The Color Purple?
Perspectives of Canadian Parents of Adopted Children from China
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31265/jcsw.v10i2.129Keywords:
inter-country, international adoption, Chinese heritage, parental perspectivesAbstract
During the past two decades, Canadian parents have been regularly adopting infants from China, and have been facing a confusing dilemma on how to introduce their children’s Chinese heritage and language. The aim of this qualitative study is to uncover the beliefs and attitudes of the adopting parents about how to best promote a healthy identify development that includes their Chinese background. Using in-depth interviews, 19 parents of 14 adopted children explored their beliefs about incorporating the Chinese heritage in the development of their girls. The findings reveal that some parents feel that it is best to emphasize Canadian culture - “she is just Canadian.” Some parents feel that it is best to leave it alone and allow the children to choose their “identity” – “she has both feet in both worlds”, whereas, other parents are proactive by introducing Chinese heritage and culture to their children at an early age. Some parents feel that their children created a new identity with the “color purple” – a hybrid and new culture that combines both their Chinese background with a mainstream Canadian lifestyle.
References
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Baden, A. L. & Steward, R. J. (2000). A Framework for use with radically and culturally integrated families: The cultural-racial identity model as applied to transracial adoption. Journal of Social Distress and Homeless, 9(4), 309-337.
Bagley, C. (1993). Chinese adoptees in Britain: A twenty-year follow-up of adjustment and social identity. International Social Work. 36, 143–157.
Bartholet, E. (2011). International adoptions should be encouraged. In M. Haerens (Ed.), International Adoptions: Opposing Viewpoints Series. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press. 20-32.
Bartholet, E., & Smolin, D. (2012). The Debate. In J. L. Gibbons, & K. S. Rotabi (Eds.), Intercountry Adoption: Policies, Practices, and Outcomes. Surrey, UK: Ashgate Publishing Ltd. 233-251.
Bennet, M. (2002). A literature review and annotated bibliography focusing on aspects of aboriginal child welfare in Canada. Ottawa: Center for Excellence in Child Welfare.
Bishoff, T., & Rankin, J. (1997). Seeds from a salient tree: An anthology by Korean adoptees. Glendale, CA: Pandal Press.
Borgnon, L. (2007). Conceptions of the self in early childhood: Territorializing identities. Educational Philosophy and Theory, 39 (3), 264-274.
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human development. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Canada, (2010). International Adoptions. Statistics Canada. Retrieved July 22, 2014 from http://www.cic.gc.ca
Creswell, J. (2013). Qualitative inquiry & research design: Choosing among five approaches. 3rd Edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
De Fina, A. (2003). Identity in Narrative: A study of immigrant discourse. Philadelphia, PA: John Benjamins Deaux, Kay.
Dubinsky, K. (2010). Babies without borders: Adoption and migration across the Americas. Toronto, ON: University of Toronto Press.
Fisanick, C. (2009). Issues in Adoption: Current controversies. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press.
Freundlich, M., & Lieberthal, J. (2000). The gathering of the first generation of adult Korean adoptees: Adoptees’ perceptions of international adoption. Retrieved: Dec 15, 2006, from http://www.adoptioninstitute.org/proed/korfindings.html
Gidluck, L., & Dwyer, S. (2007). Race made salient: A journey of awareness for white parents of Asian children. Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless.
Haerens, M., (Ed.) (2011). International Adoptions: Opposing Viewpoints Series. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press.
Hall, S. (1992). The question of cultural identity. In S. Hall, D. Held, & T. McGrew (Eds.), Modernity and its futures (pp. 274–316). Cambridge: Polity Press.
Helms, J. E. (Ed.) (1990). Black and white racial identity: Theory, research, and practice. New York: Greenwood.
Jacobson, H. (2008). Culture Keeping: White mothers, international adoption, and the negotiation of family difference. Nashville, TN: Vanderbilt University Press.
Johnson, K., (2012). Challenging the discourse of intercountry adoption: Perspectives from rural China. In J. L. Gibbons, & K. S. Rotabi, (Eds.), Intercountry Adoption: Policies, Practices, and Outcomes. Surrey, UK: Ashgate Publishing Ltd. 103-117.
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Kim, W. (1995). International adoption: A case review of Korean children. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 25, 141–154.
Lee, J. S. (2002). The Korean Language in America: The role of cultural identity in heritage language learning. Language, Culture and Curriculum, 15(2), 117–133.
Marre, D., & Briggs. L. (Eds.) (2009). International inequalities and the circulation of children. New York, NY: New York University Press.
