rans-racial adoption was first legalised in South Africa in 1991, and remains a contentious issue within a society in which the ramifications of apartheid are still felt. The study was borne of recognition of the need for clear understanding of the phenomenon of trans-racial adoption in the unique South African context, from the perspective of the adoptees themselves. The phenomenological approach was employed in this qualitative study, in order to gain an understanding of the meaning and sense that trans-racial adoptees ascribe to their lived experiences. The population for the study was trans-racially adopted individuals within South Africa, aged 18 years or older, who have been legally adopted during infancy or early childhood, after 1991. Snowball sampling was determined to be the most appropriate sampling method for the study. Individual, in-depth interviews were conducted with six trans-racial adoptees. These interviews were led by the question "Tell me the story of your experience of growing up as a trans-racially adopted child, and the meaning that this has for you?" The data collected through the interview process was analysed using thematic data analysis. The trustworthiness of the research process and findings was achieved through employing theoretically prescribed data verification strategies. The rich accounts offered by the participants provided insight into their experiences. The most significant study findings revealed that the participants experienced emotional security within their adoptive families, but encountered racism and discrimination within society. The findings further indicated that ambivalence developed during the process of identity formation. In making sense of their experiences, the participants reflected on their uniqueness and individuality, and highlighted gains related to their upbringing. It was evident that quality parental care and the participants’ own resilience contributed to their success in navigating these challenges. Based on the research findings, the study concluded with recommendations for enhancing outcomes in trans-racial adoption.

M.A. / Transracial Adoption (TRA) was legalised in South Africa in June 1991. TRA is a controversial issue all over the world. In the United Kingdom and United States there has been extensive research on TRA related to many different aspects of it, rendering a variety of conflicting results. Little research has been conducted around TRA in South Africa to date. This study was undertaken to research the relatively new phenomenon of TRA in South Africa. The study was based on literature and research from overseas, to identify how TRA in South Africa compares. The respondents of the study were parents who have adopted transracially and social workers who have been involved in TRA. A hybrid of exploratory and descriptive study was conducted. Fourteen parents and twenty-one social workers responded to the questionnaires. The primary limitation being the small sample of respondents, however, due to the population size being small this sample could be representative. The results showed that people involved in TRA in South Africa are aware of, and concerned about, very similar issues as those raised overseas. As TRA in South Africa is still in its teething phase, valuable results emerged about how to go about TRA, so as to make it most effective for all parties concerned. Preparation for TRA, racial identity issues and recommendations for further research were discussed according to results from the study.

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.

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.

Prior to the democratic elections of 1994, South Africa was daunted by legislation flooded with racial segregation. Adoption across racial lines is, because of South Africa’s racially segregated past, a relatively recent phenomenon in this country. The number of legal adoptions has increased dramatically, especially after its legalization in 1991. Parents may adopt across racial lines for an array of different reasons, from not being able to conceive a baby, to wanting to give a child the best opportunity in life. This study explored the experiences of white parents who have adopted black children, paying particular attention to how they deal with issues of “racial” identity. In-depth interviews were used to generate qualitative data pertaining to the parental perceptions of their motivation for, and experiences of adopting a child transracially in South Africa. The study aimed to explore their motivation for adopting and experiences, as well as issues relating to “racial” identity. Recommendations have been made to assist parents who are interested in adopting transracially. The report presents findings relating to the unique characteristics of the participants who have adopted transracially. These include adopters’ motivation and thought processes before taking the relevant steps to adopt transracially; the support that they have received from others in their decision to adopt transracially; communication patterns; their relevant concerns regarding the future of their adopted child; and issues pertaining to race, culture, heritage, prejudices and stereotypes. The findings suggest that parents were pragmatic, without regrets, in their views about adopting across racial lines. The parents’ motivations for adopting across racial lines were very similar to various perspectives, but were all due to the fact that they were unable to have biological children. Parents were aware of the child’s identity and cultural issues, which may be more perceptible in the future. Their perceptions, views and opinions, and the future concerns of their children were not unrealistic. Due to the children’s young age a follow-up study of these children should be considered.

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.

Overall attitudes, beliefs, and values have been shown to effect how individuals evaluate and process information. This knowledge is important and relevant to the practice of social work. Social workers are expected to put their attitudes, values, and perceptions aside when working with their clients. Attitudes are effecting processing and evaluation of events, therefore, it is imortant to understand the possible implications of workers perceptions and attitudes. Highly embedded attitudes toward transracial adoption, will influenceSocial workers behavior.