"Do You Know Your Real Parents?" and Other Adoption Microaggressions

Myths, fairy tales, films, books, and everyday communication contain images and stories of orphans and adoptees that convey societal discomfort and judgment about adoption (i.e., adoption stigma). In this article, I apply the microaggression model to adoption-related experiences using the literature...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Adoption quarterly Vol. 19; no. 1; pp. 1 - 25
Main Author:	Baden, Amanda L.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Abingdon Routledge 02-01-2016 Taylor & Francis Ltd
Subjects:	Adopted children adoptees Adoption Adoptive parents birth parents Communication Definitions Mass media images Microaggressions Motion pictures Mythology Orphans Secrecy Stigma
Online Access:	Get full text
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Summary:	Myths, fairy tales, films, books, and everyday communication contain images and stories of orphans and adoptees that convey societal discomfort and judgment about adoption (i.e., adoption stigma). In this article, I apply the microaggression model to adoption-related experiences using the literature and theory on adoption stigma. Definitions for adoption-related microaggressions (microassaults, microinvalidations, and microinsults) and a fourth type of microaggression called microfictions (i.e., shared and hidden narratives that contribute to and define the secrecy in adoption) are introduced. Thirteen themes for adoption microaggressions and examples for each are proposed.
ISSN:	1092-6755 1544-452X
DOI:	10.1080/10926755.2015.1026012