Sunday, May 2, 2010

What's Your "Favorite" Adoption Myth?

Want to share it? Here's an opportunity.

"The Biggest Myths About Adoption" contains a good deal of good information and bit of myth about adoptees. It has also left a lot out. The article lists the following myths:

#1 – Most Birth Mothers are Teenagers
#2 – There are No Healthy Babies to Adopt in the U.S.
#3 – The Adoption Process Takes Many Years
#4 – The Birth Mother Can Show Up and Ask for the Baby Back (not "THE Birth Mother" as if we are some mythical archetype and not individuals human beings)
#5 – Closed Adoptions are Better (or Vice Versa)
#6 — Adopted Children are Emotionally Unstable or Have Behavior Issues
#7 – All Adoptions are Expensive

The worst answer to these myths? Number six gets my vote:
Research shows that adopted children are as well adjusted as their non-adopted peers. Some studies even indicate that adopted children are better adjusted due to the fact that adoptive parents tend to be mature and financially stable. As with all children, some are very talented or brilliant and some are less capable and have more factors pre-disposing them to potential difficulties. Most adopted people fall within the normal range.
Add your comments here.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

The myth that strangers who have more money than you will be better able and equipped to raise your child. Someone who looks nothing like them, behaves nothing like them and has no similar talents or interests, but the pony and the pool will make up for that...till you find out they had less in every single way possible to offer your child than you ever did....Yeah that one is my favourite!!!

Mirah said...

The myth that we'll forget and get on with our lives.

Anonymous said...

The myth that adoptive parents RESCUE children. The truth is that many children are adopted into abusive families and suffer horribly from completely preventable abuse.

Anonymous said...

That adoption is always, under all circumstances and for all people, the greater evil.

Mirah said...

"That adoption is always, under all circumstances and for all people, the greater evil."

I would call that a dogmatic broad brush belief but not a myth. The others are myths that are perpetuated by the media, the general public, adoption practitioners etc., etc...

Definition of myth:

1. a traditional or legendary story, usually concerning some being or hero or event, with or without a determinable basis of fact or a natural explanation, esp. one that is concerned with deities or demigods and explains some practice, rite, or phenomenon of nature.

2. stories or matter of this kind: realm of myth.

3. any invented story, idea, or concept

4. an imaginary or fictitious thing or person.

5. an unproved or false collective belief that is used to justify a social institution.

The last one is especially applicable to adoption myths.

Von said...

'Research shows that adopted children are as well adjusted as their non-adopted peers'
Depends on who's research you're looking at doesn't it and who paid for it? If this is the case, why do the figures for inmates in goals, institutions, psychiatric wards show a higher proportion of adopted people than the norm?
Adoption is a cure for infertility is rather a favourite at present.

Mirah said...

BINGO, Von! Almost word-for-word of what I commented at the site of the article!

RussiaToday Apr 29, 2010 on Russian Adoption Freeze

Russi Today: America television Interview 4/16/10 Regarding the Return of Artyem, 7, to Russia alone

RT: Russia-America TV Interview 3/10

Korean Birthmothers Protest to End Adoption

Motherhood, Adoption, Surrender, & Loss

Who Am I?

Bitter Winds

Adoption and Truth Video

Adoption Truth

Birthparents Never Forget