• ARTICLES, Special Section, XVIIth International Congress on PCP Australia July 2007

Whose baby is it? Post-modern influence in adoption practices in the United States.

Watson, L. D., Granvold, D. K.

Keywords:
adoption, empowerment, open adoption, adoption policy, strengths perspective

Abstract:
This article identifies the predominant themes of the ‘closed adoption’ era during which remarkable measures were instituted to keep the involved parties in a state of ‘not knowing’. The authors explore how meanings were construed to ‘it’ a proprietary, closed system. In contrast, the system of open adoption is addressed in which empowerment, open communication, and interrelating of all parties is fostered. Postmodernism is recognized as influential in the evolution of adoption practices.