Adopting Maternity

Discusses the issues related to race, class, and gender involved in adoption based on in-depth interviews with 22 adoptive mothers. This text compares and contrasts the experiences of white women who adopted Asian, black, or biracial children. The bulk of the book is dedicated to presenting the women's words as they talk about their perceptions of fertility treatments, birth mothers, other mothers, adoption processes, and outsiders' reactions, among other matters. Feminist discourse is used to examine the applicability of these theories to women's self-characterizations. Beginning with an overview of the theoretical basis of the book, discussions of becoming an adoptive mother and the realities of being an adoptive mother follow. Each chapter presents feelings and experiences of adoptive mothers, in addition to analysis that brings these feelings into broader societal context. This honest portrayal will offer adoptive families, adoption professionals, and social workers important insights into mothers' adoptive experiences. Scholars of women's studies, social work, and sociology will find this volume useful as well.