I am a social worker in a women's prison. Many of the women I work with are pregnant and it is necessary for them to decide what will become of their children while they are incarcerated. Usually they have family members who are willing/able to take the child, but not always. For those who have no family/friend option we like to inform them of adoption and so forth. I have noticed that often the African American women are very much against adoption. Not always of course, but more so than women of other racial groups. I was wondering if anyone, particularly African American women, could help me to understand this so I can be more effective in my work with these ladies.
2006-12-19 11:39:25 · 10 answers · asked by glitterprincess 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
Sorry, I didn't mean to put this question in this particular category. I just pushed the first option then I didn't know how to change it. We do offer them many options, however in this state if a child is involved in child protection for 15 of 22 months then they work towards termination of rights. We try very hard to assist our clients in finding families who are willing to do an open adoption.
2006-12-20 01:04:33 · update #1
Maybe it stems back to a time when African-American women had to unwillingly be separated from their children never to see them again. So it has been passed on that you hold on to and take care of your children no matter what. Of course as with everything there are expections and situations where it doesn't happen, but as a whole it does. I think that's why African American women would rather have an abortion than give the child up for adoption. I know that would be the worse thing for me to know that I carried a child for 9 months and then he/she is gone to be with someone that I know nothing about. I don't know how any mother could live with that and not be affected.
2006-12-19 22:32:19 · answer #1 · answered by Ndpndnt 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I agree, asking the women you are helping would be best, but this may not be feasible. So asking here, where you can quickly and easily talk to all different people, is the next best thing. Let me tell my story ..
Some years back I found myself pregnant and in a difficult situation, and did some "thinking out loud" about giving the child up for adoption. I was working in a place with mostly women, mostly Black, and I was told, very strongly, that adoption is not acceptable. My coworkers said things like this:
Dont EVER give a baby up for adoption! That's the worst thing you can do! She'll grow up wondering what's wrong with her, why her mother didn't want her. When her friends find out she's adopted, she'll be outcast, they'll tease her and say her mother was a crackhead or a whore. It's better to have an abortion than an adoption!
It seems to be a cultural thing. The last statement especialy floored me, being raised Catholic as I was. But this is the way some people feel, and feelings don't have to make sense.
I like Soriya's answer too. Very insightful and punchy, and not likely that someone would be able to say this who is actually caught up in the situation. That's why it's good to ask here as well as asking the women you're working with.
2006-12-19 19:54:29 · answer #2 · answered by Joni DaNerd 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
well I'm a caucasion male, but I think I can help here. Being against adoption is clearly a cultural thing since it's one particular ethnic group that looks upon the institution of adoption with disfavor. There has to be some deep disfavor among African-American culture otherwise all ethnic groups would difavor adoption at about the same percentage.
Maybe it's more stigmatized in African-American culture to put a child up for adoption....who knows....
but it's definitely a cultural issue.
2006-12-19 21:41:34 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think you have to contextualize this in the history of oppression, subjecation, slavery, and other elements that literally ripped babies from their mothers. It is one thing to have a relative raise your child another to have the system (white system) take away your baby, terminate your rights and tell you your baby will be raised by someone else. Many people will discount this historical piece, bu the research is pretty clear within both the afican american and native american about the impact of historical racism.
2006-12-21 00:08:40 · answer #4 · answered by Dr_Adventure 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't understand why this quesiton is in this catagory.
I think you are making a generalization. But possibly the women you mention have a strong sense of family and are afraid of loosing contact with their children. Could this be a trait learned in times when families in slavery were split up? I think it is admirable.
Possibly related is the observation that there are fewer people of color in seniors assisted living homes.
2006-12-20 02:36:42 · answer #5 · answered by San Diego Art Nut 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I started to read your question and saw the phrase "this is not intended to be offensive" .. so I skipped the rest of the question until I got to the part I knew you would be asking about... African Americans...
Anyone who generally says "this is not meant to be offensive" knows full well that their question may well be a loaded one.. !!
From a logical point of view why would you think that African-American people would not want their children adopted out??? Might it have something to do with the fact that they may feel that they would never get to see their children again, and that the system had therefore taken even more away from them. African American women are after all one of the most marginalised groups in American society and this option is hardly contributing to the maintainance of the family unit
If the woman is not in prison for life I wonder why your services do not consider fostering in lieu of adoption, which would I am certain be more acceptable to African American women or any women for that matter ....
2006-12-19 19:51:26 · answer #6 · answered by Y/A's_is_pants 1 · 5⤊ 6⤋
Ask the women you wish to help. The best way you can be more effective in your work is to discuss their views with them. You will receive more insight talking with those women than you will find here.
2006-12-19 19:44:51 · answer #7 · answered by castle h 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
they could have been adopted and that person could have done something to them and they dont wont it to happen to their baby and then again they might wont their baby when they get out
2006-12-19 21:05:38 · answer #8 · answered by JAY 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think this question is in the wrong bit
2006-12-19 20:56:41 · answer #9 · answered by half pint 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
And you think this means they're lesbian?
2006-12-19 19:58:11 · answer #10 · answered by ? 6 · 5⤊ 1⤋