Arguments Against Transracial Adoption
n the United States, transracial adoption is becoming a common practice and statistics compare it to same-race adoption. According to the U.S National Survey of Adoptive Parents in 2007, only 40 percent are transracially adopted, out of all adopted children (Kreider and Lofquist 26). The debate about race being a factor when adopting is ongoing, even after the Multiethnic Act of 1994. This act tries to reduce the delay of placing children in permanent homes. The increase of transracial adoption through the foster care system in 2004 was 15 percent, which was a four percent increase from 1995, suggesting the act has minor impact (27). However, there are still an excessive number of African American children in foster care compared to other races.
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Subsequently, Asian or Pacific Islander children are the most transracially adopted. From 2009 to 2011, 28.3 percent of transracial adoptees are Asian or Pacific Islander compared to 15.3 percent of Black or African American children (28). In addition, transracially adopted children are adopted at a younger age compared to their other adopted counterparts.
This relates with the fact that many transracial adoptions are the result of international adoptions, where most are adopted at younger age (26). The assumption being if a child is not adopted early, it is much harder to adjust due to factors such as cultural differences and language. Furthermore, 7 percent of White children are transracially adopted, compared to 65 percent adopted through same race (29). This proposes the idea that minority parents do not tend to adopt White children because more children of other races that are not being adopted, and are likely to relate to the experiences of a child of minority than a White child. In addition, 44 percent of parents of transracial adoptions of have an income of $100,000 or above compared to 29 percent of same-race adopted households (30). Only 54 percent of transracial adoptees have parents with at least a Bachelor’s degree compared to 33 percent of other adoptees (27). It implies that the parents’ education and income is significant because higher educated parents tend to have a higher income and are potentially able to handle situations with children of different races since they are more likely to be
open-minded. Also transracial adoptions are mainly from international adoptions, which cost about triple the amount to domestic adoptions, thus reflecting on the parents’ income (“Adoption In Canada”). To conclude, this report compares transracial adoption to same-race adoption, which is increasing in the United States.
Subsequently, Asian or Pacific Islander children are the most transracially adopted. From 2009 to 2011, 28.3 percent of transracial adoptees are Asian or Pacific Islander compared to 15.3 percent of Black or African American children (28). In addition, transracially adopted children are adopted at a younger age compared to their other adopted counterparts.
This relates with the fact that many transracial adoptions are the result of international adoptions, where most are adopted at younger age (26). The assumption being if a child is not adopted early, it is much harder to adjust due to factors such as cultural differences and language. Furthermore, 7 percent of White children are transracially adopted, compared to 65 percent adopted through same race (29). This proposes the idea that minority parents do not tend to adopt White children because more children of other races that are not being adopted, and are likely to relate to the experiences of a child of minority than a White child. In addition, 44 percent of parents of transracial adoptions of have an income of $100,000 or above compared to 29 percent of same-race adopted households (30). Only 54 percent of transracial adoptees have parents with at least a Bachelor’s degree compared to 33 percent of other adoptees (27). It implies that the parents’ education and income is significant because higher educated parents tend to have a higher income and are potentially able to handle situations with children of different races since they are more likely to be
open-minded. Also transracial adoptions are mainly from international adoptions, which cost about triple the amount to domestic adoptions, thus reflecting on the parents’ income (“Adoption In Canada”). To conclude, this report compares transracial adoption to same-race adoption, which is increasing in the United States.