores da família tradicional. Assim, observou-se convergência entre prática e vivência de parentalidade, pois esta família homoafetiva não se diferencia significativamente dos modelos tradicionais de família. As crianças se inserem na genealogia familiar adotiva incorporando novas denominações de parentesco, pelo fato de terem dois pais. A ampliação do debate é indispensável, porque, se a família homoafetiva não necessariamente desconstrói valores socialmente aceitos, não cabe pensá-la como ameaça social. Ademais, o grupo em estudo não deixa de ser atravessado pelos fatores que geram sofrimento às famílias tradicionais, como rigidificação de suas estruturas e perpetuação do heterossexismo. A constituição de um vínculo de rede entre os adotantes, e entre estes e os profissionais envolvidos na adoção poderá diminuir isolamentos e romper o silêncio, permitindo o enfrentamento dessas questões nos âmbitos político, social, jurídico e psíquico / The adoption of children by homosexual couples is an emerging subject in contemporary times. In Brazil, such cases are becoming increasingly common, forcing many segments, especially the juridical system, to understand this family model. In general, law enforcers are concerned about risks to the development of the child in a same sex couple environment. Moreover, the most conservative segments of society assume that if there is legal recognition of a same-sex families, disorders may weaken family values, such as protection, recognition of sexual difference and socialization of its members. This study examines the subjective processes of a same sex family consisting of two men living in a stable union for over twelve years in a countryside town in the state of Sao Paulo. The couple sheltered, aiming to adoption, two biological brothers, one year and a half and three years old, respectively, at the time of the adoption petition. The family was approached one year after the children had arrived. To carry out survey and data analysis, we used the methodological strategy of case study and a theoretical psychoanalysis link, which have proven necessary to scale up the subjective processes in adoption. We studied the procedures of adopting parents in the exercise of parenting, and if they would promote disruptions and would install unconventional modes of child-rearing and socialization of children, thus inaugurating different parenting styles from those socially embedded. The analysis looked into relations between parenting practices - associated with the care of a child - and parenthood experimenting - which refers to phantasmatic contents that act over the childs desire to form a family. Regarding the binding process, psychic transmission was highlighted, taking into consideration personal history of adoptees as well as that of the couple in an adoption experience. Data collected show that the family consisting of a same-sex couple, though novel, takes on traditional family values. Thus, there was convergence between practice and experience of parenting, because this same-sex family does not differ significantly when it comes to traditional family models. Children fall into the adoptive family lineage incorporating new designations of relationship, because they have two fathers. The broadening of the debate is essential, because if a same-sex family does not necessarily deconstructs socially accepted values, it does not seem reasonable to think of it as a social threat. Moreover, the study group also displays factors that cause distress in traditional families, such as stiffening of their structures and perpetuation of heterosexism. The establishment of a network link between adopting parents and between these and professionals involved in adoption may reduce isolation and break the silence, allowing the confrontation of these issues in the political, social, legal and psychological scopes

O interesse por este trabalho surgiu de nossa experiência com casos de adoção no Grupo Acesso Estudos, Pesquisa e Intervenção em Adoção, no Instituto Sedes Sapientiae. Lá acompanhamos casos com abruptas retiradas de crianças dos abrigos, para inserção nas famílias adotivas, sem prévia preparação. Esta exposição de crianças a delicadas experiências de abandono psíquico demonstrou a necessidade de estudarmos este tema. Pretendemos abordar a adoção de crianças entre dois a cinco anos, buscando focalizar o momento específico de seu desligamento do abrigo e a entrada na família adotiva. Procuraremos investigar quais as angústias presentes neste momento de rupturas de vínculos significativos e que impõe a necessidade de construção de novos investimentos afetivos. Utilizaremos, para esta pesquisa, o método psicanalítico, através do qual analisaremos relatos transcritos do atendimento psicoterápico de uma criança que nos procurou, buscando ser ajudada na colocação em família adotiva. Os atendimentos tiveram início quando a criança ainda encontrava-se no abrigo e estenderam-se até a chegada na família adotiva. O trabalho baseou-se em referenciais psicanalíticos, sendo também esta a referência teórica para a compreensão da paciente. Procuraremos demonstrar como uma criança adotada pode experimentar significativas descontinuidades, decorrentes de rupturas de seus vínculos anteriores, e que a elaboração psíquica destas perdas deve ser levada em conta no processo de adoção, podendo interferir no estabelecimento das novas relações familiares. Além disso pretendemos investigar a função do setting terapêutico como um espaço possibilitador de transicionalidade, na passagem para a família adotiva. / Our interest on this topic resulted from our experience with adoption cases seen at Grupo Acesso Adoption Studies, Research and Intervention, at the Sedes Sapientiae Institute. This group gives support to children who have been abruptly withdrawn from social care to be inserted into an adoptive family, without being prepared for this change. We believe the exposure of such children to a delicate situation of psychological neglect should be further analyzed. This study analyses the adoption of children with ages ranging from two to five years, focusing particularly on the moment when the child leaves social care to become a member of the adoptive family. We will investigate the type of distress that occurs at this moment where significant bonds will be disrupted and the construction of new emotional investment will be required. Psychoanalytical methodology will be used to analyze the psychotherapeutical follow-up reports of a child who was brought for support during the adoption process. Our work was based on psychoanalytical references which were also used as theoretical background to understand the patient. We intend to demonstrate that an adopted child may experience significant disruption as a result of the discontinuation of previous affectional bonds, and that psychological preparation for this loss should be provided during the adoption process, as it may interfere with the development of new family ties. Furthermore, we investigate the role played by therapeutic support as a setting that enables transicional phenomena on the way to becoming a member of an adoptive family