Massatti, R., Vonk, M., & Gregoire, T. (2004). Reliability and validity of the transracial doption parenting scale. Research on Social Work Practice, 14 (1), 43–50.
Merino, N. (Ed.) (2009). Adoption: Introducing Issues with opposing viewpoints. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press.
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Pagliai, V. (2003). Lands I came to sing: Negotiating identities and places in the Tuscan “Contrasto”. In C. B. Paulston, & G. R. Tucker (Eds.), Sociolinguistics: The essential readings. Oxford: Blackwell.
PBS. (2010). Point of View, Adoption Fact Sheet. Retrieved July 24, 2014 from: www.pbs.org/pov/adoption/adoption_fact_sheet.php
PBS. (2010a). Point of View. International Adoption, Background. Retrieved July 24, 2014 from www.pbs.org/pov/adoption/background.php
Quiroz, P.A. (2014). Adoptive parents e-racing adopted children by choosing, keeping, avoiding, and purchasing identity. In V. B. Treitler (Ed.), Race in transnational and transracial adoption. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan Ltd. 133-154.
Rojewski, J. W. (2005). A typical American family? How adoptive families acknowledge and incorporate Chinese cultural heritage in their lives. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 22(2), 133–164.
Rojewski, J. W., & Rojewski, J. L. (2001). Intercountry adoption from China. Westport, London: Bergin & Garvey.
Rossman, G.B., & Rallis, S.F. (2003). Learning in the field – An introduction to qualitative research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Rushton, A., & Minnis, H. (1997). Annotation: Transracial family placements. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 38, 147–159.
Saskatchewan. (2014). Adoption. Web page: www.saskgov.sk
Schwarzwald, H., Collins, E. M., Gillespie, S., & Spinks-Franklin, A. (2015). Long-term outcomes for children and adolescents after international adoption. In H. Schwarzwald, E.M. Collins, S. Gillespie, & A. Spinks-Franklin (Eds.), International adoption and clinical practice. New York, NY: Springer Press. 41-48.
Selman, P. (2009). The movement of children for international adoption: Developments and Trends in receiving states and states of origin, 1998-2004. In D. Marre, & L. Briggs (Eds.) International inequalities and the circulation of children. New York, NY: New York University Press. 32-51.
Selman, P. (2012). The rise and fall of intercountry adoption in the 21st Century: Global trends from 2001-2010. In J. L. Gibbons, & K. S. Rotabi, (Eds.), Intercountry Adoption: Policies, Practices, and Outcomes. Surrey, UK: Ashgate Publishing Ltd. 7-27.
Sinclair, R. (2008). All my relations–Native transracial adoption: A critical case study of cultural identity (Doctoral dissertation, University of Calgary, 2007). Ann Arbor, MI: UMI Dissertation Services.
Sinclair, R. (2009). Identity or Racism? Aboriginal Transracial Adoption. In R. Sinclair, M A. Hart, & G. Bruyere (Eds.), Wicihitowin: Aboriginal Social Work in Canada. Halifax, NS: Fernwood Publishing. 89-113.
Stets, J. E., & Bruke, P. J. (2000). Identity theory and social identity theory. Social Psychology Quarterly, 63 (3), 224–237.
Tessler, R., Gamache, G., & Liu, L. (1999). West meets east: Americans adopt Chinese children. Westport, CT: Bergin & Garvey.
Tizard, B., & Phoenex, A. (1995). The identity of mixed parentage adolescents. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 36, 1399–1410.
Traver, A.E. (2014). Becoming a ‘Chinese-American’ parent: Whiteness, Chinese cultural practice and American parents of children adopted from China. In V. . Treitler (Ed.), Race in transnational and transracial adoption. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan Ltd. 226-241.
Trolley, B.C., Wallin, J., & Hansen, J. (1995). International adoption: Issues of acknowledgement of adoption and birth culture. Child and Adolescent Work Journal. 12 (6), 465–479.
Upshur, E., & Demick, J., (2006). Adoption and the identity in social context. In K. Wegar (Ed.), Adoptive families in a diverse society. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press. 91-110.
van Manen, M. (1990). Researching lived experience: Human science for an action sensitive pedagogy. London, Ontario: Althouse Press.
Volkman, T. A. (2005). Embodying Chinese culture: Transnational Adoption in North America. In T. A. Volkman, (Ed.), Cultures of transnational Adoption. Durham, NC: Duke University Press. 81-113.
Vonk, M. E. (2001). Cultural competence for transracial adoptive parents. Social Work, 46(3), 246–255.
Westhues, A., & Cohen, J. (1994). Intercountry adoption in Canada – Executive summary. Ottawa: Human Resources Development Canada.
