Born in China

Abstract

International adoption has been presented in the literature almost exclusively from a dominant western perspective with little consideration for that of the sending countries. This study seeks to capture Chinese perceptions of international adoption. The inextricable relationship between China's family planning policies and the placing of orphans in the diaspora for adoption led to a sample which included government officials (N = 12), welfare institution administrators (currently in China, the official term for an orphanage is “welfare institution”) (N = 15), and a non-specific adult population (N = 180). Findings indicated that overall participants viewed international adoption as providing positive opportunities for abandoned children, with government and welfare institution personnel viewing it as an appropriate response to an overburdened system. They also pointed to the government's active role in post-placement monitoring to be integral to the success of China's international adoptions. Concerns for the children's loss of culture and international adoption as being a source of national embarrassment were expressed within the general population, however, it is suggested that this perception may be mediated by personal exposure to adoption. This study is significant in its unique attempt to capture a non-western perspective of a phenomenon which profoundly impacts Chinese families and children. It also brings to light the need for further inquiry which can capture the impact and implications of this borderless child welfare practice for Chinese.