Korean Adoptees Who Adopt: Ethnic, Racial, and Adoption Socialization with Second- Generation Adoptees

Abstract

Little is known about Korean adoptees who are also adoptive parents and their parenting, especially related to ethnic, racial, and adoption socialization. This article describes a secondary analysis of Korean American adoptee adoptive parents (N = 7) from a larger study of Korean adoptee parents. The research question guiding the analysis focused on intergenerationality (participants’ dual positionalities as an adoptee and adoptive parent) as an influence in their racial, ethnic, and adoption socialization practices. Using thematic analysis, the findings of this exploratory study include themes related to (a) desiring a different experience for their adopted child than their own, (b) participating in active adoption socialization strategies, (c) understanding the complexity of adoption, and (d) considering family legacy as both an adoptee and adoptive parent. The unique experiences of Korean adoptee adoptive parents offer additional insight into both adoptive parent and adoptee experiences and parenting second-generation adoptees.