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Unlearning Adoption: A Guide to Family Preservation and Protection, A review
Mon, 2007-10-22 19:23 - Niels
Jessica DelBalzo has written an important book with the inspiring title "Unlearning Adoption", in which she unravels the workings of the adoption industry, the consequences thereof and alternatives to it.
The book starts explaining how the language used by the adoption industry, labelled "Positive Adoption Language", is a deliberate attempt at influencing the public opinion. Jessica DelBalzo then demonstrates what honest adoption language can be like, an approach she uses throughout the book. Wherever she criticizes the adoption industry she offers well thought of alternatives.
"Unlearning Adoption" is an anti-adoption book and though radical in stance, its recommendations and advice are much less radical than the doings of the adoption industry it criticizes. In chapters about past adoption practices, adoption today, foster care adoption and abandonment laws, DelBalzo unravels the workings of the adoption industry, coming full circle with adoption in the media. She covers the demand side pressures of the market place, the myth of open adoption, the reality of Safe Haven laws, the modern incarnations of maternity homes.
The second part of the book deals with the effects of adoption on both adoptees and parents, addressing subjects like attachment, identity formation, crime and substance abuse, post traumatic stress disorder, anger and trust issues. Jessica DelBalzo's portrayal of the consequences of adoption are in stark contrast to the image the adoption industry tries to create, much more disturbing and much more in demand of radical change. That change she describes at the end of her book, looking beyond the borders of the USA, giving an account of Australian inquiries of child placement practices and the following decline of adoption. She addresses open records in Scandinavia and many other countries, Teen pregnancy prevention in the USA compared to other rich western countries and family support measures around the globe.
She returns to the USA, the book predominantly focussing on America, by giving an account of the various adoption reform and abolishment movements, rounding it all off with alternatives to adoption, giving practical advice on how to avoid the grip of the adoption industry on pregnant women, but she also promotes the notion of legal guardianship, in cases where out-placement indeed is in the best interest of a child.
"Unlearning Adoption" is surprisingly complete, given its compact size of 130 pages. That makes it an easy to read and quick introduction to the material. Fortunately Jessica DelBalzo has added many references to websites for those interested in more in depth information. Of course for a book that aims to be an introduction, she is forced to scratch only the surface at times. That does not compromise the depth of her insight, but requires the reader to either read up on the subject or take her words at face value.
Having spent a lot of effort reading up and investigating adoption myself, I would have liked the book to be much more detailed, though that is, understandably, not its aim. As an introduction "Unlearning Adoption" is excellent; it covers much ground and displays a deep knowledge of the subject. This is the material mother's and fathers to be should be informed about and social workers and therapists should be knowledgeable of.
Comments
Changing The Language
I too read "Unlearning Adoption", which is more difficult a reading task in that I was trying to read an "outsider's" insight on an industry when I myself have the personal perspective as being an adoptee, Registered Nurse and mother -- all three voices living inside me.
Jessica did a brilliant intro 101 course to "What is going on in our baby industry these days?". In America especially, thanks to the likes of Madonna and Angelina celebrity, adoption is not only famous, but infamous. When I was a child, being adopted was likened to being black or sick: "You're what?" (Implying it was an illness that can be caught, if touched). The other response would be: "Oooh, I know someone who was adopted...."
<blank deer in headlight stare>
Yes, perhaps we are related. After all, all our mothers were such sluts, you know.
So much can be added and grafted to her (Jessica's) book and work. Such is the beauty of a small one of a kind introduction to the industry. It's Time to reveal the truth, especially through the eyes of the woman. I don't believe that's been done before... certainly not in the realm of baby-trade. That seems to be left to the Male Voice where a woman's body is her own, yet abortion is seen as being immoral, adoption is noble and divorce can be a fair deal provided the bitch doesn't expect to get half. For some odd reason that all is supposed to make sense to us feeble females who don't like sex, eh?
An area I would so much like to see develop further is the issue of Sex Education v. Abandonment being taught in schools, and how these life-lessons in biology and human behavior affect the family structure far more than promiscuity and paternity. Again, these are issues not normally covered when it comes to core issues of love and intimacy. Why not? One leads to the other, doesn't it? Seek and you will find, just pray you don't get left behind!
The selling of body parts is not at all a new sort of business. Perhaps the teaching of preserving what should be kept in each family should be the new-age approach that all walks of life can readily accept. After all, who in this world wishes to grow-up only to be abandoned by a loved one?
These are the lessons we must think about before we start selling condoms to children seeking love. "Unlearning Adoption" certainly can lead a scholarly way towards new discussions and teachings towards family planning and preservation.