Transracial Adoption and Identity: Analyzing the Identity Formation Experiences of Transracially Adopted Individuals
As intercountry and transracial adoptions have become more common in recent decades, researchers have sought to understand the identity development experiences of individuals adopted across racial or ethnic lines. While transracial adoption can provide children with loving homes and opportunities, it also presents unique challenges related to forming a coherent racial or ethnic identity. This paper will analyze literature on transracial adoptees’ sense of belonging and connection to their heritage by examining common themes in their narratives.
Sense of Belonging
Many transracial adoptees struggle with feelings of not fully belonging within their adoptive families or communities due to physical differences related to race (Baden & Ste fully belonging within their adoptive families or communities due to physical differences related to race (Baden & Steward, 2007; Samuels, 2009). The experience of being racially visible yet culturally invisible can be disorienting and socially isolating during childhood and adolescence. However, transracial adoptees report developing stronger senses of belonging as adults who have built their own communities and chosen families (Mohanty, 2013; Rojewski, 2005). While transracial adoptees may feel like outsiders within their white families during youth, developing supportive social networks seems to help alleviate those feelings over time.
Connection to Heritage
Forming a connection with one’s racial or ethnic heritage presents unique challenges for transracial adoptees. Without firsthand experience growing up within their birth culture, adoptees struggle to develop cultural and historical understandings of their races (Friedlander et al., 2000; Samuels, 2009). Adoptees note the importance of exposure to birth culture through books, movies, trips to birth countries, and relationships with mentors from their races as ways of learning about their heritages later in life (Mohanty, mentors from their races as ways of learning about their heritages later in life (Mohanty, 2013; Rojewski, 2005). While transracial adoptees may feel a lack of automatic cultural knowledge in their youth, seeking cultural experiences and relationships as adults can help them form stronger heritage identities.
Conclusion
In summary, transracial adoptees commonly experience difficulties with belonging and connecting to their heritages during childhood and adolescence due to physical differences, lack of shared experiences within their families and communities, and limited exposure to their birth cultures. However, as adults they report developing stronger identities and support systems that alleviate feelings of not belonging and provide opportunities to learn about their racial and cultural heritages. Continued research into transracial adoptees’ lifelong identity development processes would deepen understanding of both the challenges they face and resilience they demonstrate.
References
Baden, A. L., & Steward, R. J. (2007). The cultural-racial identity model: A conceptual framework for studying transracial adoptees. In R. A. Javier, A. L. Baden, F. A. Biafora, & A. Camacho-Gingerich (Eds.), Handbook of adoption: Implications for researchers, practitioners, and families (pp. 90–112). Sage Publications, Inc.
Friedlander, M. L., Larney, L. C., Skau, M., Hotaling, M., Cutting, M. L., & Schwam, M. (2000). Bicultural identification: Experiences of internationally adopted children and their parents. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 47(2), 187–198. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.47.2.187
Mohanty, J. (2013). Transracial international adoptees’ ethnic identity and transnational adoption from a capabilities approach. Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, 14(1), 115–131. https://doi.org/10.1080/19452829.2012.750933
Rojewski, J. W. (2005). A typical dream: International adoption from China. Child Welfare, 84(5), 719–738.
Samuels, G. M. (2009). “Being raised by white people”: Navigating racial difference among adopted multiracial adults. Journal of Marriage and Family, 71(1), 80–94. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2008.00581.x