Yngvesson, B. (2010). Belonging in an adopted world: Race, identity, and transnational adoption. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press
Baden, A. L. & Steward, R. J. (2000). A Framework for use with radically and culturally integrated families: The cultural-racial identity model as applied to transracial adoption. Journal of Social Distress and Homeless, 9(4), 309-337.
Bagley, C. (1993). Chinese adoptees in Britain: A twenty-year follow-up of adjustment and social identity. International Social Work. 36, 143–157.
Bartholet, E. (2011). International adoptions should be encouraged. In M. Haerens (Ed.), International Adoptions: Opposing Viewpoints Series. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press. 20-32.
Bartholet, E., & Smolin, D. (2012). The Debate. In J. L. Gibbons, & K. S. Rotabi (Eds.), Intercountry Adoption: Policies, Practices, and Outcomes. Surrey, UK: Ashgate Publishing Ltd. 233-251.
Bennet, M. (2002). A literature review and annotated bibliography focusing on aspects of aboriginal child welfare in Canada. Ottawa: Center for Excellence in Child Welfare.
Bishoff, T., & Rankin, J. (1997). Seeds from a salient tree: An anthology by Korean adoptees. Glendale, CA: Pandal Press.
Borgnon, L. (2007). Conceptions of the self in early childhood: Territorializing identities. Educational Philosophy and Theory, 39 (3), 264-274.
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human development. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Canada, (2010). International Adoptions. Statistics Canada. Retrieved July 22, 2014 from http://www.cic.gc.ca
Creswell, J. (2013). Qualitative inquiry & research design: Choosing among five approaches. 3rd Edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
De Fina, A. (2003). Identity in Narrative: A study of immigrant discourse. Philadelphia, PA: John Benjamins Deaux, Kay.
Dubinsky, K. (2010). Babies without borders: Adoption and migration across the Americas. Toronto, ON: University of Toronto Press.
Fisanick, C. (2009). Issues in Adoption: Current controversies. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press.
Freundlich, M., & Lieberthal, J. (2000). The gathering of the first generation of adult Korean adoptees: Adoptees’ perceptions of international adoption. Retrieved: Dec 15, 2006, from http://www.adoptioninstitute.org/proed/korfindings.html
Gidluck, L., & Dwyer, S. (2007). Race made salient: A journey of awareness for white parents of Asian children. Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless.
Haerens, M., (Ed.) (2011). International Adoptions: Opposing Viewpoints Series. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press.
Hall, S. (1992). The question of cultural identity. In S. Hall, D. Held, & T. McGrew (Eds.), Modernity and its futures (pp. 274–316). Cambridge: Polity Press.
Helms, J. E. (Ed.) (1990). Black and white racial identity: Theory, research, and practice. New York: Greenwood.
Jacobson, H. (2008). Culture Keeping: White mothers, international adoption, and the negotiation of family difference. Nashville, TN: Vanderbilt University Press.
Johnson, K., (2012). Challenging the discourse of intercountry adoption: Perspectives from rural China. In J. L. Gibbons, & K. S. Rotabi, (Eds.), Intercountry Adoption: Policies, Practices, and Outcomes. Surrey, UK: Ashgate Publishing Ltd. 103-117.
Juffer, F, & Tieman, W. (2012). Families with intercountry adopted children: Talking about adoption and birth culture. In J. L. Gibbons, & K. S. Rotabi, (Eds.), Intercountry Adoption: Policies, Practices, and Outcomes. Surrey, UK: Ashgate Publishing Ltd. 211-220.
Kim, W. (1995). International adoption: A case review of Korean children. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 25, 141–154.
Lee, J. S. (2002). The Korean Language in America: The role of cultural identity in heritage language learning. Language, Culture and Curriculum, 15(2), 117–133.
Marre, D., & Briggs. L. (Eds.) (2009). International inequalities and the circulation of children. New York, NY: New York University Press.
Massatti, R., Vonk, M., & Gregoire, T. (2004). Reliability and validity of the transracial doption parenting scale. Research on Social Work Practice, 14 (1), 43–50.
Merino, N. (Ed.) (2009). Adoption: Introducing Issues with opposing viewpoints. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press.
MSNBC. (Feb 28, 2007). Olympian, Korean dad reunites after 25 years. Retrieved Mar 12, 2007, from www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17355296
Pagliai, V. (2003). Lands I came to sing: Negotiating identities and places in the Tuscan “Contrasto”. In C. B. Paulston, & G. R. Tucker (Eds.), Sociolinguistics: The essential readings. Oxford: Blackwell.
