The Intersection of Race and Adoption: Experiences of Transracial and International Adoptees With Microaggressions

Ebony E. White, Amanda L. Baden, Alfonso L. Ferguson, Leanice Smith

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

Adoption has been viewed as inferior to birthing, carrying social stigma which has resulted in members of the adoption triad, specifically adoptees, experiencing discrimination at all levels of the ecological system (Baden, 2016; Wegar, 2000). Transracial and international adoptees holding marginalized racial or ethnic identities contend with discrimination around their adoption status and their racial designation. Unique to the transracial adoptee experience is belonging to families who do not share their racial and cultural backgrounds. A grounded theory qualitative approach was used to understand the experiences of transracial and international adoptees with racial microaggressions (RMAs) and adoption microaggressions (AMAs). Results from this study reflected interviews from 11 transracial adoptees, with specific attention on AMAs and RMAs. All participants reported experiencing AMAs and RMAs both within and outside of their families. Counselors, counselor educators, and researchers are urged to understand this unique, intersectional experience to develop competency in effectively supporting this population.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1318-1328
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Family Psychology
Volume36
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - 27 Sep 2021

Keywords

  • Adoption
  • Counseling
  • Intersectionality
  • Microaggressions
  • Transracial

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