Abstract
This paper aims to highlight inequality in current adoption processes and procedures in England and Wales. Whilst inequality has been recognised in adoption research, the role of social structures is often neglected. Inequality within social structures plays a role in the process of the permanent removal of children to be adopted and is worthy of further attention. Birth parent voices can contribute to a wider understanding of adoption, but often remain hidden. Empirical research findings highlight how birth parents may find that their adverse experiences are exacerbated by the adoption process, the emotional impact causing existing problems to increase, and through the impact of the adoption process on birth parent’s socio-economic status. Findings also illustrate how birth parents’ experiences were influenced by ideals of motherhood and ideas about ‘risk’ to children. The paper contributes to the growing area of research which illuminates the intersection of poverty, deprivation and child protection services and the wider contemporaneous debate concerning adoption in England and Wales.
Highlights
Adoption is an emotive issue, which captures the public imagination and draws out a strength of feeling
All legal ties between child and birth parent are severed, and adopted children are treated in law as if born to the adopters (The Adoption and Children Act 2002, s. 67)
The theme of ‘parental adversity’ is addressed through the sub themes which emerged from the data—(1) parenting under adversity before child(ren) were removed, (2) parenting after removal and (3) parenting after adoption
Summary
Adoption is an emotive issue, which captures the public imagination and draws out a strength of feeling. Often empathy is shown towards children who are neglected, abused and need ‘rescuing’. From ‘bad’ parents; the ideal of a warm, safe, stable family to protect a child is highly seductive. Adoption is legislated for under The Adoption and Children Act (2002) in England and Wales. Adoption orders give parental responsibility to the adopters, extinguishing parental responsibility held by any other person. All legal ties between child and birth parent are severed, and adopted children are treated in law as if born to the adopters Adoption is regarded as the most ‘draconion’ intervention by the state, only to be granted in cases where it is deemed ‘proportional’ (Re G (A child) 2013, p. Adoption is regarded as the most ‘draconion’ intervention by the state, only to be granted in cases where it is deemed ‘proportional’ (Re G (A child) 2013, p. 53)
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