Beatriz san-roman kent presentation

ADOPCIONES, FAMILIAS, INFANCIASADOPTIONS, FAMILIES, CHILDHOODS

www.afin.org.esI+D: MICIN CSO2009-14763C03-01 subprograma SOCI

Monitoring Parents: science, evidence, experts and the new parenting culture - University of Kent, Sept. 13th -14th 2011

Parenting in intercountry adoptionThe role of “expert knowledge” in creating transnational/transracial adoptive families

Beatriz San Román

Diana MarreUniversitat Autònoma de Barcelona

(Autonomous University of Barcelona)



In this presentation…

- Introduction: some figures and facts

- The adoption process: experts entitled to evaluate and “train” adopting families

- Contents of “mandatory training” for prospective adoptive parents

- How to become a family from the “expertise knowledge” perspective

Monitoring Parents: science, evidence, experts and the new parenting culture - University of Kent, Sept. 13th -14th 2011



Introduction: Transnational adoption in Spain

Until last quarter of 1900s: Spain was a “country of origin”

2004: Spain becomes 2nd receiving country for transnational adoption.1st one in relative figures (Sellman, 2006).

Monitoring Parents: science, evidence, experts and the new parenting culture University of Kent, Sept. 13th -14th 2011

Intercountry Adoption in Spain (continents of origin)

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Europa

África

América

Asia

Source: Ministery of Labour and Social Issues. Yearbook 2004



Introduction: Immigration in Spain

0,20% 0,40%

8,40%

12,00%

0,00%

2,00%

4,00%

6,00%

8,00%

10,00%

12,00%

1960 1970 2006 2009

“Foreigners residents” acording to the census

Until last quarter of 1900s:

• Emigration > Immigration

• “White and homogeneous”

2004: EU fostered little more than one and a half million immigrants, 610.000 of which –around 40%– remained in Spain.

Spain became the second receiving country of immigration (after the USA)




Transnational adoption in Spain


1996: A new law of Minor Legal

Protection was approved.1997: The regions of Madrid and

Catalonia decided not to accept more applications to domestic adoption due to the lack of Spanish children given up for

adoption.First statistics regarding international adoption are published.

Recorded intercountry adoptions doubled between 1998 and 2000 and reached 5,541 by 2004.

Central Authorities of Intercountry Adoption in Spain



The case of Catalonia


2004: Catalans were the 16% of Spanish’s inhabitants but they adopted 31% of children internationally adopted in Spain.

2006: In Catalonia 52% of families that applied for an intercountry adoption were involuntarily childless, 43% had children and only 35% had done some ARTtreatment.

Population, children born and intercountry adoptions in 2004

16 %

31 %



The case of Catalonia


2004: Catalans were the 16% of Spanish’s inhabitants but they adopted 31% of children internationally adopted in Spain.

2006: In Catalonia 52% of families that applied for an intercountry adoption were involuntarily childless, 43% had children and only 35% had done some ARTtreatment.

Intercountry adoption in Spain and Catalonia (1997-2010)

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

19971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010

Spain

Catalonia



Transnational adoption: the process in Catalonia




Compulsory training In the application form prospective parents are to choose the country,

but NO difference in training depending on the country

Contents of compulsory training: The difference between a biological and an adopted child. Parents grief

(“saying goodbye to the ideal child to welcome the real child”) The adaptation and “the adopted child’s backup” “The origins revelation”

Different meanings to “the child’s origins”




Compulsory training

Transraciality often addressed from the parents’ point of view (“lost of anonymity”, etc.)

“They told us that it was needed to be clear in our minds that our family physiognomy would change forever because of adoption, that we should discuss it between us [she and her husband] and our families, and nothing else”.

“We spent the whole morning in a role play, in small groups, and it was about how we would react if, during their

adolescence, our children became aware they were adopted. It was really Kafkaesque, if you keep in mind that all of them were to be

Chinese girls”.




Transracial adoption in Spain?

“Transracial adoptions” are not even named in Spain

Use of “etnia” instead of “raza” “Those applying for an adoption in Vietnam have to keep in mind the ethnic

characteristics of the children from this country”.

Adoptive parents and practicioners: no direct reference of what it is like to have a non-white body

Adoption produces “the cancellation of one identity and its replacement by another” (Yngvesson, 2009: 109).



How to become a family from the “experts” point of view

No specific training for psychologists (and social workers) working in this field

Inspired by The “clean break” (Hague Convention) The Attachment Theory (Bowlby, 1969) Exclusive parenthood and belonging

Nearly 2 decades after the first transnational processes: No evaluation Families seem opener to re-think their families than most “experts”.

“Dissenting families” find other spaces to comment and get advise (usually through the Internet)




Thank you for your attention!Diana Marre

Beatriz San Romá[email protected]


Beatriz san-roman kent presentation

Self Improvement

Transcript of Beatriz san-roman kent presentation