3. The Transfer of Belonging: Theories on Child Fostering in West Africa Reviewed

Abstract

This chapter discusses 'British' and 'French' approaches to the subject of child fosterage and adoption, as well as some new impulses from recent kinship studies. It summarizes and reflects on the already existing debates on the topic. The chapter, by combining key elements of the existing approaches, outlines some aspects of a new theoretic thinking that regards fosterage as a transfer of childrens' belonging that involves the relations between children and different kinds of parents. It also contributes to the creation of a new theoretical framework in studies of child fosterage and discusses some research desiderata and future research questions. The author follows Esther Goody's classification, a typology of different functions of fostering, discusses the reasons for and tasks to be achieved by foster relations, and adds literature and case studies that confirm these ideas. Keywords:adoption; child fostering; Esther Goody; French approach; social parenthood; West Africa