Who is Lucky in International Adoption?

When we see photos of American parents with different skin colors than their kids, we are often melted by their warm smiling images. We often do not focus on or care about the fact they lost their culture. We focus on the happiness of everyone in the photo.  I am Chinese. In photos of Chinese traditional festivals in America, I often see children dressed in traditional Chinese clothing and being cared for by two golden-haired American parents. In those photos, the happiness of the children is obvious, at least on the outside. Who is lucky in international adoption?

The act of international adoption seems like an act of giving, but when the entire process is looked at closely, the wellbeing and happiness of the children is not often considered.  The largest number of international adoptions came from China and South Korea.  By examining these two countries closely, it will show that while initially there were good reasons for intercountry adoption, when the in-country problems ended less children needed it. Domestic adoptions are better for children.

China’s intercountry adoption were caused cultural problems of one child policy and poverty. China’s cultural history of favoring male children over female children made more females available for adoption.  Hollingsworth said birth gender discrimination became more common when China began their one-child policy and the needs of the children were not considered (209). They did not want to keep too many girl babies. Hollingsworth wrote “because male children historically are valued among Chinese families, girls are at much greater risk. The solution for many women instead of infanticide or the abortion of female fetuses is to abandon their girls." (Hollingsworth, 209).  Mei-Ling Hopgood, author of Lucky Girl, was adopted from Taiwan because her birth father did not want any more girl babies; he wanted a son. Adoption was chosen not because of poverty or war, but because of cultural reasons.  While I believe there are a lot of girls like the Mei-Ling who are lucky enough to find their true happiness with their adoptions, she writes about many who are also left confused and lonely.  She even said about herself and meeting her birth family that she experienced “a confusing mix of remorse and relief.” (Hopgood, 129).

While China’s intercountry adoptions was caused by culture problem, Korea’s adoptions were caused by war and culture. The Korean War resulted in about 50,000 orphaned Korean children (Hollingsworth, 209).  At that time, it was believed that adoption of benefited the children. I believe that was true.  The war ended in 1953, but adoptions continued through the 1980s, it was the longest running and most numerous intercountry adoptions by Americans. Selman states that over 170,000 children were adopted into the United States from South Korea since 1953. As orphans with no Korean fathers, these children had no legal status in their own country. After the war, children were abandoned. In South Korea "the birth of a child is recorded in the father’s name. Without it, you are no one." (Hollingsworth, 209).

Additionally, Korean couples saw a negative stigma in adopting a mixed race, unwanted child. International adoption is often the only chance left to these children. While children orphaned by the war benefitted from adoption, when the war end and the Korean economy improved, I believe no one thought what was best for the children who were adopted from the 1960s through the 1980s. The reason for large numbers of Korean children adopted was not because of the child need but for cultural reasons. And not growing up in their birth country impacts the adoptees, even if they are successful, like, Mei-Ling’s adopted Korean brother Jung.  When he visited Korea, he said “visiting Korea was monumental, improving his sense of identity, confidence, and independence.”  He told Mei-Ling “he was envious and yearned for his “biological home.” (Hopgood 150).

Many westerners believe all international adoption benefits the children. These westerners believe that international adoption gives these children a better life. But as Hollingsworth states, they often do not see the social and cultural impact of taking these children from their home country.  Mei-Ling writes about many of these children struggle with their identity and fitting-in in America. Many international adopted children have mental health issues requiring counseling (Johnston, 13).  While most American parents are good parents and work hard to help their adopted children “fit-in” in America, they may not fully understand their children birth county culture. So, they cannot fully appreciate and copy that experience.  This is not to say that all adopted kids have problems.  Most become successful adults. However, I wonder would if these children have more success in their birth country.

Fortunately for the world’s children, changes in international law is causing a decline in international adoption.  The Hague Conference of 1993 provides structure and guidelines for both the sending country and the receiving country, focusing child welfare (Hollingsworth, 209 and Selman, 44).  As a result, many countries changed intercountry adoption laws and regulations, including the United States. All these, Selman states, has resulted in a better experience for the children. Less children are being adopted abroad. For example, China ended the one-child policy and more babies stay with their families. According to a State Department News briefing, China has also increased domestic adoptions.  And South Korea has committed to ending its intercountry adoption program by increasing domestic adoptions (“STATE DEPARMENT”). According to Selman, domestic South Korean adoptions outnumbers intercountry adoptions for the first time in 2007. As Mei-Ling said “In recent years, however, there has been considerable debate over whether Koreans should let their own be raised by outsiders. … some lawmakers … introduced legislation that would ban international adoption.” (Hopgood,147). I believe all these changes are benefiting children who can stay with healthy and strong families in their birth country.

It is easy to judge the perceived benefits and harm with international adoption.  But seeing this from an adoptee who gave birth to her own child is more telling of what adoptees and birth parents feel.  Even though Mei-Ling is very successful, with both family and career, and had a wonderful childhood with her American adoptive parents she had nagging feelings about what life might have been like had she not been adopted.  In her book, Lucky Girl, she says “I can’t help but want to be part of this circle (her sisters and their families). Sometimes I feel badly because I will never fully be part of their lives. …. I will always be some distinct and exotic auntie, sister, and daughter.” (Hopgood,237). I believe this demonstrates a deep longing to be full member of her birth family.

Therefore, I believe allowing the children to find in-country homes allows children to benefit by remaining in their birth culture and not have to cross an ocean to live in a foreign land.  International adoption is changing all over the world because the focus is on what is best for the children. There are fewer international adoptions because of improving a social, culture, and economies. While we are used to thinking that these international adoption children are lucky, we should more accurately say that domestic adoption children are lucky.

Works Cited

Johnston, Robert C. "International Adoptions." Education Week, vol. 24, no. 39, 08 June 2005, p. 13. EBSCOhost, ihcproxy.mnpals.net/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f5h&AN=17457835&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

STATE DEPARTMENT NEWS BRIEFING VIA TELECONFERENCE ON THE RELEASE OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2017 ANNUAL REPORT ON INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTION. (2018, Mar 23). Political Transcript Wire Retrieved from http://ihcproxy.mnpals.net/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.ihcproxy.mnpals.net/docview/2017083331?accountid=40785

Selman, Peter. "Adoption across Borders Declines." World Today, Feb/Mar2017, p. 44. EBSCOhost, ihcproxy.mnpals.net/login? url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f5h&AN=123312176&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Hollingsworth, Leslie Dory. "International Adoption among Families in the United States: Considerations of Social Justice." Social Work, vol. 48, no. 2, Apr. 2003, p. 209. EBSCOhost, ihcproxy.mnpals.net/login? url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f5h&AN=9586345&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Hopgood, Mei-Ling. "Lucky Girl." Marie Claire (US Edition), 28, April 2009,

            ISBN1565126009 http://www.mei-linghopgood.com