PBS. (2010). Point of View, Adoption Fact Sheet. Retrieved July 24, 2014 from: www.pbs.org/pov/adoption/adoption_fact_sheet.php
PBS. (2010a). Point of View. International Adoption, Background. Retrieved July 24, 2014 from www.pbs.org/pov/adoption/background.php
Quiroz, P.A. (2014). Adoptive parents e-racing adopted children by choosing, keeping, avoiding, and purchasing identity. In V. B. Treitler (Ed.), Race in transnational and transracial adoption. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan Ltd. 133-154.
Rojewski, J. W. (2005). A typical American family? How adoptive families acknowledge and incorporate Chinese cultural heritage in their lives. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 22(2), 133–164.
Rojewski, J. W., & Rojewski, J. L. (2001). Intercountry adoption from China. Westport, London: Bergin & Garvey.
Rossman, G.B., & Rallis, S.F. (2003). Learning in the field – An introduction to qualitative research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Rushton, A., & Minnis, H. (1997). Annotation: Transracial family placements. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 38, 147–159.
Saskatchewan. (2014). Adoption. Web page: www.saskgov.sk
Schwarzwald, H., Collins, E. M., Gillespie, S., & Spinks-Franklin, A. (2015). Long-term outcomes for children and adolescents after international adoption. In H. Schwarzwald, E.M. Collins, S. Gillespie, & A. Spinks-Franklin (Eds.), International adoption and clinical practice. New York, NY: Springer Press. 41-48.
Selman, P. (2009). The movement of children for international adoption: Developments and Trends in receiving states and states of origin, 1998-2004. In D. Marre, & L. Briggs (Eds.) International inequalities and the circulation of children. New York, NY: New York University Press. 32-51.
Selman, P. (2012). The rise and fall of intercountry adoption in the 21st Century: Global trends from 2001-2010. In J. L. Gibbons, & K. S. Rotabi, (Eds.), Intercountry Adoption: Policies, Practices, and Outcomes. Surrey, UK: Ashgate Publishing Ltd. 7-27.
Sinclair, R. (2008). All my relations–Native transracial adoption: A critical case study of cultural identity (Doctoral dissertation, University of Calgary, 2007). Ann Arbor, MI: UMI Dissertation Services.
Sinclair, R. (2009). Identity or Racism? Aboriginal Transracial Adoption. In R. Sinclair, M A. Hart, & G. Bruyere (Eds.), Wicihitowin: Aboriginal Social Work in Canada. Halifax, NS: Fernwood Publishing. 89-113.
Stets, J. E., & Bruke, P. J. (2000). Identity theory and social identity theory. Social Psychology Quarterly, 63 (3), 224–237.
Tessler, R., Gamache, G., & Liu, L. (1999). West meets east: Americans adopt Chinese children. Westport, CT: Bergin & Garvey.
Tizard, B., & Phoenex, A. (1995). The identity of mixed parentage adolescents. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 36, 1399–1410.
Traver, A.E. (2014). Becoming a ‘Chinese-American’ parent: Whiteness, Chinese cultural practice and American parents of children adopted from China. In V. . Treitler (Ed.), Race in transnational and transracial adoption. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan Ltd. 226-241.
Trolley, B.C., Wallin, J., & Hansen, J. (1995). International adoption: Issues of acknowledgement of adoption and birth culture. Child and Adolescent Work Journal. 12 (6), 465–479.
Upshur, E., & Demick, J., (2006). Adoption and the identity in social context. In K. Wegar (Ed.), Adoptive families in a diverse society. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press. 91-110.
van Manen, M. (1990). Researching lived experience: Human science for an action sensitive pedagogy. London, Ontario: Althouse Press.
Volkman, T. A. (2005). Embodying Chinese culture: Transnational Adoption in North America. In T. A. Volkman, (Ed.), Cultures of transnational Adoption. Durham, NC: Duke University Press. 81-113.
Vonk, M. E. (2001). Cultural competence for transracial adoptive parents. Social Work, 46(3), 246–255.
Westhues, A., & Cohen, J. (1994). Intercountry adoption in Canada – Executive summary. Ottawa: Human Resources Development Canada.
Yngvesson, B. (2010). Belonging in an adopted world: Race, identity, and transnational adoption. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press
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Published
2015-12-18
How to Cite
Bian, F., Blachford, D., & Durst, D. (2015). The Color Purple? Perspectives of Canadian Parents of Adopted Children from China. Journal of Comparative Social Work, 10(2), 107–137. https://doi.org/10.31265/jcsw.v10i2.129
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