At this very moment, a story about adult adoptees is currently on the front page of the New York Times web page.
It almost makes up for all that Relative Choices crap from 2 years ago.
Almost.
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The article highlights a study that supposedly says many of the things that adult adoptees have been saying for years — much longer than *I’ve* been saying them, or even thinking of them. I was heartened to see a few fellow KAD-bloggers mentioned, and overall thought that the article itself was pretty decent.
I expect that I’ll have more to say about this later, so stay tuned.
5 responses so far ↓
SDP // November 9, 2009 at 2:17 pm |
Well I think it just goes to show how relatively obscure the memoir genre is. How many people have read Seeds from a Silent Tree, or After the Morning Calm? – both adoptees and the general public.
Sang-Shil // November 9, 2009 at 5:30 pm |
Interesting point, SDP, although I believe both the titles you mentioned are anthologies, not memoirs.
Also, I’m not sure that I’d let people off the hook for ignoring adoptee voices by calling the genre itself obscure. In my opinion, it’s more the case that people tend not to trust adult adoptees as reliable narrators of our own experience… unless it happens to confirm what they already believe.
But what would I know?
Jae Ran // November 9, 2009 at 6:22 pm |
The study is now up on the Evan B. D onaldson website, it’s called “Beyond C ulture Camps.” I think the study goes further than most of the past ones, the questions that are asked and using a comparison group help somewhat. There are always limitations to research studies like these and this one has some as well, but I think it’s much better than anything else I’ve seen in, well, ever.
Mara // November 10, 2009 at 9:54 am |
Even “white” adoptees have racial confusion. I was adopted by a Yugoslavian and a Puerto Rican. I DID NOT fit into their racial identities/cultures AT ALL. When people asked…What nationality are you? I had to reply “I don’t know.” I still don’t know 50% (sealed birth certificates).
Psychobabbler // November 25, 2009 at 11:51 am |
Boy, you’re being generous with that “almost.”
But I do have to say that one good thing that came out of it was your voice in the blogosphere.
Have a great Thanksgiving!
P.S. Red Mango sighting made me think of you – opening soon just a couple of towns over from me. Something to be thankful for!