O interesse por este trabalho surgiu de nossa experiência com casos de adoção no Grupo Acesso Estudos, Pesquisa e Intervenção em Adoção, no Instituto Sedes Sapientiae. Lá acompanhamos casos com abruptas retiradas de crianças dos abrigos, para inserção nas famílias adotivas, sem prévia preparação. Esta exposição de crianças a delicadas experiências de abandono psíquico demonstrou a necessidade de estudarmos este tema. Pretendemos abordar a adoção de crianças entre dois a cinco anos, buscando focalizar o momento específico de seu desligamento do abrigo e a entrada na família adotiva. Procuraremos investigar quais as angústias presentes neste momento de rupturas de vínculos significativos e que impõe a necessidade de construção de novos investimentos afetivos. Utilizaremos, para esta pesquisa, o método psicanalítico, através do qual analisaremos relatos transcritos do atendimento psicoterápico de uma criança que nos procurou, buscando ser ajudada na colocação em família adotiva. Os atendimentos tiveram início quando a criança ainda encontrava-se no abrigo e estenderam-se até a chegada na família adotiva. O trabalho baseou-se em referenciais psicanalíticos, sendo também esta a referência teórica para a compreensão da paciente. Procuraremos demonstrar como uma criança adotada pode experimentar significativas descontinuidades, decorrentes de rupturas de seus vínculos anteriores, e que a elaboração psíquica destas perdas deve ser levada em conta no processo de adoção, podendo interferir no estabelecimento das novas relações familiares. Além disso pretendemos investigar a função do setting terapêutico como um espaço possibilitador de transicionalidade, na passagem para a família adotiva. / Our interest on this topic resulted from our experience with adoption cases seen at Grupo Acesso Adoption Studies, Research and Intervention, at the Sedes Sapientiae Institute. This group gives support to children who have been abruptly withdrawn from social care to be inserted into an adoptive family, without being prepared for this change. We believe the exposure of such children to a delicate situation of psychological neglect should be further analyzed. This study analyses the adoption of children with ages ranging from two to five years, focusing particularly on the moment when the child leaves social care to become a member of the adoptive family. We will investigate the type of distress that occurs at this moment where significant bonds will be disrupted and the construction of new emotional investment will be required. Psychoanalytical methodology will be used to analyze the psychotherapeutical follow-up reports of a child who was brought for support during the adoption process. Our work was based on psychoanalytical references which were also used as theoretical background to understand the patient. We intend to demonstrate that an adopted child may experience significant disruption as a result of the discontinuation of previous affectional bonds, and that psychological preparation for this loss should be provided during the adoption process, as it may interfere with the development of new family ties. Furthermore, we investigate the role played by therapeutic support as a setting that enables transicional phenomena on the way to becoming a member of an adoptive family

The family has always been a central narrative theme in cinema. Korean cinema has been no exception, where the family has proved to be a popular subject since its earliest days. Yet Western scholarship on Korean cinema has given little attention to this dominant theme, preferring to concentrate on the film industry's recent revival and its blockbusters. Scholarship in Korea and in the Korean language, on the hand, has continuously discussed some of the major cinematic works on the family. However, such literature has tended to be in the form of articles discussing one or two particular works. A comprehensive study of the family in contemporary Korean cinema therefore remains absent both in Korean and in English. This thesis is an attempt to provide such a work, bringing together films on the family and writings on them in both Western and Korean scholarships, as well as filling the gaps where certain trends and patterns have gone undetected. How are the changes in the understanding of the family or in the roles of individual family members reworked, imagined, or desired in films? Taking this question as the starting point of the research, each chapter explores a separate theme: transformations in the structure of the family; faltering patriarchy and fatherhood; motherhood and the extremity of maternal love; and certain children's experiences of the family. The first chapter detects a general move away from the traditional patriarchal nuclear family and an interest in depicting alternative families, exploring shifting family forms in contemporary society and the public discourses surrounding them. The second chapter highlights the contradictory ways that the father has been illustrated in films during and after the IMF crisis. The third chapter explores a branch of recent thrillers that depicts mothers as dark and dangerous characters, offering an interesting cultural framing to the multiple perceptions of the mother figure in contemporary society. Finally, the last chapter aims to extend representations of the 'Korean family' to include films by/about those currently living outside of Korea, namely Korean emigrants and adoptees.